Southeast Drive Covered Bridges
This drive is new this year and includes seven different covered bridges. This route is mainly south and east of Lancaster City, which is the least built-up part of the county, and briefly travels through Chester County. We’ll cruise through Amish farmland and along creeks in a very picturesque drive. For you Groundhog Day fans, we’ll pass the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge, home of Octorara Orphy, rival prognosticator to Punxatawny Phil. The drive will take about 3 hours round trip from the Eden. You may prefer to drop out in Intercourse and have lunch or do some shopping at the many shops in town and in Kitchen Kettle Village. Get directions for this drive by clicking here or use the attached pdf file to view or download.
Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge spans Mill Creek in the Lancaster County Park. The bridge is also known as
the County Park Covered Bridge, Baer's Mill Covered Bridge, Isaac Baer’s Mill Bridge, Keystone Mill Covered Bridge, Binder Tongue Carrier Covered Bridge, and Mill 2A Covered Bridge. The bridge has a single span, wooden, double burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. The deck is made from oak planks. It is painted red, inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in red with white trim. Unlike most historic covered bridges in the county, it is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Lime Valley Bridge is single span Burr Arch with a
total length of 103 feet. It carries Brenaman Road over Pequea Creek. This historic bridge is an was built in 1871 by Elias McMellen at a cost of $3,500.
Neff's Mill Covered Bridge spans the Pequea Creek. The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr
arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. The deck is made from oak planks. It is painted traditional red, on both the inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. It is purportedly the narrowest covered bridge in the county. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Originally built by Christian Brackbill in 1824 for an unknown cost, it was rebuilt in 1875 by James C. Carpenter at a cost of $1,860
Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge spans the Octoraro Creek, West Branch. The bridge is purportedly
the only covered bridge in the county that is not built perpendicular to the stream it crosses due to the placement of the sawmill on one side of the bridge and the rock formations faced by the builders on the other side. The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. The deck is made from oak planks. It is painted traditional red on both the inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. Due to its remote location in an isolated part of the county, it is seen less than many of the county's other covered bridges.
White Rock Ford Covered Bridge or White Rock Covered
Bridge spans the West Branch of the Octoraro Creek. It was built in 1847 by John Russell and Elias McMellen, but the original was destroyed and rebuilt in 1884. The wooden burr bridge is 103 feet long and 13 feet wide.
Pine Grove Covered Bridge spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek on the border between
Lancaster County and Chester County It is the longest covered bridge in Lancaster County. The bridge has a double span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. It is the only doublespan covered bridge still in use. The bridge's deck is made from oak planks. It is painted red on the outside, but is not painted on the inside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. The bridge was built in 1884 by Elias McMellen. Length: 204 feet. Width: 15 feet.
Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek on the border between
Lancaster and Chester Counties. The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. The deck is made from oak planks. It is painted red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges, on both the inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. The bridge has a single window on only one side of the bridge. The bridge was built in 1880 by B. J. Carter | Northeast Drive Covered Bridges
This drive will take you through nine historic covered bridges while you wander through the heart of the Amish country. You’ll drive plenty of twisty country roads while enjoying the rural scenery. There will be farmland, windmills, one-room schoolhouses. Depending on the day you take this drive you should see buggies on the road as well as horse-drawn farm equipment. Mid way through we will have a break at a small park at Poole Forge where we can observe the Poole Forge covered bridge up close. The drive will take about 4 hours round trip. Get directions for this drive by clicking here or use the attached pdf file to view or download.
Hunsecker Covered Bridge spans Conestoga River.
Originally built in 1848 for $1988 by John Russell with a double Burr Arch truss system. Rebuilt for $321,302 in 1973 after the rising waters from Hurricane Agnes lifted it off its abutments and carried it downstream. Its length of 180 ft. makes it the longest singlespan covered bridge in the county.
Zooks Mill/Wengers Covered Bridge spans Cocalico Creek.
It is painted red on both the inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted red with white trim. The bridge is 74 feet long and 13 feet three inches wide. It has a wooden burr type truss and was built in 1849 by Henry Zook. Unlike many other bridges in the county the bridge withstood Hurricane Agnes, despite being filled with 6-and-a-half feet of water. It is also known as the Wenger Covered Bridge, the Rose Hill Covered Bridge, and the Cocalico #7 Bridge.
Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge apans Conestoga River. Built by
George Fink and Samuel Reamsnyder in 1846 for $1115. It is also known as Martin’s Mill Bridge, Eberly’s Cider Mill Bridge and Frantz’s Mill Bridge, all earlier mill owners. Steel “I” beams were installed under the floor to help support the county’s oldest bridge still in use.
Poole Forge Covered Bridge spanned Conestoga River. Built
by Levi Fink and Elias McMellen for $1219 in 1859. It was also known as Yohn’s Mill Bridge. Bypassed by a new concrete bridge in 1973, the bridge is located on private property in Caenarvon Township. Historical records tell us that before James Buchanan became president, he met his fiancee at Pool Forge, but she died before they could be married and he became our country’s only bachelor president.
Red Run Covered Bridge spanned Muddy Creek. Built by
Elias McMellen in 1866 (cost unknown). Originally owned by John Oberholtzer, this bridge is variously known as Run Red Grist Mill Bridge and Red Bank Bridge. In 1961 a new concrete bridge was built and the creek rerouted to bypass the old covered bridge. It is privately owned and no longer open to traffic. The nearby campground has used it for church services in inclement weather. Obviously in need of repair.
Butchers Mill Covered Bridge spans Cocalico Creek. Built
by Elias McMellen in 1881 for $1167. It was extensively damaged by a flood one year later and rebuilt by McMellen for $1025. At 68 ft., it is the second shortest covered bridge in the county.
Erb's Covered Bridge Spans Hammer Creek. In 1849 this
bridge was being built while tens of thousands of people were rushing to find gold in the California hills. The cost of the original bridge was $700, but the builder is unknown. Rebuilt by John G. Bowman in 1887 for $1744. It has received no major flood damage.
|
