Vance Creek Bridge
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox bridge
| name = Vance Creek Bridge
| image = File:Vance Creek.jpg
| caption = Vance Creek Bridge
| coordinates = {{coord|47|20|04.7|N|123|19|18.2|W|region:US-WA_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| carries =
| crosses = Vance Creek
| locale = Mason County, Washington
| official_name =
| other_name = Vance Creek Viaduct
| named_for =
| owner = Simpson Logging Company (1929-2006)
Green Diamond Resource Company (2006-Today)
| maint =
| heritage =
| id =
| id_type =
| website =
| preceded =
| followed =
| design =
| material = Steel
| material1 =
| material2 =
| length = {{convert|827|ft|m}}
| width =
| height = {{convert|347|ft|m}}
| depth =
| traversable =
| towpath =
| mainspan = {{convert|422|ft|m}}
| number_spans =
| piers_in_water =
| load =
| clearance_above =
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| life =
| architect = American Bridge Company
| designer =
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| engineering =
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| begin = 1928
| opened = 1929
| closed = 1970s
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Vance Creek Bridge
| embed = yes
| nrhp_type =
| added = July 16, 1982
| refnum = 82004266{{NRISref|version=2010a|dateform=mdy|accessdate=September 2, 2017}}
| locmapin = Washington
| map_label =
| label_position =
| label_size =
| label_background =
| map_width = 240
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|47|20|04.7|N|123|19|18.2|W|region:US-WA_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline}}
| nearest_city = Shelton, Washington
| built = 1928–1929
| architect = American Bridge Company
| architecture = steel arch
| governing_body =
}}
}}
The Vance Creek Bridge is an arch bridge in the Satsop Hills of Mason County, Washington that was built for a logging railroad owned by the Simpson Logging Company in 1929. At {{convert|347|ft|m}} in height, it is the second-highest railroad arch in the United States after the nearby High Steel Bridge.{{cite report |last=Soderberg |first=Lisa |orig-year=August 1980 |date=January 7, 1976 |title=HAER Inventory: Vance Creek Bridge |work=Historic American Engineering Record |url={{NRHP url|id=82004266}} |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=September 2, 2017}} It was decommissioned in the 1970s, during the decline of logging on the Olympic Peninsula.{{cite news |last=Sears |first=Kelton |date=August 18, 2014 |title=Instagram Favorite, 347-Foot-Tall #ThatNWBridge, Officially Closes to the Public |url=http://archive.seattleweekly.com/home/954313-129/instagram-favorite-347-foot-tall-thatnwbridge-officially-closes |work=Seattle Weekly |access-date=September 2, 2017}}
The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and to the Mason County Historic Preservation Register in 2008.{{cite web |title=The Mason County Historic Preservation Register |url=http://www.co.mason.wa.us/historic/the_register.php |publisher=Mason County }}
Recent popularity
The bridge gained popularity in the early 2010s as an attraction for photographers and thrill-seekers, due to its isolation and "unsafe" features, despite the bridge never having been open to the public. In 2014, the property owner Green Diamond Resource Company added barriers and surveillance to prevent further trespassing due to the emergence of graffiti and arson at the site, as well as the risk of a lawsuit. In 2016, the approach structure's wooden deck and railroad ties were removed to further deter trespassers.{{cite web |year=2017 |title=Vance Creek Viaduct |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/vance-creek-viaduct |work=Atlas Obscura |access-date=September 2, 2017}}
=Future=
Green Diamond has stated they are not interested in demolishing the bridge as doing so would be prohibitively expensive and damage the sensitive riparian environment it's built over. They also stated they're not interested in establishing a scenic railroad or any other attraction at the bridge themselves, as they wish to focus solely on their timber business.
In 2013, Green Diamond opened up talks with Mason County Parks and a local bungee jumping company about leasing the bridge to the company. The bridge deck would be rehabilitated into a pedestrian crossing with a bungee jumping spot established mid-deck, similar to the Bridge to Nowhere in California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article216692430.html|title=Thrill seekers turn dangerously high Olympic bridge into must-have for selfies|last=Sailor|first=Craig|website=thenewstribune|language=en|access-date=2019-12-11}} Green Diamond also approached Washington State Parks on opening the bridge to the public as a tourist attraction, but negotiations fell through due to a lack of funding and suitable insurance.{{cite news |last=Geerkens |first=Joy |date=August 2, 2017 |title=On the Vance Creek Bridge demolition |url=http://www.dailyuw.com/opinion/article_8da5f254-7734-11e7-b8a9-13ccc5c87f1d.html |work=The Daily of the University of Washington |access-date=September 2, 2017}} As of August 2018, negotiations between Green Diamond, Mason County Parks, and a local bungee jumping company are still ongoing.
Gallery
Image:Vance Creek bridge deck.JPG|Bridge deck in 2012
Image:Vance Creek Viaduct Oct 2016.jpg|Bridge deck in 2016
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Vance Creek Bridge}}
Category:Bridges completed in 1929
Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Mason County, Washington
Category:Railroad bridges in Washington (state)
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Mason County, Washington
Category:Railroad bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington (state)
Category:Open-spandrel deck arch bridges in the United States
Category:Steel bridges in the United States
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