Bridging Gaps in Natural Bridge Virginia
This may be a generalization but I feel that often times as people of color we don’t realize just how close we are to such incredible nature scapes…I’ve definitely been guilty of it myself️.
Just as I like putting people on to some of the best foods I love to be able to showcase to everyone, especially black and brown people some of my favorite adventure destinations in Mommy Nature as well as their accessibility… especially in Virginia.
One place, in particular, is “The Natural Bridge”! [6477 S Lee Hwy, Natural Bridge Va]
Standing at 215ft tall, 3 hours from DC and 2 hours from RVA… Natural Bridge is a Nationally Registered Historic Place and was a National Historic Landmark in 1988.
But this spot is more than just a “bridge” The drive here alone is spectacular. Once you arrive you are met with beautiful forests and rolling meadows like the ones from the movies. In the distance, you’ll see you are surrounded by mountains and the James River valley that no matter who you are this place will blow you away.
On a recent trip to Roanoke to visit some friends, Heidi Joy and I started to pass signs for Natural Bridge…
Me: “Every time I pass that sign I say I’m going to go on the way back but never end up going.”
Heidi Joy: “LOL, same! I’d like to go one day…”
Me: “I mean… why not go today? Actually, naw, we’re going right now, why not?!”
Oftentimes, when I have driven past, I’ve been on a mission, but for this particular trip, neither of us was in a hurry. It was a casual drive to go see some friends but we made a promise to ourselves earlier that summer that on the occasion we would be driving somewhere with no deadline that we would make time to see more roadside attractions and damn, I am so glad we made the time, this place is amazing!
Once a sacred site of the Native American Monacan tribe (There is also a Monacan hiking trail!). It was believed to be the site of a major victory over pursuing Powhatans CENTURIES before the arrival of Europeans in Virginia.
As you pull into the park limits you are met with the sights of the beautiful Historic Natural Bridge Hotel. The land (157 acres) which was later purchased in 1774 by Thomas Jefferson from King George III of England served as TJ’s retreat where he erected a 2 room log cabin nearby. At the time he said the bridge was “the most sublime of nature’s works”. While in the ownership of TJ, many notable people would come to stay, including Martin Van Buren. Over the following years, ownership would change hands thus starting expansions to the once two-bedroom cabin and naming the building “Appledore”. By the early 1900s, the Appledore was poppin’! It was dubbed one of the most popular “New World Tourist Attractions” during the 18th and 19th centuries. It drew guests from all over the world with many arriving on horseback or horse-drawn carriages to explore the countryside. That was until unfortunately, the Appledore caught fire on April 24, 1963.
How the fire started is still a mystery even though it is rumored that it started in the kitchen. In 1964 construction began on the present-day hotel and the new hotel opened its doors to the world with great anticipation in 1965.
After parking, we headed into the massive visitor center. I was unable to find any information on what that building was used for in the past but it’s huge. Today it serves as an information station for visitors to grab souvenirs like t-shirts, original artwork, and pressed pennies and pamphlets around other area attractions like the one for the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail with the kid on it!
We perused through pamphlets and then made our way to the info desk to of course pay our fee to access the park. While parking is free, to access the actual bridge you must pay. This money of course supports upkeep and operations so please make sure you pay. After knocking that out of the way, Heidi Joy whipped out the state park passport cause we have to catch them all!
Downstairs there seems to be space for camps or the little rangers programs. As well as a huge active beehive in the window! As you continue on you will go through a set of glass double doors to begin your adventure. We went around May so not too hot and not too cold but also lush greenery everywhere and a set of stone steps leading you to the bridge. Vines, beautiful mosses covering stone retainer walls with a creek adjacent trickling down. A little further in we passed a sign at the base of a large tree…Thuja occidentalis: "Before dying in 1980, this more than 1600-year-old specimen of the arbor vitae tree was the oldest and largest known in the world. Its diameter measures 56 inches. Depending on climatic conditions that determine its growth rate, the arbor vitae increases in diameter about one inch every thirty years."
Once at the bottom, you come to a second ranger station, this one for those who choose to drive down and access the campgrounds. There you will hand them your payment receipt, and pass through another smaller gift shop. Beyond the station, you may walk about 100 feet and see Cedar Creek in front of you but as you turn to your right stands the big beautiful 215 ft formation that is the Natural Bridge.
A breathtaking sight nonetheless, one that makes you feel like you are on a different planet entirely. As we stared in awe we, of course, got our pics off. A selfie here, the couples shot there, but couldn’t help but wonder how something like this was even formed.
While there are many theories, similar to any canyon or gorge, it's believed that the Natural Bridge was carved by a tremendous water flow that happened steadily as time went on. One man, Edgar W. Spencer once theorized that the creek was part of an underground water system where the roof over this creek collapsed, leaving behind the part of the Natural Bridge we see today.
It’s places like this that hold such amazing energy. It’s unfortunate that with the development of major interstates that destinations like this are continually overlooked. I highly recommend a trip. Even if you are just passing through as we did, it’s such a worthwhile pit stop. Many of these places may seem so far from our reality but actually aren’t as out of reach as we sometimes think, so get up and get out, bruh
Sources: https://naturalbridgeva.com/about/https://www.thetravel.com/natural-bridge-waterfall-trails-cave-guide/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Bridge_(Virginia)