Serpon Sugar Mill is Belize's first historical reserve. The mill was established in 1865 and was a technological marvel for its time, being powered by steam. It was a major economic driver for Belize for about 30 years.
Hidden in the jungle one mile in on the access road to the village of Sittee River is an important landmark in Belize’s colonial history. The mill was bought by William Bowman and it, along with the Regalia, bought and owned by an American, fueled Belize’s economy for about 30 years.
At its peak, the Serpon Sugar Mill was producing and shipping 1,700 pounds of sugar a month. The mill was a major breakthrough in the sugar industry, as it was the first steam-powered mill in Belize. This was a significant improvement over the manual process that was previously used by the Mestizos and Mayans.