The Bridge To Nowhere In The Middle Of The Kentucky Woods Will Capture Your Imagination
By Sarah McCosham|Published April 08, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
There’s something undeniably intriguing about bridges that capture the imagination in a way nothing else can. Whether it’s a historic covered bridge or magnificent architectural marvel, we can’t help but stop and admire these stunning structures. And in the middle of the Kentucky wilderness, there’s a bona fide bridge to nowhere that’s sure to stop you in your tracks.
In the untamed wilds of central Kentucky, you'll find one of the most fascinating bridges in the state.
Young's High Bridge is a former railroad bridge that spans the Kentucky River between Anderson and Woodford counties, and it's a true architectural marvel.
A cantilever bridge named in honor of William Bennett Henderson Young, it was constructed in 1889 and is 1,659 feet in length. The bridge towers 283 feet above the Kentucky River and includes a 551-foot-long cantilever span.
Carrying traffic on the Lexington to Lawrenceburg Division of the Southern Railway for decades, the last passenger train crossed the bridge in 1937. It remained in use for freight traffic through the 1980s, and the last train to cross the bridge was in 1985, after which the line was ultimately abandoned.
Sitting unused for some time, this bridge to nowhere in the middle of the Kentucky wilds was incredibly intriguing... and, it seems, downright irresistible to adventure seekers.
Thrill seekers young and old come to Young's High Bridge for the adventure of a lifetime. In 2016, 90-year-old Bill Dillard tackled the bridge, breaking the record previously set by an 86-year-old jumper!
Have you visited the Young’s High Bridge before? Did you know about this bridge to nowhere in Kentucky? Would you dare bungee jump off its tracks? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
