It's The Only Covered Bridge In RI & The Story Behind It Is Really Something
Covered bridges are seemingly ubiquitous here in New England.
If you follow Yankee Magazine on IG, you’re probably well aware.
The thing about Rhode Island, however, is that strictly speaking we have only one that is accessible to the general public (I mean, who knows, there could be one on some estate somewhere in the OS that’s owned by a tech gazillionaire or something) and it sits atop Hemlock Brook in Foster.
In order to qualify for the distinction of being an authentic covered bridge, it must be built from trusses — essentially, a sequence of wooden (or metal) triangles that fortify, making the completed structure strong enough to support a great deal of weight.
Now, for Swamp Meadow’s back story, and for the record, let me just say that I was utterly shocked when I first learned about it.
The bridge was built in the early 90's (by a team of volunteers from a local non-profit in town called Borders Farm Preservation which maintains a fund to this day that helps with SMCB upkeep and maintenance) as a Rhody rustic grand gesture to help commemorate the state's 350th birthday, burned down only about 4 months later by vandals (WHAT THE HECK), subsequently rebuilt by that same group, and then, reopened in 1994.
This And The Image Above Are Courtesy Of Stacey Doyle Photography.
Circa these days, it's a popular spot for things like proposals, engagement photos, and IG'ers in search of that perfect fall-tastic photo for social.
If you’re planning on motoring over before the trees go bare, it is situated on a road that is well traveled. So, keep your eyes and ears open for cars and trucks. Also, parking is basically non-existent, so be prepared to get creative when it comes to keeping your vehicle out of harm's way.
Fairly certain that some folks already in the know about this gem aren't going to be too pleased about my shining a light on it, but they'll get over it...eventually.
Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge is located at 105A Central Pike in Foster, Rhode Island.
If you check in from there this season, please do let your friends know you found out about it via Patty J and PattyJ.com.
This post has been updated from one that has appeared previously on the site.