Bridges of Iowa - Cerro Gordo County

The Wilkinson Covered Bridge.     11/1/2019 dwm photo

Before we turn our attention to the "Bridges of Madison County," there are other bridges to write about, five to be exact.

We'll start in the Iowa County of Cerro Gordo, named for the battle of the same name during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).

A businessman in the area who was on a county board, came up with the idea.  Then, with $4,500 and volunteer labor, the bridge was built in 1969 east of Mason City.

It was burned down by vandals in 1997, then rebuilt in 1998.  It was closed to vehicle traffic in 2015 when it failed to meet bridge standards, but re-opened in May, 2017.

The bridge crosses a branch of the Shell Rock River
which runs parallel to the bridge. 11/1/2019 (dwm)

When I was planning this trip, I found several references to it being closed and the fire which destroyed the original.  It was only after a deeper dive that I found a local radio station's news item about it re-opening.

When it was rebuilt, neighbors contributed 50 trees to the cause.

Which sounds like an old-fashioned barn raising.

The pluck and persistence is part of the charm for this not-so-old bridge.

The south approach to the Wilkinson Bridge.
11/1/2019 dwm photo

The Wilkinson Pioneer Park Bridge is likely the last covered bridge any visitor to Iowa wants to see, but your visit to the bridges is incomplete without it.

In fact, this is one of only two bridges you can drive across in Iowa - there is something about the sound of wheels over lumber that can be duplicated - good reason to make the trip to north-central Iowa.

Wilkinson Covered Bridge
Built: 1969
Style: Lattice thru truss
Length: 50 feet

There are more bridges to see - follow the link to see more of My Covered Bridge collection.