More Than a Flour Mill.
A Virginia Tradition Since 1850.
For more than 175 years, Big Spring Mill has been part of the rhythm of life in Elliston, Virginia. What began as a small grist mill serving local farmers has grown into one of Virginia's most recognizable names in flour, cornmeal, baking mixes, and grain products. Generations of families have trusted Big Spring Mill products to make homemade biscuits, crispy fried chicken, cornbread, cakes, gravies, and countless family recipes that have been shared around their kitchen tables as far back as they can recall.
Nestled in the heart of Montgomery County along the South Fork of the Roanoke River, Big Spring Mill has always been more than a place where grain is milled. It has been a gathering place for farmers, bakers, restaurant owners, and families who appreciate quality ingredients, dependable products, and the value of doing things the right way. For generations, customers have walked through our doors knowing they'll find products they can trust—and people who genuinely care about the communities they serve.
A Legacy Built on Quality…and a New Era Just Beginning
Big Spring Mill was founded in 1850 by Joseph Pepper as a water-powered grist mill. In 1935, the Long family purchased the mill and spent four generations expanding its capabilities while preserving the traditions that made the business successful. Throughout the years, the facilities were modernized, production increased, and new products were introduced, but one thing never changed: an unwavering commitment to quality.
Unlike many mills that disappeared as large national brands took over the marketplace, Big Spring Mill remained proudly independent. The focus wasn't on becoming the biggest mill—it was on producing the best products possible and earning the loyalty of customers one bag at a time.
That commitment created a reputation that stretched far beyond southwest Virginia. Many families wouldn't make biscuits with anything else. Restaurants depended on the flour. Home cooks stocked their pantries with our famous seasoned flour. Some customers even had their favorite products shipped across the country because they couldn't find anything quite like Big Spring Mill.
When the Long family made the difficult choice to retire in 2022, the beloved mill went silent for a time. Four years later, people had used up the bags of flour and meal they had stashed in their home freezers when the mill closed, and were lamenting the final loss of their favorite mill products. Montgomery County businessman David Hagan, an Elliston native, heard the stories and took a chance on bringing Big Spring back to life. In June 2026, Big Spring Mill quietly began producing its legendary A-No 1 Seasoned Flour and the community cheered! As all of the legacy products become available in coming months, it will be a truly new chapter in a book that was thought to be closed forever.
The Big Spring Difference
Quality starts long before a bag reaches your kitchen.
Every product begins with carefully selected grains and trusted sourcing partners. Our milling process is designed to produce flour and grain products with the consistency that home bakers and professional kitchens rely on every day. Whether you're baking from scratch, preparing a family recipe, or serving customers in a restaurant, dependable ingredients make all the difference.
One of the details that has always set Big Spring Mill apart is something many people notice before they ever open the bag—our signature hand-tied flour bags. While modern packaging has become increasingly automated, this small tradition reflects the craftsmanship and attention to detail that have defined our mill for generations. It's a simple reminder that some things are still worth doing by hand.
From Pantry Staples to Family Favorites
Every great meal starts with quality ingredients. Whether you're making fluffy biscuits, golden cornbread, crispy fried chicken, homemade desserts, or time-honored family recipes, Big Spring Mill has been helping kitchens across Virginia for generations. Our lines of flour, cornmeal, baking mixes & seasoned flour, are built on a simple promise: dependable quality you can count on every time you open the bag.
We know that cooking isn't just about ingredients—it's about bringing people together. That's why we're proud to create products that have become part of family traditions, holiday meals, church dinners, and everyday suppers for more than 175 years.
Looking Toward the Future
Big Spring Mill has always been about more than preserving history.
While we're proud of where we've come from, we're equally excited about where we're going. Today, the mill continues its tradition of producing trusted baking products while embracing the next generation of customers who value locally made, high-quality ingredients. The current operation has revived many of the original recipes, returned experienced mill workers, and resumed sourcing from many of the same regional grain suppliers that customers trusted for years.
Whether you're discovering Big Spring Mill for the first time or you've been using our flour for generations, we're honored to be part of your kitchen and your family's traditions.
From Our Mill to Your Table
For more than 175 years, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to quality. Every bag of flour. Every batch of cornmeal. Every mix. Every recipe. They're all made with the same purpose—to help families create meals worth remembering.
Welcome to Big Spring Mill. We're proud to be part of Virginia's past, present, and future.
