Last week’s column noted the beauty and charm of the Green River Gorge, but also its deadly nature with three drowning deaths recorded in May 2020. This week’s focus is on the magnificent bridge, which spans the river gorge 150-feet below. This photo was likely taken in the early 1920s following completion of the steel deck truss bridge in 1915. Several resorts and commercial ventures were established shortly thereafter by entrepreneurs capitalizing on the new automobile touring business. By 1990 the structure had deteriorated, so repairs were made and traffic limited to one-way with stoplights on each end. The Green River Gorge Bridge was granted Landmark status in 2004. It is located 4 miles east of Black Diamond and 2.5 miles west of Cumberland. This scene is looking northerly and upstream.
For the past 40 years the land surrounding the bridge has been owned by a former commercial abalone diver from California who discovered the location after traveling the country searching for a special place to live and work. Jim Carter purchased the property, which included a rundown resort, which opened shortly after the bridge was completed. Access to the gorge below is controlled by the Green River Gorge Trust as operated by Jim and his wife Linda. Parking is available on both sides of the bridge after paying a $5 fee, which entitles patrons to access the steep-walled gorge through a series of stairs and trails down to the river’s edge. But the river remains extremely dangerous, as the water is cold, the rapids swift, and hidden rocks have claimed far too many lives over the years. This photo #3529 by J. Boyd Ellis comes courtesy of JoAnne Matsumura, an Issaquah historian.
