It is historically significant for association with Archibald Gardner, a Scottish immigrant and pioneer builder of more than 30 flour mills, sawmills, and other mills in Utah and Wyoming, as well as having built canals, roads, and dams.[2]
The current Gardner Mill was a replacement of an earlier one, and included Federal architecture styling. It is the only surviving mill in Utah that is documented to be one of Gardner's works.[2]
The mill and surrounding buildings have been turned into Gardner Village, that has restaurants, small shops and event venues nestled around the Gardner Mill. The mill itself houses a restaurant and a furniture store. Gardner Village has been operating since May 1980.
The mill also includes a petting zoo located in the southwest end opened in 2016, housing various farm animals such as chickens, pigs, alpacas, sheep, goats and emus, hosting pony rides. In 2023, the petting zoo was later modernized as part of a small amusement park known as Ricochet Canyon.
