This Virginia Mill Home Comes With a Giant Hornet Nest

Some historic homes come with original woodwork. This one comes with an original mill wheel, a waterfall view, and a hornet's nest roughly the size of a beach ball. Moffatt's Creek Mill, known locally as Smiley Mill, sits on 3.48 acres along Moffatt's Creek in Raphine, Virginia, in the heart of Augusta County. The former flour mill is now a three-bedroom, three-bath home with 2,160 square feet of rustic living space, and it's being sold fully furnished.

A Flour Mill With a Second Life

The mill was first built in the 1870s. According to the Reddit post, it burned in the 1920s, and it was rebuilt in 1929. Today it's a residence that still shows its working past. The basement holds the original mill wheel along with storage and laundry. The lower level has a family room, bedrooms, and a full bath. The main level opens onto a large deck over the creek, and the primary bedroom has a private balcony facing the waterfall. Outside, you can fish for trout right from the banks. Recent updates include a slate-style roof, a new septic system, fresh insulation, and new flooring and appliances. Even the town has a backstory: one commenter noted that Raphine takes its name from the Greek word for "needle," chosen by a local inventor who patented a sewing machine in the 1800s.

About That Hornet's Nest

Then there's the photo everyone stopped scrolling at. A massive hornet's nest hangs in plain view, and it lurks in the background of a couple of other shots too. Reddit had plenty to say. One commenter asked whether it belonged to a protected species, another said the hornets were simply the current tenants, and someone else imagined the sales pitch: a free swarm with every purchase. A few people wondered whether it was a decorative fake, while others explained that people sometimes collect abandoned nests as rustic decor. The mill wheel got its own fan club, too, with commenters dreaming of hooking it up to a generator. Others pointed out that a deck support now runs straight through it. On the practical side, some locals noted that the front door sits close to a busy road and that parking is limited.

The Internet Has Thoughts

Naturally, this listing caught the attention of Reddit's r/zillowgonewild community. See what people are saying about it here.

Whether you dream of a creekside retreat, an artist's studio, or just a home with a really good story, this mill is worth a look. Spheksophobes, consider yourselves warned. View the full listing here.