Drift Creek Covered Bridge

In 1997, the Lincoln County Commisioners voted to demolish the oldest Covered Bridge in Oregon. Kerry and Larua Mitchell Sweitz had a calling to save the bridge. The concrete bridge they used to access their property was the exact dimensions of the bridge set for demolition.

Nikon Z5 10 - 24 mm lens ISO 200, July 2023

Photo Source Drift Creek Bridge by James B. Norman

The Sweitz family requested the remains of the covered bridge. They offered to rebuild and maintain the bridge at no cost to the County. Their offer included a section of land to become public easement for access. The County accepted their terms.

The 1,000 bridge parts were scattered in their yard. To complete the bridge they needed three long beams.

John Washburn from the Simpson Timber Company in Tillamook stopped by the Sweitz family home in 1999. Washburn was notifying them of an upcoming spray and asked about the timber in their front yard. Laura explained their project and need for 42-foot beams. Simpson timber found them six months later. Hull-Oaks Lumber milled the beams for the family.

The restoration was complete on July 14, 2001. Oregon’s oldest covered bridge was saved.

Source: The Story of the Drift Creek Covered Bridge by Laura Mitchell Sweitz

Photography Challenges

The location is a mix of sun, shade, and sky. I certainly do not feel confident with my existing skills to capture the bridge’s glory. The image below does not reveal the beautiful blue sky we experienced in July of 2023.