Lehi Mills: A piece of Utah film and food history

LEHI, Utah (ABC4) — Nestled in the heart of Lehi, next to Lehi High School lies a piece of history of both film and food — Lehi Roller Mills.

Footloose’s Ren McCormack, played by none other than a young Kevin Bacon, worked at the roller mill. The mill is home to some of Footloose’s most iconic dancing scenes, namely the “dancing at the mill” scene after McCormack found out that dancing and rock music was banned in the small town.

When Footloose was filmed, the mill was surrounded by farmland. It’s now situated next to Lehi High School on Main Street, right off I-15.

According to the Lehi Mills website, the basement of the mill, where the prom scene and the iconic dance at the end of the movie took place, doesn’t exist.

“People come by the mill all the time asking about the basement and are disappointed to find out that it doesn’t exist like in the movie,” the site said.

The mill was opened in 1906 and is still operational today, 118 years later. Lehi Mills calls itself “a community landmark, historic place, and movie set” on its website.

The mill was owned by a local farmer and his family for over 100 years.

“In 1910, George G Robinson, a local farmer, acquired the mill. His family ran and operated the mill until 2012 when it was acquired by KEB Enterprises. George’s grandson, Sherm Robinson, continued to help run the Mill until his death in May of 2021. Lehi Mills continues to run to this day, striving to uphold the legacy of quality the Robinson family instilled,” Lehi Mills website states.

KEB Enterprises, a Pleasant Grove-based investment firm, still runs the mill to uphold the legacy of the Robinson family.

In the early 1980s, Footloose came to Utah. The Lehi Roller Mill, as well as the old Payson High School building, both played a major role in the movie.

“The famous 1984 movie ‘Footloose’ plays a big part in Lehi Roller Mills’ history! The mill plays an integral part of the movie. In the movie, the main character Ren McCormack, played by Kevin Bacon, worked at Lehi Roller Mills,” the website says. Ten years after the movie’s release, the mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places .

With the roller mill still being operational, it still plays a major part in the local and national food system. The flour mill sells to the Cincinnati-based Kroger Company, which includes local grocer Smith’s and Associated Food Stores, including Macey’s and several other chains along the Wasatch Front.

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