Emily’s Bridge / Gold Brook Covered Bridge – Haunted Bridge in Stowe, Vermont

Nestled in the picturesque Green Mountains of Vermont stands a structure that harbors one of New England’s most enduring ghost stories. Emily’s Bridge, officially known as Gold Brook Covered Bridge, has terrified visitors for over a century with tales of a jilted bride.

This weathered wooden bridge crossing Gold Brook attracts both history enthusiasts and paranormal investigators seeking encounters with the supernatural. The covered bridge’s dark interior and isolated location create an atmosphere of dread that intensifies after sunset.

Locals and visitors alike report unexplained scratches on their vehicles, disembodied screams echoing through the night, and the ghostly figure of a woman. The bridge has earned its reputation as Vermont’s most haunted location through countless documented encounters spanning generations.

What makes this haunting particularly unsettling is the aggressive nature of the paranormal activity reported here. Unlike passive hauntings where spirits merely appear, Emily seems to interact violently with those who dare cross her bridge.

Historical Background

Gold Brook Covered Bridge was constructed in 1844 by John W. Smith using traditional timber-frame construction methods. The 50-foot span originally served as a vital crossing point for farmers and travelers navigating through Stowe’s rural landscape.

The bridge features a town lattice truss design that was common in Vermont during the mid-19th century. Its wooden planks and weathered beams have witnessed nearly two centuries of history, tragedy, and unexplained phenomena.

The structure underwent significant restoration in 1998 to preserve its historical integrity and ensure safe passage for modern vehicles. Despite these renovations, the paranormal activity intensified rather than diminished, suggesting the haunting is tied to location rather than materials.

The bridge earned its sinister nickname “Emily’s Bridge” sometime in the late 1800s following a tragic incident. According to historical accounts, a young woman named Emily met a horrific fate at this very location in the 1840s or 1850s.

The exact year of Emily’s death remains disputed among historians and paranormal researchers investigating the case. Some sources place the tragedy in 1849, while others suggest it occurred as late as 1852.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors to Emily’s Bridge consistently report deep scratches appearing on their vehicles after passing through the covered structure. These marks often appear in patterns suggesting human fingernails dragging across paint and metal surfaces with impossible force.

The sound of footsteps on the wooden planks echoes through the bridge even when no visible person walks there. These phantom footfalls typically occur in a hurried, frantic pattern as if someone is running desperately from one end to the other.

Disembodied screaming and wailing pierce the night air around the bridge, particularly during late evening hours between midnight and 3 AM. The cries sound distinctly female and convey profound anguish, terror, and heartbreak that leaves witnesses deeply disturbed.

White, glowing orbs frequently appear in photographs taken inside and around the bridge structure even when nothing was visible. These anomalies appear most commonly near the center of the bridge where Emily allegedly took her final breath.

Cold spots manifest suddenly inside the covered bridge regardless of outside temperature or weather conditions affecting the surrounding area. These temperature drops can plummet 20 to 30 degrees within seconds, causing visible breath condensation even during summer months.

Electronic equipment malfunctions regularly when brought onto the bridge, with cameras shutting off unexpectedly and car engines stalling without mechanical explanation. Cell phones drain completely dead batteries within minutes of entering the covered structure, rendering them useless for documentation or emergency calls.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most widely accepted legend tells of Emily, a young woman in her early twenties who planned to elope. Her lover promised to meet her at the covered bridge at midnight with horses and a carriage prepared for their escape.

Emily arrived at the appointed hour dressed in her finest white gown, carrying only a small bag of belongings. She waited in the cold darkness of the bridge as hours passed with no sign of her beloved.

When dawn approached and her fiancé never appeared, Emily realized she had been abandoned and publicly humiliated. The shame of being jilted combined with her passionate love overwhelmed her fragile emotional state, driving her to desperation.

In her anguish, Emily took a rope and hanged herself from the rafters inside the covered bridge. Some versions claim she was found the next morning by a farmer crossing with his wagon at first light.

An alternative version of the story suggests Emily’s death was not suicide but a tragic accident gone wrong. According to this account, her horses were spooked by something in the darkness and bolted while Emily was still in the carriage.

The runaway horses charged through the bridge at full speed, causing the carriage to crash violently into the wooden beams. Emily was thrown from the vehicle and broke her neck instantly, dying alone in the cold darkness she had associated with her lover’s betrayal.

A darker variant claims Emily’s lover did appear but brought terrible news that he could not marry her. The confrontation turned violent, and he murdered Emily inside the bridge to silence her protests and protect his reputation in the community.

Regardless of which version holds truth, witnesses consistently report encountering a woman in a white dress inside or near the bridge. She appears translucent and glowing, with long dark hair and a face twisted in expressions of rage, sorrow, or desperation.

Many visitors report feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness wash over them when standing in the center of the bridge. This emotion arrives suddenly and intensely, often bringing witnesses to tears without understanding why they feel such profound grief.

Some brave souls who have spent the night near Emily’s Bridge report being physically touched by invisible hands. These encounters range from gentle touches on the shoulder to violent shoving that has knocked people to the ground.

Several witnesses describe seeing rope marks or a noose hanging from the bridge rafters that vanishes upon closer inspection. These phantom ropes appear solid and real for several seconds before fading into nothingness like morning mist.

Most Haunted Spot

The center section of the covered bridge represents the epicenter of paranormal activity associated with Emily’s restless spirit. Visitors standing at this exact midpoint report the most intense experiences including physical contact, temperature fluctuations, and overwhelming emotional distress.

The southeastern corner inside the bridge where the rafters meet the support beams is believed to be where Emily hanged herself. Sensitive individuals and self-proclaimed psychics report feeling an oppressive presence in this specific area that makes breathing difficult and induces panic attacks.

The approach to the bridge from Gold Brook Road on the eastern side is where Emily allegedly waited for her lover. Witnesses standing in this location at night report seeing a glowing feminine figure pacing back and forth as if anxiously waiting for someone who will never arrive.

Can You Visit?

Emily’s Bridge is open to the public and accessible 24 hours a day throughout the year. The bridge remains a functioning road structure that vehicles can drive through, though it’s limited to one lane of traffic.

There is no entry fee to visit or explore the bridge and surrounding area making it a popular destination for ghost hunters. Parking is available along Gold Brook Road, though space is limited to roadside pull-offs that accommodate only a few vehicles.

No official guided tours operate at Emily’s Bridge as it’s a public roadway rather than a managed historical site. Visitors are free to explore at their own pace and spend as much time as they wish investigating the paranormal claims.

Photography is permitted and encouraged, with many paranormal enthusiasts setting up equipment to capture evidence of Emily’s presence. Video recording, EVP sessions, and other ghost hunting techniques are allowed as long as they don’t obstruct traffic or endanger public safety.

The bridge is located on a quiet rural road that sees minimal traffic during late night hours. Most paranormal investigators visit between 10 PM and 4 AM when activity is reportedly most intense and interruptions from passing vehicles are rare.

Best Time to Visit

The anniversary of Emily’s death, believed to be sometime in late spring or early summer, reportedly sees increased paranormal activity. Many investigators schedule their visits during May and June hoping to experience heightened supernatural phenomena during this significant period.

The hours between midnight and 3 AM consistently produce the most dramatic encounters according to documented visitor experiences. This timeframe aligns with traditional beliefs about the “witching hour” when the veil between worlds grows thinnest.

Full moon nights attract the largest crowds of ghost hunters and curiosity seekers to Emily’s Bridge. The additional natural light makes navigation safer while still maintaining the eerie atmosphere necessary for paranormal investigation and spirit contact.

Winter visits offer the advantage of fewer tourists and a more isolated experience in the cold darkness. However, icy conditions on Gold Brook Road and inside the bridge can make access dangerous for those unfamiliar with Vermont winters.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

In 1968, a local newspaper published an account from a Stowe resident who encountered a woman in white standing in the road. The driver swerved to avoid hitting her, but when he looked back, the figure had completely vanished without a trace.

A couple visiting from Massachusetts in 1982 reported their car being violently scratched while parked inside the bridge. They heard screeching sounds of nails on metal but saw no person or animal that could have caused the deep gouges.

Paranormal investigator Joseph Citro documented multiple encounters with Emily’s spirit in his 1994 book “Green Mountain Ghosts, Ghouls & Unsolved Mysteries.” He interviewed dozens of witnesses who experienced everything from phantom screams to physical attacks while visiting the bridge.

A group of college students from the University of Vermont spent the night at the bridge in 2003 as part of a Halloween dare. Two members of the group reported being pushed hard enough to fall down, sustaining minor injuries from contact with invisible hands.

In 2015, a paranormal investigation team captured audio recordings they believe contain Emily’s voice saying “help me” and “why did you leave.” The EVP recordings have been analyzed by audio experts who cannot identify a natural source for the female voice.

Local Stowe residents share stories passed down through generations about the bridge being cursed and dangerous after dark. Many longtime residents refuse to cross the bridge at night, choosing instead to take longer alternate routes to reach their destinations.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated Emily’s Bridge in 2006, capturing thermal imaging that showed unexplained cold spots moving through the structure. Their equipment recorded significant electromagnetic field fluctuations that couldn’t be attributed to natural sources or nearby power lines.

Multiple ghost hunting groups have documented strange anomalies in photographs taken inside the covered bridge structure. These include streaks of light, shadowy figures, and what appears to be a woman’s face manifesting in the wooden beams.

EMF detectors consistently spike to abnormal levels at the center of the bridge where Emily allegedly died by suicide or accident. These readings occur even when all electronic devices are turned off and no power sources exist in the immediate vicinity.

Spirit box sessions conducted by investigators frequently produce responses to questions about Emily’s identity and her fate at the bridge. The responses often contain words like “betrayed,” “alone,” “waiting,” and the name “Emily” spoken in a female voice filled with anguish.

Infrared cameras have captured what appears to be a glowing humanoid figure moving through the bridge late at night. The figure appears semi-transparent and moves in patterns consistent with pacing or searching for something lost in the darkness.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Visitors must remain aware that Emily’s Bridge is an active roadway where vehicles have the right of way. Standing in the middle of the bridge for extended periods can be dangerous, especially since approaching cars are not visible until they enter the covered structure.

The wooden planks inside the bridge can become extremely slippery during rain, snow, or when covered with fallen leaves. Several visitors have sustained injuries from slipping and falling on the treacherous surface while investigating paranormal claims at night.

Cell phone reception is unreliable in this rural area, making emergency contact difficult if accidents or medical emergencies occur. Visitors should inform someone of their plans and expected return time before conducting late-night investigations at this isolated location.

The bridge and surrounding area are monitored by local law enforcement due to past incidents of vandalism and trespassing. Officers patrol the area regularly, and visitors who leave trash, damage property, or behave recklessly may face fines or arrest.

Paranormal investigators should never attempt to climb on the bridge structure or hang objects from the rafters. Such actions are illegal, dangerous, and disrespectful to both the historical site and the tragic story of Emily’s death.

Local Legends & Myths

Some Stowe locals claim that anyone who says Emily’s name three times while standing alone in the bridge will summon her angry spirit. Those who have attempted this ritual report immediate temperature drops and the sound of approaching footsteps echoing through the darkness.

Another legend states that single women who cross the bridge at midnight will dream of their future husband that night. However, if the woman is destined to suffer heartbreak like Emily, she will instead experience nightmares of abandonment and betrayal.

A particularly dark variation of Emily’s story suggests she was pregnant when her lover abandoned her at the bridge. This detail adds another layer of tragedy to her suicide and explains the particularly vengeful nature of her haunting.

Some paranormal researchers theorize that Emily’s spirit doesn’t haunt the bridge alone but is accompanied by the ghost of her unborn child. This would explain reports of children’s laughter and small footsteps heard echoing through the covered structure late at night.

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