We tend to think of covered bridges in places like New Hampshire and Vermont. But, did you know that there are covered bridges in Virginia? One of them happens to be right in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley!
Traveling along US 11, the Valley Pike, between Mt. Jackson and New Market in Virginia a small tree lined road leads off in a straight line to the west. In about a mile the road brings you to the Meems Bottom Covered Bridge. The bridge is 204 feet long which makes it the longest covered bridge in Virginia. It is also one of the last still open to traffic.
One day we stopped to take a look at the bridge.
Construction
Spanning the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, this is at least the 4th bridge located on this site since the Civil War. There were previous bridges – all destroyed during the war. The name of the bridge comes from the Meem family – a locally prominent family who owned large tracts of land in the area.
After floods destroyed three previous bridges, the current bridge was constructed in the 1890’s. Two massive stone abutments anchor the bridge. They go down ten feet below water level. Wooden arches and trusses support the bridge along with steel beams added in 1937.
The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 10, 1975. Unfortunately, vandals burned the bridge on the night of October 31, 1976. Rebuilt using the original timbers, the reconstruction also added new steel beams and concrete piers to the bridge. The bridge reopened in September 1979.
Visiting
The bridge is free to visit with limited amenities. The east end of the bridge has a small parking area and picnic tables. Short trails lead to the river. The bridge is open to one way traffic. Since there are very few places where traffic goes across covered bridges it is worth driving across.
Yes, there are covered bridges in Virginia. The Meems Bottom Covered Bridge is a little gem that is waiting for you to explore – just off Highway 11. Happy Sightseeing!
To find out more about the Meems Bottom Covered Bridge click or touch here.
Note: This post above may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase when clicking a link. Please consult our privacy policy or our disclaimer for more information.
