On the way to the Jeep Jamboree — 12th Coal Mountain 2023 I decided to stop and check out the Kinzu Bridge. It did not disappoint.

The Kinzua Bridge, also known as the Kinzua Viaduct, partially collapsed when a powerful tornado hit the area on July 21, 2003. A tornado with winds of up to 219 km/h caused extensive damage to the bridge, leading to its collapse.

The Kinzua Viaduct was originally built in 1882 by engineer Octave Chanute and the New York, Lake Erie, and Western Railroad. When completed, the bridge was an amazing feat of engineering at 301 feet high and 2,053 feet long. This was one of the tallest and longest railway bridges in the world at the time and was often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.

Despite its sturdy construction, the bridge was no match for the force of the EF1 tornado that struck the area on that fateful day in 2003. A tornado swept through the valley, collapsing structures and knocking 11 of the 20 support towers to the ground. The destruction of the Kinzua Bridge was a catastrophic event that left only part of the original structure.

After the collapse, Pennsylvania decided to preserve the remaining towers and include them in the design of a new pedestrian crossing. The Kinzua Skywalk opened in his 2011, allowing visitors to step out onto a transparent viewing platform to admire the valley below.

Photos from the park are below, enjoy!