Lehi Roller Mills

The Lehi Roller Mills has long stood as a kind of emblem of Utah Valley’s agricultural past—a place where local farmers’ toil in the fields turns into bread, cakes, and memories. Its roots reach back over a century, when farming families in the area banded together in 1906 to erect a flour mill that could process their own wheat locally, rather than sending it far away.

In its earliest years the mill was modest: the very first sack of flour was produced on April 2, 1906, after the business had secured a spot on East Main Street, conveniently located near the Union Pacific Railroad spur for shipping.  As demand grew, so did the mill. In 1910 a farmer named George G. Robinson acquired the enterprise and set about modernizing its equipment and infrastructure. He added larger grain elevators and concrete silos, and upgraded its machinery so that Lehi’s flour could keep pace with markets far beyond Utah Valley. 

One of the most striking visual legacies of that era is the painted logos on its silos—emblems of the Turkey Red and Peacock flour brands—that turned into iconic landmarks seen from the highway.  As the decades passed, the mill remained in the hands of the Robinson family. When George passed away in 1936, his sons Sherman and Raymond continued its operation, even navigating the turbulent mid-twentieth century agricultural and economic transitions. During World War II, for example, the mill supported the war effort by turning out flour destined for government contracts. 

Perhaps the most unexpected chapter in its story came in 1984, when the mill became a starring backdrop in the film Footloose. The producers chose it for its rustic authenticity and small-town character. In the movie, the main character, Ren McCormack (played by Kevin Bacon), works at the mill, and the prom scene is held there in defiance of the town’s ban on dancing. That cinematic moment sealed the mill’s place not just in local lore, but in pop culture. 

Over time the milling business that once relied solely on flour expanded into specialty mixes and baking products, adapting to shifting markets and tastes. But the mill’s path hasn’t been without peril. Around 2012, financial challenges pushed the operation toward bankruptcy. That era of uncertainty was resolved when local entrepreneur Ken Brailsford stepped in and bought the mill in 2013, investing in upgrades and helping to stabilize it for the next generation.  In 2018 the company refreshed its image under the name Lehi Mills, and has since pursued renovation of both structure and process—repairing windows, repainting the exterior (for the first time since the Footloose days), upgrading silos, and implementing a modern dust suppression system to reduce emissions. 

What’s remarkable is that despite all the changes—economic pressures, modernization, swings in agriculture, and cinematic fame—the Lehi Roller Mills (now Lehi Mills) continues to operate. When you drive past the silos, you’re not just seeing a relic; you’re glimpsing a living institution that bridges pioneer heritage and modern enterprise. Its continued use keeps alive the story of how ordinary farmers built something lasting, and how that something grew, adapted, and became more than a mill—it became part of the identity of Lehi itself.