The Old Iron Bridge
Text and photos by Will Bird
| People often want to find out where all of the places and sites are that I visit, and I unfortunately am usually unable to tell them. However, this site, The Old Iron Bridge, is one that I will always share as long as it exists. It is one heck of a site too. I have found numerous black kings, water snakes, garters, and Dekay’s snakes here. It is also in the range of the Eastern Kentucky corn snake! Any person who has ever hunted the Red River Gorge area should be familiar with this site and should recognize this image. This site is visited by many a herper, all who must use this beam to cross into the snake hunter’s paradise. I probably could just tramp through the water, but I always like to cross on the beam. |  |
| Once across there is tin to the left and to the right! A short walk in either direction will produce more tin, boards, and appliances!! While there are neighbors across the street, they never seem to mind a bunch of odd-looking characters rooting through the garbage on the property as long as no one disturbs their cur of a horse! |
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| I was once trying to explain to Jim Harrison and Kristen Wiley where I was when I had found a very handsome black kingsnake. I was having trouble describing a place that I knew they had to be familiar with when Kristen smacked herself on the forehead and exclaimed to Jim, “He means The Old Iron Bridge site!!” I have referred to it as such ever since. There is a broken down school bus on the property that has always caused me to associate the place with Charles Manson and his family. Being in total shambles, much like the Barker's Ranch is today, I have always envisioned a group of haggard people traveling through the Gorge on a bus when they suddenly had a break down and simply decided to stay for good!! Now, just like the Barker Ranch, the place is a snake hunter’s dream come true! |