Ponn Humpback Covered Bridge

Ponn Humpback Covered Bridge was a wooden bridge crossing Raccoon Creek with three sections featuring an elevated middle portion and a protective roof structure. The structure rested on original sandstone abutments that remain visible at its former location today.

The bridge was built in 1874 by Martin McGrath and Lyman Wells, replacing an earlier structure destroyed by fire. A fire destroyed the wooden crossing in 2013, leaving only its stone foundations standing.

The bridge represents early American engineering, displaying the Burr arch truss design common in 19th-century transportation infrastructure.

The site sits in a rural setting and is best reached by local roads, where visitors can identify the former bridge location by the remaining stone foundations. Since the structure itself no longer exists, visitors can only explore the historical remains and the creek valley today.

The bridge was notable for its unusual three-span design with the center section distinctly higher than the outer portions, a raised-middle configuration uncommon among covered bridges of that era. This elevated center approach gave it a distinctive appearance that set it apart from typical designs of the period.

Location: Vinton County

Inception: 1874

GPS coordinates: 39.04778,-82.37639

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:02