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All the United States Colorado CaƱon City Royal Gorge Bridge

Royal Gorge Bridge

The highest bridge in America was built for an almost unnervingly small amount of money.

CaƱon City, Colorado

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jenniferbrown74
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Royal Gorge Bridge   bkthomson on Flickr
Royal Gorge Bridge   Hustvedt on Flickr
Royal Gorge Bridge   Kari Sullivan on Wikipedia
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
States flags along the bridge   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
States flags along the bridge   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
States flags along the bridge   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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  espeyraunza / Atlas Obscura User
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South east observation point   backroadsphotog / Atlas Obscura User
Looking out on the bridge   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
  painteagle11 / Atlas Obscura User
Looking through the floor boards of the bridge   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
The lovely look at the bridge from the view deck   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
On the bridge   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
Aerial Gondolas  
One of the new outdoor bandstands  
Aerial Gondolas  
Cloudscraper Zip Line over the canyon (extra cost)  
Cloudscraper Zip Line over the canyon (extra cost)  
Aerial Gondolas  
Bighorn sheep in the park   leighbelle / Atlas Obscura User
  leighbelle / Atlas Obscura User
  leighbelle / Atlas Obscura User
7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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7-15-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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About

While it was once the highest bridge in the entire world, an honor now held by China's Sidu River Bridge, Colorado's Royal Gorge Bridge is still the highest bridge in America, not to mention one of the most cheaply built given its vertigo-inducing size.   

Purpose built in 1929 specifically to attract tourists to the massive gorge, the Royal Gorge Bridge spans over 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River at the bottom of the chasm. At it peak, the deck of the bridge is suspended 956 feet above the valley floor, at one point earning the distinction of being higher than any other bridge before being knocked down to 11th place by a parade of increasingly daring Chinese spans. And while the sheer height of the bridge is enough to make someone gape, considering that it was originally built for a measly $350,000 dollars makes the historic landmark even more jaw-dropping.  

Thanks to some shoring up in the 1990s, the Royal Gorge bridge continues to draw tourists and motorists across its dizzying heights nearly 90 years after its construction. Various thrillists have also made use of the bridge for bungee jumping and other aerial acts including a man in a wingsuit who attempted to fly over the bridge in 2003 but ran into a pylon and was instantly killed.

The vast majority of the park including the aerial tram over the gorge and the famous old incline railway was completely destroyed by wildfire in June of 2013. The bridge was spared with only 32 of its original wooden planks damaged beyond saving. Some of those planks have been salvaged and are on display or in use in other parts of the park. Ninety percent of the park was devastated and completely destroyed. However, the owners vowed to rebuild so a new visitors center was built along with a new triple car version of the aerial tram. Many other new bits of the park have been rebuilt and the park is back open—better than ever. 

 

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Bridges World's Tallest

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jenniferbrown74

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EricGrundhauser, leighbelle, Blindcolour, backroadsphotog...

  • EricGrundhauser
  • leighbelle
  • Blindcolour
  • backroadsphotog
  • breaingram
  • espeyraunza
  • Darrell Powers
  • painteagle11
  • bobbieoakley

Published

October 23, 2014

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  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Gorge_Bridge
  • http://highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=Royal_Gorge_Bridge
Royal Gorge Bridge
4218 County Road 3a
CaƱon City, Colorado, 81212
United States
38.462125, -105.324513
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