Hello everyone!
When I first heard about this abandoned watermill, I started digging up information about it. There were all sorts of wild stories – from ghostly apparitions to werewolves and phantom shadows that would flicker in the windows.
Mne too teso tseperti,
...I ya mechtayu ob odnom:
Skoroy svobodu obresti,
Progryzhit svoi vetkhiy staroy dom,
Proklyaty staroy dom!
And this place is conveniently avoided by the locals, who swear that the spirits live there...
It's easy to believe in ghosts and that the building is actually cursed, especially since it's just a stone's throw away from the village, literally across the river.
But, despite being abandoned and left to rot, it's still standing – albeit in a pretty sorry state. The floors creak, the walls are crumbling...
So, what's the story behind this place?
Well, it's time to get to the good stuff – the abandoned watermill (mukomolnya) of the Bushmari brothers.
Bushmari brothers watermill reviews
WHERE IS IT LOCATED?
The Bushmari brothers' watermill is situated on the outskirts of the village of Durasovo in Chishminsky district, Republic of Bashkortostan. I've already written about some of the attractions in Chishminsky district – the mausoleums of Turahan and Husseinbek, which are super popular and always packed with tour groups.
There's this abandoned mill that's not exactly a popular tourist spot, but it's still got a certain allure to it - especially for those who love exploring abandoned places and the mysterious.
I've got to say, getting there is a breeze – it's just 80 km from Ufa. The road is smooth and paved. If you're coming from Ufa, just look out for the turn-off to the left towards the village of Durasovo, and then it's another 5.5 km to the site. The last bit of the road isn't great, but even with a low-clearance vehicle, you should be able to make it.
There are signs on the main road to guide you, and once you get to the village, there'll be more signs pointing the way. Just stick to the right-hand side of the road, and then take a sharp drop down towards the river. You'll end up on a dirt track, and from there, it's a bit of a trek to the mill itself. The thing is, the mill is situated on a sort of island – the Dema River on one side, and its old bed on the other. There's no bridge, so you'll have to find a shallow spot to cross the river. It's best to visit in the autumn, when the water's a bit lower. We've been there twice, and both times it was autumn.
Summer's a different story, though – the riverside path is overgrown with thistles and nettle, so it's not exactly the most pleasant place to visit.
SO, WHAT MAKES THIS ABANDONED MILL SO SPECIAL?
This mill's been around for over 130 years – it was built back in 1890. For a long time, it was the hub of activity in the area, with people coming from all over to grind their grain. But that was back in the day – now it's just a relic of the past, slowly rotting away.
The building itself is a solid wooden structure, three storeys high. It's held up pretty well, considering its age.
Bushmari's Mill Reviews
I was really disappointed by the state of the interior. In some areas, the floors are missing, and the windows look like empty eye sockets – it's like something straight out of a horror movie, and you start to imagine all sorts of creepy things.
The equipment for the modernization wasn't touched – everything's still the same as when it was built. But, of course, people have already taken everything they could carry away. I think if it wasn't for the difficulties of getting to the mill, they'd have probably taken everything else too.
The building itself is notable for being one of the best-preserved industrial structures in Bashkortostan, and it could easily be considered a monument to architecture. However, no one seems to care about preserving it, and soon there won't be anything left to restore.
Bushmari's Mill Reviews
WHO WERE THE BUSHMARI BROTHERS?
There were two brothers, Fedor and Vasiliy Bushmari. They were merchants, and this mill was named after their production. In Ufa, their house still stands, where they used to live. The brothers were known for their philanthropy and often helped out with charitable causes.
OUR VISIT
We visited the mill twice – the first time was last year. The weather was pretty gloomy, with light rain and fog.
I have to say, the second time we visited, the weather was just perfect – a bright, sunny day. Maybe we wouldn't have even gone if it hadn't been for that moment when I was part of a group tour organized by a company specializing in Bashkiria tours, and I saw that they were planning a trip to this mill. I'd never seen anyone organize a tour here before, so I thought maybe they'd done some work to get it in order and asked my husband to stop by on the way and take a look.
But nothing had changed – the only difference was the better weather.
So we arrived at the mill, and a stream blocked the way. Right away, you can see the remains of the dam that powered the mill.
Bushman Mill reviews
During our first visit, we had to navigate through these dams, constantly worried that we'd slip into the water. The weather wasn't exactly conducive to swimming, after all.
On our second visit, a bit further upstream, we saw some metal pipes and a wooden boardwalk that made it easy to cross over. And that's exactly what we did – the mill comes into view through the overgrown grass. There are paths trodden through the underbrush, suggesting that people do come here regularly.
You can see the mill itself in the photo below, just to the left of the overgrown area, with the Durasovo village in the distance.
Bushman Mill Reviews
I'm glad the trails are well-trodden – otherwise it'd be tough to navigate. It's been abandoned for so long, the undergrowth is pretty thick.
And finally, we made it to the mill. The stairs at the entrance are missing, which I think is a bit suspicious. They've even put up a sign warning people not to go in. But there's something about it that draws you in, and we decided to venture inside.
Bushman Mill Reviews
Inside, it's chaos and abandonment. The floor is like a grate – in some places, it's just missing, with just the crossbeams left. But they're solid, and we carefully made our way across, only to stumble upon a pile of trash that's been dumped in the corner.
Bushman Mill Reviews
Not a single pane of glass remains intact. It's all gaping holes and a bit unnerving. We caught a glimpse of the view through one of the windows, and I thought it was going to be amazing, but it's not. The whole area is overgrown with burdock and oak trees – there are other trees too, but the oaks dominate.
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I've heard the rumors about ghosts and shadowy figures lurking in the windows, but let's be real – it's just a abandoned building. It's a sad sight to see it crumbling down over time.
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As I was exploring the building, I came across this massive concrete millstone that's slowly wearing down over time. It's definitely a sight to behold, especially for someone who's not used to seeing things like this.
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After exploring the building, I decided to take a look at the foundation of the mill. It's built on concrete pilings, which looks pretty solid. I guess they really knew how to build things back in the day.
Bushman's Mill Reviews
When we take a step back to look at the mill, it's both impressive and intimidating. The experience of visiting the mill can be totally different depending on the weather. We visited once on a gloomy day, just the two of us, and it felt like something straight out of a horror movie. But on a bright, sunny day with a family member joining us, the abandoned mill looked totally different.
Bushman's Mill Reviews
ANOTHER ABANDONED STRUCTURE
As we explored the island, we stumbled upon another abandoned building hidden away in the shadows of the trees. We decided to take a closer look.
Bushman's Mill Reviews
This low, one-story wooden building has massive windows, although the glass and doors are missing. Inside, there are remnants of old plasterwork.
Bushman's Mill Reviews
However, time hasn't been kind to this building – the roof has collapsed, part of the wall is missing, and there's a massive pile of trash inside. It's clear that the mess was made by some adventurous tourists who love exploring abandoned places.
Bushmills Mill Reviews
I stepped inside the building, in the part where the roof is missing, and the floor is covered in fallen leaves that crunch satisfyingly underfoot. But at the same time, they hide some pretty hazardous areas – potholes, rusty nails, and other fun stuff that a abandoned building can offer.
Bushmills Mill Reviews
On one of the walls, I stumbled upon a sign that reads 'Women's Room'.
Bushmills Mill Reviews
This building used to be some sort of guesthouse, where people waiting in line for grain milling could stay.
THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE MILL
Aside from the overgrowth, the place has a pretty pleasant atmosphere – the nature around here is stunning. I think it would be even more beautiful during the summer, when everything's in bloom and smells amazing. But in the summer, you won't be taking a leisurely stroll through the thistles and nettle.
Bushmills Mill Reviews
AND WHAT ABOUT THAT MEDIEVAL CASTLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER?
Just across the river from the mill, in the village, you'll spot another stone building with limestone blocks and red brick accents – it's like something out of a medieval castle.
mill reviews
I'd love to take a stroll over and check it out.
This abandoned building used to belong to the Bushmarin brothers, and it was once a drying facility. For a while, it was even a lard press. Now it's just standing vacant, battered by the wind and worn down by time – it's a miracle it's still standing.
It was built back in 1904.
mill reviews
The walls are starting to crumble in some spots, and inside, it's even more intense – the only thing that really stands out is the massive pile of trash and debris in one corner.
mill reviews
The windows are small, but they're still pretty unnerving, especially with those empty 'eye sockets' staring back at you.
Abandoned Bushmarin Brothers Water Mill Reviews
FINAL VERDICT
The abandoned water mill of the Bushmarin Brothers is a unique and impressive structure that's interesting from an architectural standpoint, but unfortunately, it's in such a dismal state that it'll be nothing but a memory in a few years.
I had a blast exploring these abandoned spots, and I'm glad I got to touch the weathered walls of this old building.
I'd definitely recommend this place to fellow urban explorers. However, I'd be a bummer for fans of the supernatural – there's nothing spooky about this place.
Just be careful when you visit, though.
Thanks for reading my review! Give it a thumbs up and leave a comment if you'd like.
Take it easy!
Check out my other reviews:
The Mausoleum of Tura Khan, Republic of Bashkortostan
The Mausoleum of Khuseinbek, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia
The Park of Stone Sculptures, Kuschnarenkovo Village, Republic of Bashkortostan
The Socratka Deer House
Chelyabinsk Hydroelectric Station
Brick Ovens in Merezhevoy, Chelyabinsk Region