BY LINDSEY DAVIES

ALBANY, Ore.--

Oregon has a new state park. Located just south of Albany, Thompson's Mill State Heritage Site is part of Governor Ted Kulongoski's park-a-year initiative.

Until just several years ago, Thompson's Mill was a fully operating business. Park officials say it is rare for a mill to continuously run this long. Something usually happens to a mill--whether it burns down, falls down or just gets abandoned

Located along the Calapooia river about 12 miles south of Albany, Thomson's Mill is Oregon's oldest water-powered mill. Originally built in 1858, the mill burned down but was rebuilt in 1862. Its silos were the first concrete silos built in western Oregon as well--dating back to 1917. The mill and its Queen Anne-style mill keeper's house are listed in the National Register of Historic places.

"It's pretty rare that we open up a park that's older than Oregon and a park like this gives people a chance to come and connect with a part of Oregon that they're never going to see anywhere else," Oregon Parks and Recreation coordinator Chris Havel said.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department used Oregon lottery funds to buy the site in 2004. Since then, the department has worked with local families and historians to interpret the mill's past.

The park features guided tours and interpretive displays. It officially opens to the public starting Sunday. It will be open on weekends from 9 am - 5 pm all winter. Week days will be added to the schedule next year when restoration projects are set to be finished.