Antelope Creek Covered Bridge - The Bridge Of Many Names!

The Antelope Creek Covered Bridge, also known as the Little Butte Creek Covered Bridge or Bridge 202, is located 12 miles northeast of Medford in the small town of Eagle Point. This charming wooden pedestrian bridge spans 58 feet (18 m) across Little Butte Creek and is surrounded by Covered Bridge Park, which offers picnic tables, restrooms, a playground, and other amenities, making it a perfect spot for a family outing.

The bridge features a unique queen post truss design, modified with the addition of a king post—a rare combination for Oregon covered bridges. Other distinctive architectural elements include ribbon openings under the eaves, cantilevered buttresses, cedar roofs, semi-circular portals, and board siding without battens. These features not only add to the bridge's aesthetic appeal but also reflect the craftsmanship and ingenuity involved in its construction.

Antelope Creek Bridge History

The Antelope Creek Covered Bridge, originally constructed in 1922 by skilled bridge builders Wes and Lyle Hartman, once carried the old Medford-Crater Lake Road over Antelope Creek, a tributary of Little Butte Creek. The bridge was situated approximately 2 miles (3 km) downstream from Eagle Point. After many decades of service, it was replaced by a newer span at its original location, leading to its gradual disrepair.

Recognizing its historical significance, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1979. In 1987, a group of dedicated volunteers carefully dismantled and reassembled the bridge over Little Butte Creek in Eagle Point, converting it into a pedestrian bridge in Covered Bridge Park, adjacent to the town's veterans' memorial.

Restoration work following its relocation included the addition of side windows, which were not part of the original structure. This alteration led to the bridge's temporary delisting from the NRHP in 1988. However, corrections made in 2012 reinstated the bridge's place on the National Register.