One of the Strangest Bridges in Ohio

Ohio is home to some of the most interesting places I’ve visited out of most states I’ve traveled to in the US. Sure, the state gets that reputation of being a “boring” place where nothing happens aside from corn farming and people bumping into each other saying “ope,” but Ohio has much more than that. What makes it so interesting to me is that you really have to go looking for this other stuff. I mean, I’ve photographed numerous local spots, and heard from people that have lived here their entire lives that they never even knew it existed.

I’ve been to a lot of states, and seen a lot of interesting things, but have always noticed that in most states, many of these more interesting things are more easily accessible to travelers. In Ohio however, these little gems sit hidden behind bustling cities, rural farms or quiet neighborhoods where you would least expect them. Those traveling, unless staying in a spot for months, don’t see 90% of what there is to see. Now, this is not to say that these hidden gems don’t exist all across the US, because they definitely do. Ohio is just that strange place that anywhere you look, you’re only seeing the surface, and to see the rest, you truly have to dive in.

The Hillandale Bridge of Euclid, Ohio is one of those little gems.

Hillandale Bridge – Euclid, OH 2011

Sat just outside Cleveland, this crumbling bridge is what remains of a failed vision of the early 20th century. Construction of the bridge began between 1920 – 1930. Plans were set for the 1930s by the city to construct a subdivision through the area. After the stock market crash in 1929, all plans were abandoned, and nothing was ever built.

Hillandale Bridge – Euclid, OH 2014

What makes this bridge even more interesting is the strange placement. You have your normal small park, complete with a playground, and small field to enjoy a day out with your dogs (or cats on leashes I guess), children or friends. Directly next to this average looking park, you have this massive, old, crumbling bridge winding through the forest into heavy overgrowth as the forest continues to slowly swallow it.

A shopping cart sits at the bottom of the Hillandale bridge

There even used to be an abandoned nursing home tucked into the woods up a long driveway. That has been demolished for years now, but a chimney remains decorating the forest. I captured this photo during a heavy downpour. Wandering this entire park during a downpour was one of my favorite times to have ever been here.

Hillandale Park – Euclid, OH 2014

The bridge has sat abandoned and crumbling for almost 90 years. The bridge is full of holes, and guard rails continue to fall off. So should you take a venture to this incredible bridge, be careful where you walk.

Hillandale bridge on a foggy night
Hillandale bridge on a foggy night

Very often, I’m asked what gear I use for my photography, videography, etc. Questions ranging from what type of camera/cameras I use, what lenses I use, backpacks, memory cards, even what type of laptop I recommend, or what type of introductory camera I recommend…all that stuff, and more!

Well, of course I love to recommend camera gear or adventure gear that I trust and love, so at the end of each post I create here on my blog, I like to give a bit of a run-down on gear I use almost all the time!

So here it is! My entire (or most of it) list of photography/editing/adventure gear that I use.

My Camera (Sony a7riii)https://amzn.to/2AFtzQv

Alternative Camera https://amzn.to/2VHjR9h

Theta 360 Camerahttps://amzn.to/2CaRwzm

Sandisk Memory Cardshttps://amzn.to/2SN5sX6

Sony 16-35 4.0https://amzn.to/2HgLFhN

Zeiss 55 1.8https://amzn.to/2SK4Dys

Zeiss 85 1.8 Batishttps://amzn.to/2SNRQLm

Laowa 12mm 2.8 Zero-Dhttps://amzn.to/2AESLXD

My Favorite Backpackhttps://amzn.to/2RKTi44

Tripod 1https://amzn.to/2SKxxON

Tripod 2https://amzn.to/2M2gUM6

MSI Laptop (great for editing, & much more)https://amzn.to/2shGfZn

My e-bookshttps://amzn.to/2Bumcwo

Hardcover books and prints available atwww.oddworldstudio.com




0 comments on “One of the Strangest Bridges in Ohio

  1. Great pictures of the Kinzua Bridge. I grew up riding the scenic train out of Marienville. I grew up in Cook Forest PA area and spent a lot of time running around those towns and mountains. Thanks for the memories.
    Sharron Wilson
    >

  2. How do you go about finding these places!? It’s easy enough to read while trying to hold back the shivers, but understanding these places are really here is a mystery.

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