The small unincorporated village of Yorklyn was once a small but bustling mill town, tucked into the hills of northern Delaware. No one is clocking in at these mills anymore and the machinery was removed years ago, but there’s still a lot to discover in Yorklyn. Here’s a look at what you’ll find today.

Yorklyn is just 10 miles from the busy heart of Wilmington, but it's another world. The first Yorklyn mill opened in the 1700s and it was a snuff tobacco mill. Grist mills and fiber mills followed, and Yorklyn became a booming mill town for about 200 years. The last mill closed in 2008.
David Beyer / AllTrails
One of the best ways to explore Yorklyn is on foot. A 1.4-mile asphalt trail will take you past some of the oldest buildings and ruins in Yorklyn, including the Marshall Papermill, the National Vulcanized Fibre mills and the Garrett Snuff Mill.
Joanne Franks / AllTrails
There's a beauty to the old brick buildings in this valley. In this picture, part of the former snuff mill is framed by other ruins.
David Beyer / AllTrails

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Something new is on tap in one of the old mill buildings. The Dew Point Brewing Company moved into a dilapidated snuff mill building in 2013. It now produces delicious Belgian-inspired beers.
William Hughes / AllTrails
The Red Clay Creek is a small creek—it stretches just 13 miles—but it once powered the mills here. It's a tranquil, meandering creek, although it has been subject to flooding during big storms.
William Hughes / AllTrails
While nature has reclaimed some of the old industrial property and some of the buildings have been torn town, there's an active movement to protect and revitalize Yorklyn's industrial past. Many of the old mill structures will be protected forever.
Skip Ward / AllTrails

For a small town, there’s a lot to do in Yorklyn. Some of the old industrial property is part of the Auburn Valley State Park. The park includes the historic Marshall Mansion, the Marshall Steam Museum and the Auburn Valley 1/8-scale railroad. Interested in exploring more ruins in Delaware? Check out these 10 Abandoned Places in Delaware That Nature is Reclaiming.

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Yorklyn, Kennett Township, DE, USA