Waldo Covered Bridge(also known as the Riddle Mill Covered Bridge) was built in 1858 in what is now the Talladega National Forest. It isn’t hard to find, but does require a little effort. Located out of view behind Old Mill restaurant just off Rt. 77, you can reach it by following the restaurant driveway(which used to be the main road towards the bridge) to the parking area. The bridge will come into view the further you go back and believe me when I tell you it has seen better days. Quite frankly it appears to be in covered bridge hospice. While efforts have been made to renovate the bridge, it remains in a state of limbo since being condemned in the 1960’s and sits inaccessible to the public without its approaches(ramps on each side that connect the bridge to the road). It is the second oldest surviving historic bridge in Alabama, but is in desperate need of maintenance and repair. You can visibly see the frame beginning to lean and looks as if a stiff wind would knock it completely over. Would be a shame to loose this 157 year old treasure, especially considering she stands in her original location. Nearby is the Helen Keller Campus for the blind & def and the City of Talledega, home of Will Ferrell’s character Ricky Bobby:
Total length — 115 feet FINALTHOUGHTS If something isn’t done immediately these may be the last pics you will see of this ancient relic before her demise. A heavy snow storm might be more weight than this bridge can take on her weakened frame before crashing into the river below. Saddens me to think that something which has served so many has been abandoned and left to die as if it never had any importance at all.
Melissa B.
Classificação do local: 5 Charleston, WV
Saturday, March 8th, Tony and I was out driving around the back roads outside of Talladega on our way(the long way) back to Nashville. We found this covered bridge on the map, but HELL it was NOT easy to find… We drove around for about an hour and believe me WALDOALABAMA is so darn small… you would laugh at us. but we found it. We had to park and get out and beat some brush and climb over a fence, and walk through some acreage that was a PRIVATE location. but we found it… we found the oldest still standing on its original property in Alabama. and if you want to see beauty. real beauty.156 yr old bridge. GOFINDTHISAWESOMEBRIDGE… The Waldo Covered Bridge, also known as the Riddle Mill Covered Bridge, is a privately owned wood & metal combination style covered bridge that spans Talladega Creek in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. It is located off State Route 77 just south of the town of Waldo, about 6 miles(10 kilometers) southeast of Talladega. Built in 1858, the 115-foot(35 m) bridge is a combination of Howe truss and Queen-post truss construction over a single span. Its WGCB number is 01−61−02. The Waldo Covered Bridge is currently eligible for addition to the National Register of Historic Places. It is the second oldest surviving covered bridge in the state, although it is also the only one not being maintained. The Waldo Covered Bridge was built on an old Socopatoy Indian trail behind Riddle’s Mill, a grist mill which was later converted into the Waldo Town Hall and then a restaurant. Nearby is the Riddle’s Hole gold mine, which operated from 1840 through World War II. The bridge was used as an access route in April 1865 by Wilson’s Raiders during the American Civil War, a cavalry group led by Union Army General James H. Wilson. The bridge was open to traffic in later years, possibly for mine access during its operation, but condemned by the state in the 1960s and the approaches removed as overall maintenance remained minimal. Even though there was extensive restoration work done to the Waldo Covered Bridge in recent years as part of establishing a recreational park, the project was soon scrapped. As a result, the structure was left to sit on its two stone piers«as is.» The Waldo Covered Bridge is currently inaccessible to the public but people can walk the grounds with permission from the Old Mill Restaurant. There were plans by the owners to once again restore the bridge, but time and money have been major issues. Built in 1858, the 115-foot bridge is a combination of Howe truss and Queen-post truss construction over a single span. The Waldo Covered Bridge is one of five existing covered bridges in Alabama built before 1950 not listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the only one left un-maintained. It is the second oldest surviving covered bridge in the state
