According to the Ga Dept. of Transportation, Georgia once featured over 250 covered bridges, but today you will find less than 20. Why cover a bridge? Back in the day, bridges were built of wood, and harsh weather conditions deteriorated the wood quickly. It was determined that covering a bridge to protect the roadway timbers increased its life-expectancy by 40 years! 

Covering a bridge proved also provided shelter from the rain and shade from the hot sun. A covered bridge kept horses from shying as they crossed a body of water, and it offered a private place for young lovers to meet and steal a kiss – hence the name often given to covered bridges – “kissing bridges!”

The most renowned bridge builder in Georgia was Horace King, born into slavery in 1807, but later freed in 1846 by his former master, mentor and building contractor, John Godwin, who appreciated King’s talents. Using the Town’s Lattice Truss design, King built over 100 covered bridges in Georgia and throughout the South. Later his sons joined him in the family business.  

After the Civil War, King served in the Alabama legislature, before moving to LaGrange, where he died in 1885. King’s unmarked grave was discovered in 1978, and a headstone was placed there with the inscription, “Horace King, Master Covered Bridge Builder.”

The closest covered bridge to our area is Red Oak Covered Bridge, near the town of Woodbury. Built in the 1840s by Horace King, the bridge is the oldest and longest wooden bridge still in use in Georgia, and you can still drive (slowly) over its bumpy, wooden expanse! There is a quiet and serene picnic area across the bridge next to the creek. Red Oak Bridge is somewhat of a celebrity – featured in the 2012 film, “Lawless.”

This summer, enjoy a short day trip to Red Oak Covered Bridge, picnic at the bridge or continue down the road to Woodbury for antique shopping and a delightful lunch at the Blackbird Café.

Directions: As you head south on GA Hwy 74/85 past Senoia and Haralson, and four miles before you reach the town of Woodbury, look for signs for the Red Oak Covered Bridge, sometimes called the Imlac Covered Bridge. It spans Red Oak Creek in the tiny community of Imlac.