This beautiful red bridge was completed in 1887 and it originally spanned the Tug Fork of Big Mill Creek. It was named after Enoch Staats, whose water-powered mill and store anchored the surrounding community. The Staats family were early settlers, arriving around 1780. Enoch's father, Isaac Staats, built the first mill on the site.
H.T. Hartley built it using the Long Truss system, patented by Stephen Long in 1830, featuring distinctive "X"-braced diagonals across 11 panels.
In 1971, the bridge was modified with steel girders inside the original trusses to support modern loads and in 1983, it was relocated about three miles to here and converted to pedestrian only use.
The park can get quite busy on beautiful summer days so be prepared to be challenged finding a parking space.
[Review 571 of 2025 - 156 in West Virginia - 24132 overall] read more