Wolf Creek Bridge
Also known as: VDOT Bridge No. 9000; VDHR No. 010-0072
Why it's listed
Spanning Wolf Creek at Rocky Gap in Bland County, Virginia, this steel Pratt through truss bridge was fabricated about 1912 by the Phoenix Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. It is 206 feet long with a 16-foot wooden deck, eight panels and pin-connected members. Its Phoenix columns, the company's patented compression members built from riveted steel pieces, are its defining feature. The bridge was probably erected as a railroad span when the New River, Holston and Western Railroad reached Rocky Gap in 1912. After rail operations ended in 1946, it was converted to highway use, with new concrete abutments, and carried Route 61 traffic until 1987, when a new bridge opened upstream. It is now limited to pedestrians and anchors a county recreational park. It is valued as a rare survivor, since no more than five Phoenix bridges are known to remain in Virginia, and for its sound engineering, which allowed decades of later use.
Significance in brief: The bridge is significant for engineering, chiefly its use of the Phoenix Bridge Company's patented Phoenix columns. It is an unusually old example that retains substantial integrity, and no more than five Phoenix bridges in Virginia are known to survive. It also served as a key link in the local and regional transportation network.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 10001114, listed January 7, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Old SR 61 - Wolf Creek Rd, Rocky Gap |
|---|---|
| County | Bland County |
| Listed | January 7, 2011 |
| Reference number | 10001114 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | c.1912 |
| Architect / builder | Phoenix Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed to all but pedestrian traffic in 1987; now the focal point of a county recreational park and a local tourist attraction. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.24353, -81.10224 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 10001114.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713549
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.