Mt. Jewett, Pa — If you’re visiting McKean County, the Kinzua Bridge is a must-see destination. A state park since 1963, this area has the remains of a bridge that was built in 1882, a kid-friendly visitor center, and some enjoyable hiking trails. Oh, and it may have a buried treasure.
When it was built the Kinzua Bridge was the world’s longest railroad bridge. In 1900, the bridge was refurbished with metal instead of wood, due to heavier and more involved trains crossing it. The area became a state park in 1963, open to visitors. The bridge stood for over a century before a tornado knocked half of it down on July 21, 2003.
At the time, the state debated what to do about the remains of the bridge. Preservation won out, and about half of the bridge still stands, with the rest visible in the valley below. A walkway leads out onto the bridge, with a glass floor on one end, giving visitors a beautiful, and frankly, terrifying, view of the valley below. A visitor's center was built at the end of the bridge, with entertaining and educational exhibits for children and adults. (My son loved it so much he used to mispronounce “Kinzua Bridge” as “Kids’ Bridge.”)
According to legend, there may be a buried treasure somewhere in the area, as well. The story may or may not be accurate. There are a couple of different versions of the story, and there’s not a lot of primary source documentation. However, it’s just credible enough that there may be some truth to it.
The story states that in 1893, an unnamed criminal robbed a bank (or in some versions, a store) in Emporium, and then fled north through the forests with the loot. Along the way, he acquired three glass jars to carry it in. He also acquired a case of pneumonia, which was severely affecting him when he got near the Kinzua Bridge.
He buried the jars full of money somewhere near a triangle-shaped rock within sight of the bridge. The thief was captured soon after, sick and delirious.
He spent a couple of days raving about what he’d done and confessed to stealing and burying the loot. Then, he died and the money was never recovered.
If you’re grabbing your metal detector and checking the route to the Kinzua Bridge, you should know a couple of things before you set out:
First, “within sight of the bridge” is an area that covers several square miles. You could be just about any place in the park and be within sight of the bridge. Second, there are a whole lot of triangle-shaped rocks in that park, far more than strictly necessary. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) should make a rule about that.
The Kinzua Bridge can be found at 269 Viaduct Road, northeast of Mount Jewett. The buried treasure can be found…well, that’s the mystery, isn’t it?
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