Tipp Roller Mills is a landmark and a concert and event venue in Tipp City, Ohio. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Tipp Roller Mills was built by Uriah and James John in 1838-39 as a grist mill at Lock 15 along the Miami-Erie Canal in Tipp City.

The mill opened in 1840 and for many years, it was known for its brand Snow Ball Flour. The structure no longer operates as a grist mill, but it is a national historic landmark and an integral part of Tipp City’s history.

The Miami-Erie Canal came through the area in 1837, bringing new markets, a new mode of transportation and an economic boom. In 1840 John Clark platted a town to the west of the mill.

An admirer of William Henry Harrison, who was at that time campaigning for president of the United States, Clark drew from Harrison’s campaign slogan, “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too,” and named his new town Tippecanoe, later shortened to Tipp City.

Tipp Roller Mills differed from many other mills of the era by using rollers rather than buhr stones to crush grain. A roller mill works by feeding material into a pair (or more) of rotating rollers. The material is squeezed between the rollers, and pressure is applied to crush or grind it into a smaller size.

The roller surfaces are often corrugated or textured, which helps break down the material more efficiently. The material passes through a system of sieves or classifiers, which ensures that only particles of the desired size are used for the end product.

In 1996, mill owner Steve Watson began preservation efforts at the mill. To help fund its restoration and maintenance, he opened the Tipp Roller Mills Theater as a venue for music concerts, special events and weddings.

View “Mills of Ohio” for a look at other mills in the state. If this video does not appear, please use this link — https://youtu.be/QgUhqO6d2lE

The Tipp Roller Mills Theater is located on the first floor of the old grist mill, 225 E. Main Street in Tipp City. The theater has a raised stage, auditorium seating, and a small dance floor. Shows start at 7 pm and admission is $8 per person. Groups and bus tours are welcome.

Concerts and other performances are offered on the second and fourth Thursdays each month, June through early December. Concerts offer a variety of musical styles appealing to many tastes, ranging from big band to jazz to bluegrass and everything in between. 

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

Share Dusty Tires with a friend; your likes and comments are appreciated. And subscribe to Dusty Tires and receive a weekly email with the latest blog article. It’s free!

All rights reserved, Dusty Tires (dusty-tires.com), 2026.