I wonder what it was like when people relied on covered bridges. Did folks really use them to dodge rain storms? Did kids hang out on them? Did young couples meet there?
There are only eight covered bridges in all of Virginia and two are about ten minutes away from the cabin. Both are located a short distance from one another in Patrick County.
Bob White Bridge
The Bob White Bridge is near Woolwine just off Route 8. There are plenty of signs so you can't miss it. It's a big bridge---80-feet long. It's the bridge in the photo. Originally, it was a connector between the road and a church. The road and church are still there---and so is the bridge. I’m told it's not the original bridge. It's been replaced. But it's open and you can walk on it. It's really something to see. The Smith River runs underneath. It's a cool area to either relax or let children run around and play on the banks of the River. It's fun to imagine people 80 years ago using the bridge to get to church.
Jack's Creek Bridge
A couple miles away you’ll find Jack's Creek Bridge. It crosses the meandering Smith River, too. It's smaller than the Bob White Bridge, just 48-feet long. According to VDOT, the original was built in 1914 and was later replaced with more modern materials. Still, it looks old and when there, your mind wanders back generations.
Covered Bridge History
There were hundreds of covered bridges in Virginia at one point. Floods and fire damaged or destroyed many. A VDOT publication I read stated metal bolts and steel made the bridges all but obsolete. With so few to be found, it's a rare and special treat to have two of them right in the neighborhood. They are in terrific shape.
Honest, It’s Fun
When you hear someone say, "We're going to visit the covered bridges," it doesn't necessarily make you think “party time.” But, when I visited both bridges with my family, we ended up spending hours there---taking pictures, playing near the water, and just hanging around. It made for a wonderful afternoon. Somehow, like many other places around Fairystone, the covered bridges make you slow down, relax, and enjoy. I hope you'll take some time to see both bridges sometime. They are a real treat.
There are only eight covered bridges in all of Virginia and two are about ten minutes away from the cabin. Both are located a short distance from one another in Patrick County.
Bob White Bridge
The Bob White Bridge is near Woolwine just off Route 8. There are plenty of signs so you can't miss it. It's a big bridge---80-feet long. It's the bridge in the photo. Originally, it was a connector between the road and a church. The road and church are still there---and so is the bridge. I’m told it's not the original bridge. It's been replaced. But it's open and you can walk on it. It's really something to see. The Smith River runs underneath. It's a cool area to either relax or let children run around and play on the banks of the River. It's fun to imagine people 80 years ago using the bridge to get to church.
Jack's Creek Bridge
A couple miles away you’ll find Jack's Creek Bridge. It crosses the meandering Smith River, too. It's smaller than the Bob White Bridge, just 48-feet long. According to VDOT, the original was built in 1914 and was later replaced with more modern materials. Still, it looks old and when there, your mind wanders back generations.
Covered Bridge History
There were hundreds of covered bridges in Virginia at one point. Floods and fire damaged or destroyed many. A VDOT publication I read stated metal bolts and steel made the bridges all but obsolete. With so few to be found, it's a rare and special treat to have two of them right in the neighborhood. They are in terrific shape.
Honest, It’s Fun
When you hear someone say, "We're going to visit the covered bridges," it doesn't necessarily make you think “party time.” But, when I visited both bridges with my family, we ended up spending hours there---taking pictures, playing near the water, and just hanging around. It made for a wonderful afternoon. Somehow, like many other places around Fairystone, the covered bridges make you slow down, relax, and enjoy. I hope you'll take some time to see both bridges sometime. They are a real treat.
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