Travel Features

Wandering to Pryor Creek Bridge

April 7, 2025 | Lydia

Recently, I took advantage of a warm day to explore a historical site within Land Between The Lakes: the old Pryor Creek Bridge. I was intrigued by its story – originally built near the Tennessee River in the 1920s, it was later moved to its current location on Pryor Creek in the early 1940s when Kentucky Lake was created.

Knowing it likely closed sometime after the formation of Lake Barkley and LBL in the 1960s, I was curious to see what remained. While the bridge itself showed its age with a visibly rotten wooden deck, it was still fascinating to witness this piece of the past. And while the urge to get a closer look was there, the state of the bridge made it clear that walking across was not a safe option. I can’t imagine the effort involved in moving it decades ago.

It was so cool to see Pryor Creek still flowing peacefully underneath and I even found a few pieces of ‘slag’ resting at the bottom. This short spring excursion to the Pryor Creek Bridge offered a unique glimpse into the history of the Land Between The Lakes. It’s a quiet spot that holds a compelling story for those willing to seek it out.

Please remember to leave no trace and to respect the historical remains of this structure.

Here's a video of my experience...


Here's a map to the bridge.

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