About Cox Covered Bridge
The Cox Covered Bridge is a 40-foot Queenpost Truss bridge spanning Brushy Fork on Woodgeard Road near Creola in Swan Township, Vinton County, Ohio. Built in 1884, it is the shortest and youngest of Vinton County's four remaining covered bridges. The bridge was moved 20 feet north of its original location in 1992 and restored in 2004, and now serves as a pedestrian bridge with a small picnic area alongside.
History of Cox Covered Bridge
The Cox Covered Bridge was constructed in 1884 by the Diltz and Steel Company using a variation of the Queenpost truss system common to Vinton County. The bridge served the local community on Woodgeard Road for over a century. In August 1992, workers from the Vinton County Engineer's office used an innovative method to relocate the bridge 20 feet north onto new concrete foundations to make way for a modern replacement bridge. The ends of the bridge were jacked up and metal runners placed underneath, then strips of plywood were laid down along both banks of the creek, nailed together, and coated with grease. Steel cables fastened to the runners were attached to front loaders which pulled the bridge to its new site. In 2004, the bridge underwent a major restoration through a Make A Difference Day grant from Ohio's Hill Country Heritage Area and the Ohio Governor's Office of Appalachia, with volunteers from across Vinton County coming together for the project. The bridge contains decades of carvings and engravings from visitors, some dating back to the 1920s.
Architecture and Design
The Cox Covered Bridge uses a variation of the Queenpost truss system characteristic of Vinton County bridge construction. At 40 feet, it is the shortest covered bridge remaining in the county. The bridge rests on concrete foundations installed during its 1992 relocation, with metal runners and steel cables added for structural reinforcement. The roof and siding were restored during the 2004 renovation project. Despite its modest size, the bridge exemplifies the practical engineering approach used for shorter creek crossings in southeastern Ohio's hill country.
Visiting Cox Covered Bridge
The Cox Covered Bridge is located on Woodgeard Road (County Road 20), just west of the intersection with State Route 93, approximately four miles north of Creola. From McArthur, take State Route 93 North for approximately seven to eight miles to Woodgeard Road, turn left, and the bridge is visible about 200 feet west of the highway. A small picnic area and pull-off with space for two or more vehicles are located alongside the road next to the bridge. The bridge sits only about 200 feet from the busy State Route 93 highway, creating a striking contrast between the historic covered bridge and modern road traffic. Visitors can walk through the bridge and view the historic carvings inside, some dating to the 1920s and 1930s. A historical marker at the site tells the story of the bridge's relocation and restoration.