MILLHEIM — A vibrant and quaint community offering a variety of shops, businesses and community venues, the borough of Millheim is alive with history and culture.
With a designated historic district placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, residents have worked to maintain the historical style of the community.
Located on Route 45 about 30 minutes east of State College, Millheim is situated in a rural setting, and, along with history, it provides visitors with plenty of opportunities to enjoy everything from fine food and drinks to arts and entertainment.
Millheim means “mill home” and the name came to be because of a millhouse that was built next to Elk Creek.
Today, Elk Creek has another meaning. It is the name of a popular watering hole and well-known restaurant, Elk Creek Café & Aleworks. Since 2007, residents and visitors from near and far have come to Elk Creek to enjoy an authentic dining experience. Serving fresh, local cuisine and original ales and offering a venue for local performers, this restaurant/brew pub/music venue is one of the community’s most well-known spots.
Another Millheim treasure is the Green Drake Gallery and Arts Center. Described as a “community gathering place,” the center is a hub of creativity, complete with an art gallery, artist studios, an innovative learning center and a music venue.
Other shops and businesses also add to the charm of Millheim, including the IngleBean Coffee House, Millheim Hotel (with a restaurant and bar, in addition to 20 rooms), Original Italian Pizza (which also has ice cream) and The Wine Shop at Millheim, which sells wine from Shade Mountain Vineyards.
Three Porches Bed and Breakfast, a community pool, a meat market, bank, beauty parlor, veterinarian, attorney, computer technician, funeral home, several auto repair operations and hardware, jewelry, women’s clothing, gift and convenience stores line the streets of Millheim, along with a few different special-event venues.
The Bremen Town Ballroom can hold up to100 people for special events and has a commercial kitchen and the UpTexas Chapel, which also can be rented. The Millheim Theatre has an auditorium that seats 375, and is also available for special events. The theater adds to the history of the community: It opened in 1923 and, since that time, has served as a live-performance and film venue.
With about 900 residents, there is a community celebration in early summer with a Mayfly Festival, featuring vendors, musical performances, artistry and craftsmanship exhibitions. The Millheim Fireman’s Carnival takes place a few weeks later.
