Verde River Sheep Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Verde River Sheep Bridge
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Historic bridge
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Carefree, Arizona |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1940 |
| Architectural style | Suspension |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000569 |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1978 |
The Verde River Sheep Bridge is a special suspension bridge in Arizona. It crosses the Verde River. People also call it the Red Point Sheep Bridge.
This bridge was first built to help sheep move. Shepherds could guide their sheep across the river easily. This was important for moving them between different grazing areas. Building started in 1943 and finished in 1944. Sheep stopped using the bridge in 1978. The first bridge was closed in 1987 and mostly taken down in 1988.
A new bridge was built in 1989. The U.S. Forest Service built this new one. It looks like the old bridge. Now, hikers can use it to explore the Mazatzal Wilderness in Tonto National Forest. You can still see part of the original bridge. The old west tower stands next to the new one.
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Why Was the Verde River Sheep Bridge Built?
A man named Dr. R.O. Raymond owned many sheep. He needed to move his sheep between two different areas. One area was on the east side of the Verde River for winter. The other was on the west side for summer.
Crossing the river was very hard. When the water was high, it was even dangerous. So, Dr. Raymond decided to pay for a bridge. He wanted a narrow bridge just for his sheep. This would make crossing the river much safer and easier.
How the Original Bridge Was Constructed
Work on the bridge began in 1943. A road was built first to reach the bridge site. The bridge was designed by C.O. Gilliam. The builders used materials that were no longer needed from old mines. Some cables came from the Golden Turkey Mine.
The main builders were Frank Auza and George W. Smith. Frank Auza was the foreman for the Flagstaff Sheep Company. George W. Smith was a local builder. They had a team of over thirty sheepherders helping them. These helpers came from different backgrounds, including Basque, French Basque, Mexican, and Hispanic groups.
Auza and Smith visited another bridge to learn. They saw the Blue Point Sheep Bridge on the Salt River. They used what they learned to build the Verde River bridge. They even decided to call it the Red Point Bridge. The first bridge cost about $7,277 to build. Frank Auza took care of the bridge until 1978. That's when sheep herding stopped in that area.
What Did the Original Bridge Look Like?
The first bridge was very long. It measured about 691 feet (211 meters) from one end to the other. It was not very wide, only about 45 inches (114 centimeters) across. The main part of the bridge, where people walked, was about 476 feet (145 meters) long. It hung about 45 feet (14 meters) above the river.
Strong wire ropes held up the bridge. These main ropes were about 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) thick. Smaller ropes, about 0.375 inches (9.5 millimeters) thick, hung down from the main ropes. These smaller ropes were spaced about 8 feet (2.4 meters) apart. The walking path and the railings were made of wood.
The west tower of the bridge was made of concrete. It stood about 50 feet (15 meters) tall. The original design called for wooden towers. But strong wooden pieces were hard to find. So, the builders used smaller wooden pieces and then covered them with concrete. This made the towers much stronger.
The Bridge Today: A Replica for Hikers
The original Verde River Sheep Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1978. This means it was recognized as an important historical site.
The first bridge was closed in 1987. Then, a new bridge was built in 1989. This new bridge is a replica, meaning it looks very much like the original. It helps people get to the Mazatzal Wilderness in Tonto National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service takes care of this bridge. It is part of the forest's walking trail system. You can still see the concrete base of the original bridge.
Images for kids
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The Verde River Sheep Bridge is located on a remote section of the Verde River.
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The present Verde River Sheep Bridge - looking across the bridge to the East.
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The Verde River Sheep Bridge - looking across the present bridge to the west. The original suspension tower can be seen alongside the present bridge.
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The Verde River Sheep Bridge crosses at approximately 45 feet above the river.
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The Sheep Bridge Hot Springs is hidden in the overgrowth of reeds on the west side of the river just upstream from the bridge.
