Owen's Covered Bridge

A Once Abandoned Covered Bridge – 1887

Abandoned in 1939, it was relocated to a new home in Easter Lake Park in 1968.

At one time there were fifty covered bridges in Iowa, now only twelve remain today. In Madison County there are seven, three in Marion County, one in Keokuk County, and there is one remaining in Polk County. Easter Lake Park in Polk County, is the location of one of these historic relics, Owen’s Bridge. A relatively unknown treasure, it is set back from the park road and spans a small waterway over the lake. It is now a part of the park’s paved trail and it serves as a pedestrian bridge across the water.

The original bridge was built to span the old channel of the North River just east of Carlisle. In 1887 a new bridge replaced the original that was destroyed in an 1886 flood. It was constructed in 1887-1888 and was used for 52 years. It had been part of the road that went from Martins Ferry to Winterset. In 1939 the road and the river were re-routed and the bridge was left abandoned. The bridge uses the Howe plan of vertical tension rods and vertical diagonals. These are original to the bridge; the roof, siding, and floor are new materials. Covered bridges were built to protect the trusses from weathering, and the bridges lasted longer.

In 1967 the bridge was purchased from Mr. Owen for $1 and was moved to what was then know as Yeader Creek Park for a cost of $4,500. Neglected and broken, It had been sitting abandoned on Gordon Owen’s land, which was 2.5 miles north of Carlisle. The Polk County Conservation Board stepped in to save this historic relic from destruction. The new construction of Red Rock Reservoir would have flooded Polk County’s last covered Bridge.

Owens bridge is beautiful and accessible year round. Because of the County’s preservation this historic covered bridge will last for many years to come.

Source information waymarking.com

All photos by Abandonedexplorers.com ©

Check out the bridge at Easter Lake Park, 2830 Easter Lake Dr, Des Moines, IA 50320. Enter the park and go to the right. The bridge will be on the left with parking very close. The park pathway goes right through the bridge.

Amazon Links

Abandonedexplorers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.