Lodging

Ohio Covered Bridges-A drive into the past

Ohio Covered Bridges

A little bit about covered bridges: Why cover a bridge? Covered bridges were originally built with a roof to protect the only type of material folks had to use to make them in the early and mid-1800's-wood. Wooden trusses and wooden flooring can last nearly five times longer when protected from rain and snow. Roofs helped slow down this decay. There were also added bonuses to covering a bridge-horses tend to shy from high places and the covered sides kept them from seeing what lay below. Covered bridges were also known as "kissing bridges" and were a social gathering place for young couples wishing some privacy from prying eyes.

 

Ohio Covered Bridges in Vinton County-It's like taking a step back in time, the moment you drive beneath the peak of a covered bridge. Your tires make the soft exchange from asphalt to worn wood and for a moment, the walls hide from your eyes a hundred years of power lines, telephone poles and metal highway signs branded with weight limits and county road markers. Quite likely, the minute or two it takes to drive through a covered bridge will be the only time during your ride you won't be surrounded by the sights and sounds of the last century of modernization.

So sit back and enjoy. You can step back in time through five covered bridges in Vinton County. Some covered bridges can be driven through, and others are only a parking spot and walk-through away. Some roadways will take you through small towns with paved streets and others through thick forests with nothing more than gravel side roads. But all are a fascinating way to experience both the past and the present within the natural beauty of Vinton County.

Vinton County Map with Covered Bridges

developed by OVRDC: PDF

Ponn Covered Bridge  

Date Built:1874

Name: Ponn Humpback Covered Bridge. Also called Gheers Mill, Barnes Mille or Humpback Covered Bridge.

Length: 165'

Spanning Body of Water: Raccoon Creek

National Register Structure Number:#73001545(4/11/1973)

Location: 4 miles SW of Wilkesville over Raccoon Creek, Wilkesville

Architect, builder, or engineer: McGrath, Martin E.
Wells, Lyman

Truss Type: Double Multiple Kingpost + Arch (MKP/A)

A kingpost forms the truss in the center two panels.
A large arch was used to strengthen the existing truss. Many of Ohio’s bridges were stiffened in this way.
 


Built in 1874 over Raccoon Creek, this unique structure measures 174 feet long and 14 feet wide. Some experts believe that it is the only bridge of its design still standing in the United States. Structurally, the bridge is three spans with the camber foot in an arch and a combination of Burr Arch, King Post and Whipple. The original price tag for the structure was $1928.25.


 

 

 

Directions for

Ponn Covered Bridge:

From McArthur, take State Route 93 South to State Route 160 in Hamden. Turn left on East State Route 160 and follow to Wilkesville. Turn right on County Road 8 which is across from the village square and school yard. Go approximately 2 1/2 miles until you see a farmhouse on your right, the gravel road which is Township Road 7 is right after the farm. Turn Right on Township Road 7. Travel approximately 3/4 mile where the road makes a Y, turning left on Township Road 4. The bridge is about 1 1/4 miles on the left. It is closed to road traffic but there is parking in front of the bridge.

 

Arbaugh Covered Bridge

 Date Built: 1871

 

Name: Arbaugh Bridge. Also known as Aikens, Eakins Mill, McLaughlin Bridge, Geer's Mill Bridge.

Length: 111'

Architect, builder, or engineer: Gilman & Ward Co.

Spanning Body of Water: Raccoon Creek

National Register Structure Number: #76001539 (3/16/1976)

Location: N.E. Radcliff at Arbaugh on County Road 38 North over Raccoon Creek, Vinton Twp sec 10 off Ohio Route 32, 3.2m N.E. junction of State Route 160 or 2.8m. Mound Hill Road, Arbaugh

Truss Type: Multiple Kingpost + Arch (MKP/A)
A kingpost forms the truss in the center two panels. The multiple form is the simplest and the most common type in Ohio.


The Arbaugh Covered Bridge is the oldest of Vinton County's remaining five covered bridges and spans Raccoon Creek. When the 118 foot long structure was built in 1871, it cost $800.00.

 


 

Directions to Arbaugh Covered Bridge:

From the Ponn Covered Bridge, return to State Route 32 (Appalachian Highway) and make a right on to State Route 32.

You will note that County Road 43B will intersect  State Route 32 twice on the right. The third intersection of County Road 43B will occur on the left. This is the road you will want to take to get to Arbaugh Covered Bridge. Make a left on County Road 43B. Travel approximately 3/4 mile. 

 

Mt. Olive  Covered Bridge  

Date Built: 1875

 

 

Name: Mt. Olive. Also called Grandstaff Covered Bridge.

Length: 48'

Spanning Body of Water: Middle Branch Salt Creek

National Register Structure Number: #76001538

Location: 1 mile NE of Allensville on Mt. Olive Road, Allensville

Architect, builder, or engineer: George W.Pilcher

Truss Type:  Queenpost (Q)

The Queenpost is a three panel truss used for short spans and was devised as an extension of the basic kingpost by placing a horizontal member in the center panel.

 

Mount Olive Bridge was build by Civil War veteran George Washington Pilcher. It spans Middle Fork Salt Creek and is closed to traffic.


 

Directions to Mt. Olive Covered Bridge:

From the Ponn Covered Bridge, return to State Route 32 (Appalachian Highway). Make a right on State Route 32, returning to State Route 160. Make a right on to State Route 160 heading back toward Hamden. Make a right on State Route 324 toward Dundas.

In Dundas, make a right on to State Route 93 North. At State Route 50 in McArthur, turn left toward Allensville. In Allensville, turn north on to County Road 18. Travel approximately 1 1/2 miles and the bridge is on the right.

Bay Covered Bridge 

Date Built: 1876

 

 

Name: Bay Bridge. Also known as Tinker Bridge

National Register Structure Number: N/A

Length: 63'

Spanning Body of Water: Pond at Fairgrounds

Location: 1.5 miles from McArthur on St. Rt. 93. Vinton County Fairgrounds-moved from original site in 1967 near Lake Rupert.

Truss Type: Multiple Kingpost (MKP)

A kingpost forms the truss in the center two panels.
 


 

The Bay Covered Bridge was constructed over Little Raccoon Creek in 1876 near the present man-made Lake Rupert. In 1967, it was transported to the Vinton County Fairgrounds.

 


 

Directions to Bay Covered Bridge:

From the Ponn Covered Bridge, return to State Route 50 and make a right, heading back into McArthur. At State Route 93, make a left going north. The Bay Bridge is on the Vinton County Fairgrounds which is 1 1/2 miles north of McArthur.

Cox Covered Bridge 

Date Built:  1884    

 

Name: Cox Covered Bridge

Length: 40'

National Register Structure Number: N/A

Location: 9 miles north of McArthur, immediately off State Route 93 North and just south of State Route 56 and State Route 93 intersection.

Architect, builder, or engineer:

Truss Type: Queenpost (Q)
The Queenpost
is a three panel truss used for short spans and was devised as an extension of the basic kingpost by placing a horizontal member in the center panel.


 

Cox Covered Bridge spans Brushy Fork Creek and was built in 1884. Cars can no longer drive through the bridge.

Directions to Cox Covered Bridge:
From the Fairgrounds, turn left so you are heading north on State Route 93. Cox Bridge is located approximately 9 miles north of McArthur immediately off State Route 93 on Woodgeard Road.

 

Vinton County. We're just off the beaten path from wherever you're coming from or from wherever you're going. For every taste, we have an adventure waiting for you-lodging, dining, shopping and the great outdoors of Vinton County.

Information on covered bridge structure and truss diagrams provided with the help of

ODOT Office of Structural Engineering.

All covered bridge drawings are by Lorraine Radune, a local artist who lives and paints in McArthur, Ohio.

Vinton County Convention and Visitors' Bureau

 

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104 West Main Street

McArthur, Ohio   45651

(800) 596-4459  (740) 596-5033   info@vintoncounty.com

 

Unique lodging, covered bridges and miles of parks and forests make Vinton County an extra special place to visit. Once a huge part of the iron producing industry, the only remaining reflections of this past are a handful of iron furnace remnants, an allegedly haunted train tunnel and a few ghost towns nearly hidden beneath the tall grass. Instead of urban sprawl of the mid-1800's, the region has transformed itself over the last 150 years into a wonderland of outdoor recreation. There are over 70 miles of public trails for hiking, horseback riding and backpacking. There are beaches, gift shops, small towns and covered bridges. It's a place just off the beaten path of both time and highway. It's Vinton County, Ohio.

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