BENTON COUNTY (KFSM) -- Nearly two months after major flooding destroyed the first floor of War Eagle Mill, repairs at the historic landmark were underway Wednesday (Feb. 17).
In December, War Eagle Creek rose to the bottom of the historic War Eagle Bridge and left six feet of standing water in the mill for three days.
Sarah Buck, who works for the mill, said the owners are using this as an opportunity to make some changes.
"We're going to be getting new floors, new walls, new fixtures that we're really excited about, new shelving and a whole new layout to better satisfy our customers," Buck said.
She said the mill is typically closed in January and February, but the repairs will delay the opening from March 1 to March 15.
"We have had engineers out here looking," Buck said. "The structure is all sound, the foundation is sound."
Buck said the mill's main attraction, the water wheel, was relatively undamaged. She said they had to clear debris from the spokes and replace the motor, but the wheel is operational.
She said sales have declined because the building is closed, but products can still be purchased online and in local stores. Buck said so far, there's no estimate on the cost of repairs.
"It's kind of to be expected being on the river like this," Buck said. "It's such a beautiful location, it comes with a couple of compromises."