I Was Thinking About…Oklahoma’s Mysterious Bridge to Nowhere
By Andy Lee
One of my son’s high school friends sent me a message about one of Oklahoma’s hidden treasures, an intriguing abandoned bridge shrouded in mystery – the so-called Bridge to Nowhere. This puzzling structure sits partially submerged in Horse Creek Cove of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, spanning open water that touches no land. Neither its purpose nor origins are clear, leaving the bridge an isolated curiosity.
Looking down on Grand Lake from satellite imagery, you can spot the Bridge to Nowhere in Horse Creek Cove, merely sitting alone in the lake’s center. It’s a Camelback through truss design with three remaining spans resting on a concrete base.
The story behind this bridge is still unknown. Locals offer two tales, but no one can confirm which, if either, is true. Some say a politician built it to improve access to his land on the cove’s west side. But he lost office before completing the span. Others believe it was constructed as a turn-of-the-century toll bridge replacing the old ferry. Records suggest parts predate the 1930s, but details are scarce.
While the bridge’s past is murky, its current state is quite clear. This impressive partial structure serves no purpose, abandoned to the elements. Its original intent will likely forever stay shrouded in mystery since no conclusive evidence exists. Some argue this photogenic oddity should be demolished, while others say it merits protection.
Personally, I think the Bridge to Nowhere is a striking monument to unknown histories and paths not taken. We may never unravel its true background, yet it remains compelling. This scenic curiosity exemplifies how the march of progress leaves some stories behind like remnants fading in the lake.
So next time you’re paddling Horse Creek Cove, ponder this concrete question mark that defies explanation. We often focus on beginnings and destinations, not things left adrift in between. But sometimes, it’s those puzzling, unfinished fragments from the past that stick with us most. However it got there, the Bridge to Nowhere now belongs uniquely to the ages.
Let me know if you have any other details about this mysterious bridge. I’d be glad to update this post with any insights readers can offer into its origins. Unless new evidence surfaces, the Bridge to Nowhere’s history remains an open book with many blank pages. But its resilient presence still bridges eras, ideas, and possibilities on the open waters.
Stay curious, keep exploring.
I was thinking about... 