This gristmill has been re-purposed for use as a conservation area. This mill and its surrounding town have a significant historical past, which is evident throughout the plaques located around the conservation area. Ball's Falls is a beautiful area for photographs, to learn about the history of this mill, and to see the preserved remnants of the mill and its city which have not been altered. There are also many activities hosted at this location, such as the Ball's Falls Thanksgiving Festival with vendors, musical performers, and food.

In addition, Twenty Mile Creek flows behind the mill, and there are two breathtaking waterfalls that can be found along this creek. The upper falls are 35 feet (10.7 meters) in height and the lower falls are 90 feet (27.4 meters) in height. These historic buildings and the waterfalls, although no longer in use as mills, are the perfect points of interest for stunning photographs. Participants can wander throughout this conservation area and enter many of the buildings, while also learning about the historical significance.

Visitors are cautioned that there are fees associated with this destination as listed below.

During the American War of Independence, George and John Ball fought as soldiers for the British. After the war in 1783, they moved to Niagara where they operated kilns and produced lime. One of the kilns is still located on the property near the house. John and George Ball were given this land for their service and loyalty to the British in the American Revolution. The five-storey grist mill was built by John and George Ball at the lower falls in 1809. Ball's Falls played a significant part in the war of 1812 because the Americans were burning mills, so army troops were stationed near Ball's Falls to protect this gristmill, so it could continue to provide food supplies to the army and locals ("Ball's Falls Gristmill", 2016). Twenty Mile Creek was dammed so it could be used to power the mill. Next, a saw mill was added near the upper falls, and in 1840 a woolen mill was was the addition to be built near the upper falls.

The Ball's Falls gristmill was later expanded and the area became a small community, after adding a wool mill, a sawmill, a church and houses for the mill workers. Some buildings remain, while some have unfortunately begun to deteriorate. In 1962 the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority purchased this property and it has been converted into a conservation area. The original wooden gristmill is still standing, as it was preserved by the conservation authority, while other buildings on this site, such as the pioneer town on the former village site, had to be recreated by the conservation authority.

Ball's Falls grist mill. (2016). Hiking the GTA. https://hikingthegta.com/tag/balls-falls-grist-mil....

Ball's Falls. Ontario Ghost Towns. http://www.ghosttownpix.com/ontario/towns/ballsfal...

Stiver, H. (2015). Ball's Falls Gristmill: Ontario's Old Mills. Nature Notes. http://www.ontfin.com/Word/merritton-cotton-mill-ontarios-old-mills/

Stiver, H. (2017). Ball's woolen mills ruins: Ontario's old mills. Nature Notes. http://www.ontfin.com/Word/balls-woolen-mill-ruins-ontarios-old-mills/