Mayfield Dairy Officially Reopens Athens Visitor Center For Public Tours

After completing a six-week renovation project at its Athens Visitor Center, Mayfield Dairy Farms today announced the company has officially reopened the facility to the public and is now accepting tours of the historic dairy in Athens, Tn. In addition, Mayfield Dairy will celebrate the reopening of the Athens Visitor Center by holding a “Free Ice Cream Day” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, where the public come out to the Athens Visitor Center and enjoy a free single scoop of their favorite Mayfield ice cream.

“Mayfield Dairy built the Athens Visitor Center as a place where we could connect with our customers. Since then, the facility has become a gateway where people can explore the plant operations, learn more about the Mayfield story and its iconic brand, and sample many of our delicious, award-winning products,” said Mary Williams, general manager for Mayfield Dairy Farms. "After weeks of renovations, we are thrilled to re-open our doors and look forward to renewing old friendships with our loyal customers and fans as well as making new ones as people continue to visit Mayfield Dairy for years to come.”

Last year, nearly 70,000 people visited the Athens Visitor Center to get an up-close, behind-the-scenes tour of the Mayfield plant and see how their favorite Mayfield products are made.  According to company officials, more than a million people have visited the facility since its opening back in 1994, with people coming from all 50 states and from countries as far as Russia, Japan, Austria, England, China, Israel, Africa, India and many others.

The public tour starts with a special film presentation that takes visitors on a journey through the history of Mayfield Dairy, starting with its beginnings in 1910 when T.B. Mayfield purchased 45 jersey cows and began delivering milk to customers in his hometown of Athens to present day where Mayfield Dairy has become one of the largest dairies in the Southeastern United States.  

After watching the film, visitors will go on a plant tour where they can see the bottling of milk and the production of ice cream and novelties.  The tour concludes with a stop at the Mayfield Dairy Ice Cream Parlor where visitors can taste Mayfield’s delicious milk and enjoy a delightful scoop of their favorite Mayfield’s ice cream that is made fresh daily.

The Athens Visitor Center will reopen with the following schedule:

Public tours at the Visitor Center in Athens and Mayfield's other Visitor Center in Braselton, Ga., do have a nominal charge per person, which also includes a free scoop of delicious Mayfield ice cream after the tour.  

For more additional information on admission costs or to schedule a tour, call 423 649-2653.