Drift Creek Covered Bridge ~ The Oldest Covered Bridge in Oregon

“Faith Can Build a Bridge”

~ Author Unknown

That quote is on a plaque inside the Drift Creek Covered Bridge in Otis, Oregon.

The bridge was originally constructed in 1914 making it the oldest Covered Bridge in Oregon.

I’m not sure if it was Laura Mitchell Sweitz or Kerry Sweitz that said it (they own the land where the bridge currently sits) or if it was someone else but I think it’s a beautiful quote. 

This bridge was on my “list of places to go” and while I was out looking at land, I drove right past it! Sooo, I had to turn around and pay it a visit!

I took a few pictures, grabbed a copy of the flyer, relaxed admiring the bridge and views and then got back on the road for the next destination.

I didn’t read the flyer while I was at the bridge and if I had I think I would have appreciated it that much more because it wasn’t just a beautiful bridge but it was someones dream come to life.

According to the flyer, in 1997 the bridge was eight miles down the road and scheduled for demolition.

After the Sweitz’s found out about this they decided something had to be done and worked with the county on a solution to preserve the bridge.

The county gave them permission to have the bridge. The Sweitz felt a miracle happened and they were off and running to resurrect the historical structure!

They began rebuilding the structure. What they didn’t know, was it would take them almost four years to complete and they would try to give up but small miracles wouldn’t let them …

I don’t know the Sweitz’s; I haven’t had the privilege of meeting or speaking with them so I’m not going to tell you their story. Instead, I’m going to show you the pictures of the story they left for the people who come to visit. 

I think it’s a beautiful story proving miracles happen all the time.

I hope you enjoyed my story as much as I enjoyed theirs, and I sincerely hope you pay this beautiful place a visit.

Until next time ✌️