Swann Covered Bridge Blount County, Alabama
Have you ever experienced one of those perfect road trips where everything just falls into place?
Last spring, my parents’ traveled from Ohio to Alabama so my family could show them some of the reasons we had grown to love Alabama (and why we miss it now)- keeping in mind the interests of both my mom and dad. Not necessarily an easy feat, but the day fell together perfectly and turned into one of those amazing days that I’ll cherish forever.
I planned to take the day and travel to Blount County, northeast of Birmingham, where three of the thirty covered bridges in the state can be found.
Our favorite, Swann Covered Bridge, was built in 1933 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge, with a total span of nearly 330 feet, stretches above the Locust Fork River, making it the longest surviving bridge in the state of Alabama as well as one of the longest in the United States.
Though the bridge is easy to find off State Route 79, just outside Cleveland, the road is closed at the top of the hill, making the bridge inaccessible. Since I had followed the directions printed on the brochure that I’d picked up at the visitor’s center, I did park my van with a couple other vehicles and we walked down the hill to the bridge. The walk to the bridge was about a half mile or so and though the view approaching the bridge was beautiful, I was uncomfortable leaving my van behind so we didn’t linger and enjoy it as much as we could have.
I did find a website (after our visit) that stated that the bridge is accessible from the west. You can find the directions and read more about the Swann Covered Bridge – Blount County, Alabama at their site.
Have you visited Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County, Alabama? Maybe you can share the directions you followed?
This post is linked to Photo Friday at Delicious Baby and Friday Daydreaming at R We There Yet Mom?
D Swann
Tuesday 22nd of May 2012
thank you for posting this. i have heard about this bridge for several years and am lucky enough to have a job that sends me all over the country. I will be leaving for alabama in a few weeks and will have to visit the bridge, i would love to know more about it. i know my family has a connection just for the fact that i am a swann and have traced back to george washington swann my ggg grandfather. any long lost reletives out there? i will also visit graves gap cemetery any info would be of great assistance. thanks again
Judith Golden
Friday 2nd of November 2018
i just found this page. George W Swann is my gg grandfather, I so hope the bridge is still there.
Tonya
Wednesday 23rd of May 2012
I'm sorry, I can't give you any additional information on the bridge or the area. I was only in the area long enough to see the bridge and all them information I have is what I researched and pretty much shared here. I hope you're able to see the bridge and are able to find the connection with your family! There are plans to reopen the bridge so who knows? Maybe it will be open to vehicles when you're there and you can drive over it. Happy Travels! :)
InACents
Monday 7th of May 2012
I saw it was near "Cleveland" and got excited as I had not seen this bridge yet. Wrong Cleveland. :)
Tonya
Tuesday 8th of May 2012
Sorry about that! :) Were you thinking Cleveland, Ohio or one of the 15 other Cleveland's that happen to be scattered around the US? I have plans to visit the covered bridges in Ohio a bit later this year. Any suggestions on which ones I shouldn't miss?
Becca@R We There Yet Mom?
Monday 7th of May 2012
Wow- what a beautiful bridge- I would expect all of these to be up in the New England area. Thanks for linking up this week!
~Becca
Sonja
Friday 4th of May 2012
Gorgeous.
Nicole
Friday 4th of May 2012
Wow, what a great shot and very beautiful too!