On the banks of Carnochan Creek a short distance east of here are the ruins of a famous sugar mill and rum distillery operated early in the 19th century. Constructed of tabby by William Carnochan on his huge sugar plantation at "The Thicket," these buildings closely followed plans laid out by Thomas Spalding of Sapelo. The sugar works and rum distillery operated successfully on a commercial scale until 1824, when a hurricane tore off the roof and upper story of the mill and cane barn and destroyed other buildings.