At the foot of Main Street and Linden Avenue, above Rivers Licking and Muskingum, the Zanesville Y-Bridge stands erect, safely carrying the traffic of Linden Avenue, as well that of Main Street and West Main Street. Even though the Y-Bridge serves a functional purpose, it’s also shrouded in an eerie tale that occurred in 1814.

As the story goes, a doctor named Isaac Fowler, who was riding across the Y-Bridge plunged into his death one foggy night. The details of the accident are unclear, but it seems his horse missed a step on the frail, wooden bridge and toppled over.
Stillion81/Newspapers
Although the bridge has been repaired, demolished, and re-constructed four times since 1814, it’s said that the spirit of Dr. Isaac Fowler is still tied to the setting of the gruesome accident.
PJ Avery/TripAdvisor
He haunts the Y-shaped, three-way bridge that stretches two acres across the confluence of the two rivers. On foggy nights, it’s said that the ghost of Licking River repeats his ride to death, and residents around the bridge can hear faint screaming sounds and cries for help.
PJ Avery /TripAdvisor

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Legend also has that he rattles the windows and knocks on the doors of the homes around the bridge each night. Apart from this bone-chilling tale, the Zanesville Y-Bridge has not seen similar accidents since the death of Dr. Isaac Fowler.
Ritawiebner/TripAdvisor
The bridge has undergone extensive development and construction since 1814. The first bridge, a frail wooden structure, constructed in 1814 served its purpose until it was destroyed in 1818 by a heavy flood.
Ritawiebner/TripAdvisor
Between 1819 to 1979, three more bridges, all of which were subsequently demolished for various reasons, were built in the same spot. A year later, the fifth and final bridge, which still stands today, was designed and constructed.
Managment/TripAdvisor

The Y-Bridge in Zanesville has been a staple in U.S. history for centuries, so perhaps it makes sense why it’s considered to be one of the most haunted bridges in Ohio. Do you think the ghost of Dr. Isaac Fowler is real? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Y-Bridge Overlook, 781 Muskingum Ave, Zanesville, OH 43701, USA