The Elmore Haunted Headless Motorcycleman Bridge
Let me first state that I don't believe in this stuff. I used to go out here
with friends back in high school, and continue to go because my girlfriend
is into this stuff, as well as for nostalgia :). I'm creating this webpage
because the topic comes up pretty frequent, and I want a place to direct
people so I don't have to describe it each time.
THE BRIDGE & IT'S STORY
What's so special about this bridge? Welp, I've heard several different
stories (if you want more, just do a search on the web for Elmore OH Headless Motorcycle
and you'll find some), but here is what I've been told. Apparently after
either WWI or WWII (on March 21st) a soldier came back to America and something happened
with his girlfriend, and he was was driving across this bridge on his
motorcylce. A wire or something was placed across the bridge, and this dude's
head got cut off, OK? :)
So, the story goes, on March 21st if you park on the bridge, place your
car keys on the dash, flash your headlights three times, and honk your horn
three times, a bright light is supposed to chase you off the bridge. Wooo
hoo!
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I've never gone on March 21st. Last year I went on the wrong date, I didn't
write it down right. I've got it on my calendar this time :). However,
one time I did have a pretty crazy experience. I went out there with a bunch
of friends (the car was PACKED), parked on the bridge, did the ritual, waited,
then we all got out of the car. We heard a noise, and then realized we
were in trouble... you see, the bridge is in a small valley, and from the
bridge, it's hard to see anyone coming. Well, sure enough, we saw a semi
coming straight for us. Man, we jammed back in the car, and I had to fumble
for the keys (they were still on the dash), but I got the car started, and
we took off. With my car so packed, it didn't really take off, and even
with the semi braking, it came pretty damned close to us. We almost got
ran over... it was crazy... In any case, that's the only experience
I've had at the bridge :).
THE AREA & THE FOG
One of the things that make the area freaky is the twists of the
road, and the fog. This is a low area with a river and lots of farmland.
I guess that combination makes it great for fog. In certain times of the
year, a fog develops at night that hovers about EYE-LEVEL above
the ground. It is very cool to drive in. But take it slow, because there
are many twists in the road, and if you're paying too much attention to
the fog, you'll either drive into the river, or into a field!!!
GENERIC DIRECTIONS
I have a pretty neat route laid out for you to take that I think adds
to the experience. However, if you want to just get to the bridge,
here are the exact GPS coordinates (WGS84 datum) and a link to an Internet
mapping program so you can get your own directions.
GPS COORDINATES:
N41 25.384
W83 12.098
MapQuest Link
SPECIFIC ROUTE DIRECTIONS
I recommend coming from Toledo on St. Rt. 51
(Woodville Rd. in Toledo/Oregon). Here is a picture of the route (click
on the picture for a larger view):
So, find your way to St. Rt. 51 leaving Toledo (also called Woodville Rd.
in Toledo/Oregon). Take that Southbound, leaving town. You're going to
take that for quite a few miles. You're going to pass Northwood, then
Genoa many miles later. Keep going, and eventually you'll reach Elmore.
Be careful, because the speed limit is 55, but all the sudden, you go over
this hill right before Elmore, and it just drops down to 25 going down
the hill. In Elmore, when you come to the first stoplight (in downtown
Elmore), you'll turn left (the map says it's Rice Rd.).
That turns into Elmore Eastern Rd.. Here is a map pic:
The next picture is a little more zoomed out, but shows the route from
Elmore until you need to turn. Basically, you follow the River. This is
a very twisty road, but like I said before, if you hit it at the right
time of the year, the fog is AWESOME:
So, you're following the river. Drive slow, because the road is crazy.
Eventually, after a few miles, you'll hit The Factory (The pink
dot on the above map labeled #3). This is a pretty freaky sight at night
as well. A big ass factory in the absolute middle of freaking nowhere.
Keep going straight past the factory. Drive slow, because there is a
pedustrian walkway, and people might be leaving the factory heading
for their cars in the parking lot across the street. Right after the
factory, you'll head into a twisty part of the road through a bunch of
trees. Now, the first time I drove down here I got really freaked
out. There is a bright blinking light that illuminates the trees. You
don't know where it's coming from until after you drive past it. It
turns out it is a road sign with a light on it facing in the other direction
:).
After a short mile or so, you'll come to the first road AFTER
the factory. This is SLEMMER PORTAGE road (#4 on my map
above). Turn right here.
This is a VERY boring road. Mostly flat farmland. You're going to
drive down this road for a couple of miles. Eventually, you're going to
cross an overpass (you pass directly over Interstate 80/90 - The Ohio Turnpike).
Be careful here, because the road sharply veers to the right, then on the
other side of the bridge, it sharply veers again.
The bridge is between the Turnpike overpass and US Rt. 20. You'll see a
valley of sorts...
Finally, you've reached the bridge itself. It is a grated bridge... drive
over it slowly because it makes a cool sound :)
Now, like I've said before, this whole thing supposedly only works on
March 21st. I myself have never been there on that date. I usually
go on Halloween :). I'm providing this information because every once
and a while the topic comes up, and I'd like to just point them at my
website so I don't have to explain it everytime :). Take away from it
what you will, don't have high expectations, just go for a fun ride!