Covered Bridge Marker
A marker near the western
end of the bridge details the
history of the unique structure.
A marker near the western
end of the bridge details the
history of the unique structure.
Coheelee Bridge and Falls
The Coheelee Creek Covered
Bridge spans a rare South
Georgia waterfall.
The Coheelee Creek Covered
Bridge spans a rare South
Georgia waterfall.
Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge - Early County, Georgia
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge, Georgia
| Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge The southernmost original covered bridge in the United States is in Early County, Georgia. |
Southernmost Covered Bridge
Located in the Hilton Community just
southwest of the town of Blakely, Georgia,
can be found the southernmost original
covered bridge in the United States.
The 96-foot long Coheelee Creek Covered
Bridge was built in 1891 at the old McDonald
Ford on Coheelee Creek. Built by John
William Baughman, the bridge cost only
$490.41, but still stands today as one of the
most beautiful and unique landmarks in the
Deep South.
Making the setting even more picturesque is
the fact that swiftly flowing Coheelee Creek
rushes over a small waterfall just after it
passes beneath the covered bridge. Such
scenes are rare in Southwest Georgia,
where waterfalls are few and far between
and the Coheelee Creek structure is the last
surviving covered bridge.
Of the 17 original covered bridges that still
survive in Georgia, only the Coheelee Creek
bridge is located south of Macon. Bypassed
by modern highways, the bridge fell into
disuse over the years and its survival is
almost miraculous.
Concerned citizens of Early County, a corner
of Georgia that is extremely rich in history,
took note of the neglected condition of the
Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge in 1984. An
expensive and far-sighted restoration project
was launched to stabilize and repair the
bridge, which remains in sound condition
today.
Sadly, such structures seem a magnet for
vandals. When ExploreSouthernHistory.com
visited the bridge, it was found to be defaced
with graffiti. The park adjoining the bridge
southwest of the town of Blakely, Georgia,
can be found the southernmost original
covered bridge in the United States.
The 96-foot long Coheelee Creek Covered
Bridge was built in 1891 at the old McDonald
Ford on Coheelee Creek. Built by John
William Baughman, the bridge cost only
$490.41, but still stands today as one of the
most beautiful and unique landmarks in the
Deep South.
Making the setting even more picturesque is
the fact that swiftly flowing Coheelee Creek
rushes over a small waterfall just after it
passes beneath the covered bridge. Such
scenes are rare in Southwest Georgia,
where waterfalls are few and far between
and the Coheelee Creek structure is the last
surviving covered bridge.
Of the 17 original covered bridges that still
survive in Georgia, only the Coheelee Creek
bridge is located south of Macon. Bypassed
by modern highways, the bridge fell into
disuse over the years and its survival is
almost miraculous.
Concerned citizens of Early County, a corner
of Georgia that is extremely rich in history,
took note of the neglected condition of the
Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge in 1984. An
expensive and far-sighted restoration project
was launched to stabilize and repair the
bridge, which remains in sound condition
today.
Sadly, such structures seem a magnet for
vandals. When ExploreSouthernHistory.com
visited the bridge, it was found to be defaced
with graffiti. The park adjoining the bridge
 | |  | |  | |  |
has no daily caretaker, but fortunately the
natural and scenic beauty of Coheelee Creek
and the old covered bridge overcome any
disadvantage in maintenance.
Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge is located
off Highway 62 (Columbia Highway) south of
Blakely, Georgia. To view a map showing
directions to the bridge and to read more
about the history of the Coheelee Creek and
other covered bridges in the Peach State,
please click here to visit the Georgia
Department of Transportation's outstanding
guide to the Historic Covered Bridges of
Georgia.
natural and scenic beauty of Coheelee Creek
and the old covered bridge overcome any
disadvantage in maintenance.
Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge is located
off Highway 62 (Columbia Highway) south of
Blakely, Georgia. To view a map showing
directions to the bridge and to read more
about the history of the Coheelee Creek and
other covered bridges in the Peach State,
please click here to visit the Georgia
Department of Transportation's outstanding
guide to the Historic Covered Bridges of
Georgia.
| Copyright 2009 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
West End of the Bridge
A dirt road still leads to the
west end of the Coheelee
Creek Covered Bridge, just as
it has for more than 115 years.
A dirt road still leads to the
west end of the Coheelee
Creek Covered Bridge, just as
it has for more than 115 years.
lor.
