Shimanek Covered Bridge - The Most Unlucky Bridge In Oregon!

Shimanek Covered Bridge is located near Scio and spans Thomas Creek, carrying Richardson Gap Road over it. It is sometimes called Thomas Creek Bridge and is still active and open to traffic.

This is the longest covered bridge in Linn County, sitting at 130 feet (40 m). In addition to the Howe truss design, the bridge features squarish portals, louvered windows, and a white-painted interior.

Shimanek is the only red covered bridge in the county and, because of its unlucky history, the newest covered bridge in the area.

The rumors of the original 1891 covered bridge tell about a unique feature not found in other bridges: a built-in two-hole toilet. Unfortunately, county engineers haven't included that feature in the modern version of Shimanek.

History

The current Shimanek Bridge, completed in 1966, is actually the fifth bridge at this spot. The original one is believed to have been built as early as 1861, with the first documented covered bridge constructed in 1891.

The multiple bridges have been destroyed by natural events such as floods and storms, with the most recent one heavily damaged by the Columbus Day Storm of 1962.

The 1966 bridge was constructed to replace it and resembles its predecessor, the 1927 bridge.

Throughout its history, the current Shimanek Bridge has undergone multiple renovations. Notably, in 2002, a Linn County bridge crew repaired damages caused by another flood in 1996. In November 2015, more repairs were done.

More recently, in 2022, the bridge underwent extensive rehabilitation, which included replacing structural components and a new paint job to preserve its iconic appearance.