Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge

Well, here I am, reviewing another bridge on Unilocal.But I have to say, this quaint Simsbury landmark is quite beautiful. The flowers are kept up by volunteers; there were two volunteers working on the flower landscaping on either side this evening, and it really points to the love that this town has for this bridge. It’s definitely worth a stop if you’re on the Farmington Trail.

This is a 19^th century metal truss bridge in the heart of Simsbury. It spans the Farmington River and faces the busy traffic on Riverside Road. But what makes this bridge beautiful is the breathtaking assortment of flowers on both sides of the bridge — a total of 32 hanging baskets and 48 flower boxes bursting with every color of the rainbow.
Inspired by the flower bridge in Shelburne, MA, a group of Simsbury residents banded together in 1996 to save the bridge from the wrecking ball and reinvent it as a bridge of flowers. The feds donated a big chunk of change, sponsors were found for the hanging baskets and flower pots, and the bridge became a popular venue for wedding photographs and private parties,
There’s an event there next week, sort of like a block party called «Burgers On the Bridge» — think burgers, dogs, live music, lawn chairs, etc.
I stopped off on the way home from work today and had the bridge all to myself, as I strolled its 183 feet length and took photos of its beauty. Listening to the cars drive by, watching the Farmington River ripple underneath me, and being surrounded by the gorgeous flowers really was a sweet experience.
The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historical Places — quite an achievement.