Most Impressive Railroad Bridge

 

The Vance Creek Bridge is an arch bridge in the Satsop Hills of Mason County, Washington that was built for a logging railroad owned by the Simpson Logging Company in 1929. At 106 m in height, it is the second-highest railroad arch in the United States after the nearby High Steel Bridge. It was decommissioned in the 1970s, during the decline of logging on the Olympic Peninsula. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and to the Mason County Historic Preservation Register in 2008.

Recent popularity

The bridge gained popularity in the early 2010s as an attraction for photographers and thrill-seekers, due to its isolation and "unsafe" features, despite the bridge never having been open to the public. In 2014, the property owner Green Diamond Resource Company added barriers and surveillance to prevent further trespassing due to the emergence of graffiti and arson at the site, as well as the risk of a lawsuit. In 2016, the approach structure's wooden deck and railroad ties were removed to further deter trespassers.

Future

Green Diamond has stated they are not interested in demolishing the bridge as doing so would be prohibitively expensive and damage the sensitive riparian environment it's built over. They also stated they're not interested in establishing a scenic railroad or any other attraction at the bridge themselves, as they wish to focus solely on their timber business.

In 2013, Green Diamond opened up talks with Mason County Parks and a local bungee jumping company about leasing the bridge to the company. The bridge deck would be rehabilitated into a pedestrian crossing with a bungee jumping spot established mid-deck, similar to the Bridge to Nowhere in California. Green Diamond also approached Washington State Parks on opening the bridge to the public as a tourist attraction, but negotiations fells through due to a lack of funding and suitable insurance. As of August 2018, negotiations between Green Diamond, Mason County Parks, and a local bungee jumping company are still ongoing.

The End of the Vance Creek Bridge

In the remote stretches of Mason County, out near the wilderness regions of the Olympic Peninsula, a historical structure is quietly being destroyed, one board at a time. What should be a major attraction to the area, the picturesque Vance Creek railroad bridge, spanning a forested creek, is being destroyed in secret. You can blame the trespassers, you can blame out of town vandals, but at the end of the day, we might have to start blaming the land owners. You are sitting on a tourism gold mine and instead of being a people-friendly company, you are appearing out of touch. Keeping this historical wonder to yourselves is an outdated way of thinking. You could turn this into a tourist destination, like British Columbia’s Kinsol Trestle and show that you are a company that cares about the region’s historical landmarks. Instead, we get silence. 

History is something we should cherish and share, as it shows where we came from and how we used to be. That is how I feel about historical structures in the Pacific Northwest, like the Enchanted Valley Chalet and the Vance Creek Bridge. The former is  currently awaiting its fate, decided by the people of the Pacific Northwest and the National Parks. It is a cornerstone of our history and needs to be saved in some way, shape or form for future generations to marvel over. The Vance Creek Bridge is privately owned, off limits and its fate rests in a private business.  Yes, the area has slowly been destroyed by trespassers, drunk locals, vandals, fires and out of town visitors. The trespassers who have visited Vance Creek have been assholes, starting small fires, leaving tons of trash and acting like irresponsible jerks. If I owned the area, I’d be pissed off too. I wouldn’t want my property being ruined and people risking their lives taking silly pictures, but I also don’t think I would just start taking it apart. Yes, the area is dangerous and you could be sued if someone gets hurt on your land. I fully understand that. Your insurance must be through the roof for this bridge and the popularity would be infuriating. However, removing boards isn’t going to stop people from coming. In fact, it only increases the risk of an injury.

History is apparently not that important to many in the Pacific Northwest, and this bridge is a great representation of this. We should be protecting this bridge, showcasing the lumber history of Mason County and celebrating human achievements, but after a fire in early July of 2016, the bridge is more than likely vanishing. The fire is rumored to have damaged boards, which were recently ripped off and removed. Numerous sources have tried contacting the land owner to see how much damage occurred, to no reply.

The Vance Creek Bridge is full of history. Sitting 347 feet above Vance Creek, the Vance Creek Bridge is said to be the second highest railway arch bridge ever built in the United States. At 422 feet long, this bridge was originally built in 1929, along with the nearby High Steel Bridge, to help the logging industry in Mason County. While the High Steel bridge was paved over and used as a Forest Service Road, the vance Creek Bridge was kept private, accessed illegally by locals over the years. Once social media started showcasing this majestic bridge, the region blew up in popularity, forcing the land owners to start charging trespassers. Despite the rumors of felony trespassing charges, people from around the world still came to see Vance Creek Bridge and be dumbfounded by this engineering marvel. Now, with boards removed and the risk of injury even higher than before, we will soon only have our Instagram posts to look at. Our memories of walking this bridge and experiencing the awe of nature from above the trees, will stay in our minds, but future generations may never see this stunning sight.

On August 28th, 2016, an Outdoor Society reader went to the Vance Creek Bridge to remove nearly a ton of trash from the area. They discovered the bridge to be missing numerous boards, leaving the bridge to now look like this.