What Dexter Cider Mill's 'oldest' claim means
Dexter Cider Mill dates to 1886 and calls itself Michigan's oldest continuously operating cider mill — a narrower claim than simply having the oldest mill history.
Michigan has two cider mills that use a version of the word “oldest,” and the difference is in the fine print. Dexter Cider Mill says it is Michigan’s oldest continuously operating cider mill. Its history dates the mill to 1886 and says just three families have owned it. Pure Michigan uses the same continuous-operation wording.
Yates Cider Mill, near Rochester Hills, makes a different claim. Its history reaches back to a water-powered mill established in 1863, with cider pressing beginning in 1876, so Yates calls itself Michigan’s oldest cider mill. In plain English, Yates has the earlier mill and cider dates; Dexter’s distinction is the uninterrupted run it traces to 1886. Without a statewide registry using one definition, that is the fairest way to understand the two claims.
The Dexter mill still presses cider with a wood rack press and Michigan apples. It is a seasonal business, so check the current schedule before making the drive. The mill is at 3685 Central Street, beside the Huron River in Dexter.
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Last reviewed against the listed sources: July 16, 2026.