The Most Terrifying Bridge in Mississippi Will Put You in a Cold Sweat

The Magnolia State is no stranger to haunted places. In fact, the state is full of eerie bridges known to put travelers in a cold sweat. Think you’re brave? Take a walk across the most terrifying bridge in Mississippi to find out if the legends about it are true.

Where Is the Most Terrifying Bridge in Mississippi?

Many haunted roadways are found throughout the state, but rural Lauderdale County is home to the most terrifying bridge in Mississippi. On the outskirts of Meridian is the famous Stuckey’s Bridge. If you drive down Stuckey Bridge Road you will see the old truss bridge spanning the Chunky River. Although nature is slowly reclaiming the 122-year-old structure, its association with the Dalton Gang makes it a popular spot for legend trippers.

History of Stuckey’s Bridge

The most terrifying bridge in Mississippi was built in 1850, but it didn’t earn the title immediately. The structure that became Stuckey’s Bridge was constructed as the main route across the Chunky River – a tributary to the Chickasawhay River. Plans to build the bridge were finalized in 1847 and was completed around 1850.

The dilapidated old truss bridge you see today made it easy for carriages and those on horseback to travel through the bustling town. However, the Virginia Bridge and Iron Company replaced it replaced it in 1901. It’s no longer open to cars or other traffic but visitors can take a short detour as they drive through Mississippi to walk across the 112-foot bridge.

Stuckey’s Bridge was listed as a Mississippi Landmark in August 1984 and then added to the National Register of Historic Places in November 1988. Now abandoned and undrivable, Stuckey’s Bridge is a free roadside attraction for those who love a good ghost story. But watch your step! The wooden structure is old and missing pieces of its walkway.

Who Is Stuckey?

Many legends surround the namesake of the infamous Stuckey’s Bridge. However, one particular tale is widely accepted. Laura Nan Fairley and J.T. Dawson’s Paths to the Past: An Overview History of Lauderdale County covers the gory details. Curious residents can find the publication in the Lauderdale County Department of Archives and History. For now, we’ll give you an overview of the popular story.

Stuckey was allegedly a member of the infamous Dalton Gang. The group that brought trouble throughout the Old West left him behind as they escaped from their crimes through the forest in Meridian. He stayed and opened an inn off the banks of the Chunky River along a dirt road weaving through the Mississippi forest. As the town became more popular, so did the inn.

Despite separating from the famous group of outlaws, he continued a life of crime. Stuckey murdered innocent travelers staying the night in Meridian, burying them along the river and stealing their possessions. When dozens of missing persons reports quickly stacked up, the town’s police were quick to suspect Stuckey, given his unsavory reputation. He was arrested and tried without an official trial, then hanged from what would become Stuckey’s Bridge.

Due to his grisly crimes, he was left along the river like his victims. All that remains of “Stuckey” are the legends surrounding the most terrifying bridge in Mississippi.

The Stuckey’s Bridge Legends

The bridge where Stuckey met his demise was replaced in 1901. However, his bitter ghost still roams along the sides of the existing structure. Brave visitors claim to hear water splashes or see a blue glow on its surface. Others have seen the apparition walking across in the dead of night, holding a lantern in his hand.

But if you’re unable to take a trip to visit the most terrifying bridge in Mississippi in person, you can see it on TV. The legend of Stuckey’s Bridge garnered national attention, earning it a feature on the paranormal television series Most Terrifying Places in America. The episode on the most terrifying bridge in Mississippi premiered on the Travel Channel on an episode of “Haunted Road Trips” in 2018.

Wildlife Near the Most Terrifying Bridge in Mississippi

The greenery spilling out from the sides of Stuckey’s Bridge is a sign nature is slowly taking ownership of the most terrifying bridge in Mississippi. Within the forest is plenty of wildlife that calls the area home. Those stopping by on a ghost hunt can see raccoons, squirrels, rats, mice, bats, and possums. Other forest-dwellers in Meridian include rabbits, foxes, armadillos, and chipmunks. Don’t forget to watch for some of Mississippi’s official state animals – the white-tailed deer and the northern mockingbird. Moreover, the Chunky River is full of fish, including spotted bass, catfish, and the common carp.