Covered Bridge | Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Rider

10/30/2019

Easy-to-see Bible Covered Bridge near Greeneville is a good stop on your motorcycle ride in East Tennessee.

Bible Covered Bridge, east Tennessee

When your motorcycle finds Warrensburg Road (TN 349) in East Tennessee you’re in for an enjoyable ride. The road is big and in good shape, a little hilly, and has some nice twisty sections along the creek. It’s a pleasant way to pass through the are near Greeneville avoiding the traffic on the more prominent roads.

Bible Covered Bridge, east Tennessee

Along the way you’ll pass the easy-to-spot Bible Covered Bridge where Bible Branch Road turns off from TN 349. Once you cross the creek a gravel parking lot connects to that road. The covered bridge spans the creek.

Bible Covered Bridge, east Tennessee

The Bible Covered Bridge straddles Little Chuckey Creek connecting the Bible farm with Warrensburg Road. In 1923, the E.A. Bible family hired A.A. McLean to build this bridge to improve access to the main road from their farm. At the time, it had no side windows. In 1940, Greene County purchased it for $750. The Greene County Heritage Trust rehabilitated it, including a new exterior covering with three pedimented windows on each side, also roof bracings and a shingle roof. in 1975 it became a historical structure. Restoration of the bridge was completed in the fall of 2004 by the Greene County Highway Department with the help of a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The bridge retains the original wooden and steel truss members from 1923, the original concrete substructure, the original floor. Sources: https://bridgehunter.com/tn/greene/bible-covered/ , https://www.tnvacation.com/local/greeneville-bible-covered-bridge

Bible Covered Bridge, east Tennessee

This area of East Tennessee is 15 minutes north of the mountains found along the border with North Carolina. It’s not a highly scenic area, there are not a lot of reasons to stop your motorcycle ride. The Bible Covered Bridge is one of them. You can’t ride across the bridge, but it is an easy place to visit, close to parking, perfect for a short break and some photos of a historic sight.

Wayne Busch – AMERICA RIDES MAPS

Article by Wayne Busch, America Rides Maps

We produce detailed maps of the best roads to enjoy on your motorcycle travels in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains.

Get the maps at AmericaRidesMaps.com
Source: America Rides Maps Blog on Miles-by-Motorcycle.com

9/2/2019

An easily overlooked spot in Highlands, NC – The Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge at the Bascom Art Center makes a great stop on your motorcycle ride to see the waterfalls.

Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge at the Bascom Art Center

Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge – Highlands, NC

We’ve ridden past this roadside attraction for years yet it never registered as a place to stop on our motorcycle rides to see the fabulous waterfalls in the Cullasaja River Gorge. I suppose it’s because I’m so eager to get out of the congestion in Highlands, NC. The roads surrounding the upscale town are outstanding but traffic crawls through the popular picturesque community. Reaching the edge of town the twists and turns ahead are so tempting yet a stop at the Bascom is time well spent and adds to the ride.

As you head west from Highlands towards the Cullasja Gorge to see the 4 big roadside waterfalls on NC 28 / US 64 you’ll find the Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge on the right. The road it covers leads to the Bascom Art Center, a collection of historic restored horse farm buildings which house the art and museum. It’s a one-way ride entering through the bridge, a short paved road loops you back to US 64 from the parking area at the museum.

Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge – Highlands, NC

Bascom Art Center – Highlands, NC

The covered bridge is exquisite, worth the stop to see. It’s not original, the timbers were brought from New Hampshire then reconstructed at the site from a bridge dating from 1807. The beams are secured with hammered wooden pegs, it’s truly a work of lost craftsmanship. You’ll find an appreciation for historic preservation throughout the Bascom Art Center in the barns and stables now hosting the artists and their work.

Bascom Art Center – Pottery

Bascom Art Center – Taking some home(

Bascom Art Center – Gallery

The Bascom Art Center is worth the time for a visit. You’ll find artists in residence producing beautiful pottery and crafts and a gift shop if any catch your eye. The three story museum in the largest building features collections from historic South Carolina, Japanese calligraphy, woodworks, and other eclectic exhibits. A short walking trail loops from the gallery through the grounds.

Bascom Art Center – exhibits

The Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge & Bascom Art Center make a nice addition to your waterfall ride passing through Highlands, NC. Be it a quick stop to snap some photos or a more extended visit to the art center, this is a nice scenic addition to your motorcycle adventures. Explore the map below to discover more and download a GPS track of the loop ride.

The Easy Waterfall Ride (https://miles-by-motorcycle.com/51999/maps/52025/the-easy-waterfall-ride)

Wayne Busch – AMERICA RIDES MAPS

Article by Wayne Busch, America Rides Maps

We produce detailed maps of the best roads to enjoy on your motorcycle travels in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Get the maps at AmericaRidesMaps.com
Source: America Rides Maps Blog

Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Rider

The Best Motorcycle Rides in the Mountains

Category Archives: Covered Bridge

Sights from the Road – Bible Covered Bridge in East Tennessee

An Overlooked Attraction in Highlands for your Motorcycle Ride