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Romantic Shelters are non-authentic Covered Bridges mostly located on private property. Many of them are new, well-cared for bridges, built for nostalgic reasons for those who want to preserve memories of a covered bridge once a part of their past. Maryland has about 20 Romantic Shelters.
The World Guide for Covered Bridges Romantic Shelters edition assigns a number to these bridges like they do for authentic covered bridges. The first two digits represent the state, as 20 (or many now use the official state abbreviation MD) for Maryland. The middle two digits are for the county, alphabetically numbered. Lastly, a digit(s) is assigned to the bridge. If a bridge is for a vehicle crossing a capital letter is used. A lower-case letter designates a foot bridge. If a letter is followed by a "#2", it indicates a second bridge at this location. MD-10-f is assigned to Rudderow footbridge in Frederick County. MD-13-A#2 is for the second Burdette vehicle crossing bridge in Howard County.
Click on bridge "name" to view information and photo(s). Click on bridge "location" to view MapQuest data.
IMPORTANT: To view the location of the bridge in MapQuest, you MUST have your MapQuest settings on the "new version." The "classic version" of MapQuest will not work.
| BRIDGE NAME | COUNTY | WORLD GUIDE # | BUILT | LENGTH | COORDINATES | LOCATION |
| Betty Ruth | Allegany | MD-01-A | 1993 | 64' | N39°41'56" W78°32'42" |
Near Flintstone. From I-68 take Exit 56 south on Williams Road for .2 mile, left on MD144 National Pike for 1.2 mile to Dry Ridge Road, left for .6 mile to Romsburg Lane, turn right and follow to the bridge. Private property, ask permission to visit bridge. |
| Full Cry Farm | Carroll | MD-06-a | 2007 | 28' | N39°38'3" W76°55'53" |
Manchester/Cranberry. From intersection of MD30 (Hanover Pike/Main St) and MD27 (Manchester Rd), go southwest on MD27 for 3.2 miles to 2022 at Full Cry Farm. Bridge is on the right about 75 yards from MD27. Private property, ask permission to visit bridge. |
| River Valley Ranch | Carroll | MD-06-B | approx. early 1990s | 27'-10" | N39°41'47" W76°48'22" |
Northeast of Manchester. From intersection of MD30 (Hanover Pike/Main St) and MD27 (Manchester Rd), go south on MD30 for .2 mile to York St, turn left. Continue for .7 mile, name changes to Water Tank Rd, continue another .7 mile and stay right on Schalk Rd. Go 2.2 miles to a right onto Alecia to Lineboro Rd. Continue .9 mile where road name changes to Hoffmanville Rd. Go 1.6 miles to Graves Run Rd, turn left and continue 1.4 miles to the bridge on your right. |
| Hearts Over Water | Carroll | MD-06-c | 2010 | 14' | approximate location N39°22'52" W76°58'18" |
Sykesville. From intersection of I-70 & RT32, go north, for 5 miles, turn left on Springfield Avenue (RT851), continue for .1 mile, turn right on Third Avenue. Proceed .1 mile to entrance to Fairhaven Retirement Community at 7200 Third Avenue, turn right for a short distance to Outer Drive and turn right again onto Outer Drive. Look for the first available visitor parking spot, walk through the archway under the apartments until you reach the reception area. Fairhaven Retirement Community is on Private Property. The bridge is located along the walking trails. GPS location is approximate. Permission to visit the bridge MUST be made in advance by calling the reception desk at 410-795-8800. |
| Carroll County Farm Museum | Carroll | MD-06-d | 2010 | 30'-3" | N39°33'30" W76°59'46" |
Westminster. Traveling NW on Route 140 (Baltimore Blvd), turn left (SW) on N. Center Street, cross Main St. & N. Center St. becomes S. Center St. Continue to Farm Museum Road and turn right (total travel distance from Rt. 140 is 1.4 mile). Continue to gray/blue building where administrative offices are located. Bridge is behind the office building. |
| Joseph Monger | Cecil | MD-07-a | 1997 | 24'-2" | N39°43'12" W75°47'38" |
Near Glen Farms. From intersection of MD273 Telegraph Rd and MD213 Lewisville Rd, go east on Telegraph Rd for 3.7 miles to Little Egypt Rd, turn left. Continue for 1.8 miles to bridge on right (SE) side of road. Private property, ask permission to visit. |
| Baker Park | Frederick | MD-10-a | 1965 | 40' | N39°25'11" W77°25'36" |
Frederick. From US15 (west of downtown Frederick) take Exit 14 Rosemont Avenue. Go southeast on Rosemont Avenue (toward Frederick) a short distance to Fairview Avenue, turn right, go .1 mile to W. 2nd Street, turn left and proceed a short distance to bridge. |
| Cozy Restaurant | Frederick | MD-10-b | 1967 | 12' | N39°37'00" W77°25'01" |
GONE. Was located in Thurmont, at 103 Frederick Road. |
| Holly Hills Country Club Lower | Frederick | MD-10-c | 1972 | 17' | N39°23'4" W77°18'20" |
Ijamsville, at Holly Hills Country Club. From intersection of I-70 and MD75 Green Valley Road, exit 62, go north .2 mile to Old National Pike/Main St., MD144, turn left and go 2.2 miles to Mussetter Road, turn left. Proceed .2 mile to Ritchie Drive, turn right and proceed .7 mile to Holly Hills Country Club on the left. Bridge is near the 6th tee. |
| Holly Hills Country Club Middle | Frederick | MD-10-d | 1972 | 17' | N39°23'4" W77°18'20" |
Ijamsville, at Holly Hills Country Club. From intersection of I-70 and MD75 Green Valley Road, exit 62, go north .2 mile to Old National Pike/Main St., MD144, turn left and go 2.2 miles to Mussetter Road, turn left. Proceed .2 mile to Ritchie Drive, turn right and proceed .7 mile to Holly Hills Country Club on the left. Bridge is near the 7th tee. |
| Holly Hills Country Club Upper | Frederick | MD-10-e | 1972 | 17' | N39°23'4" W77°18'20" |
Ijamsville, at Holly Hills Country Club. From intersection of I-70 and MD75 Green Valley Road, exit 62, go north .2 mile to Old National Pike/Main St., MD144, turn left and go 2.2 miles to Mussetter Road, turn left. Proceed .2 mile to Ritchie Drive, turn right and proceed .7 mile to Holly Hills Country Club on the left. Bridge is near the 17th tee. |
| Rudderow | Frederick | MD-10-f | 1972 | 33' | N39°25'48" W77°30'21" |
Near Middletown. Travel west on Old National Pike, ALT US40, toward Middletown. Go 1.2 miles past the point where I-70 crosses Old National Pike to 4612, on the right just past Ridge Road. Private property, please ask permission to visit bridge. |
| Casselman Motor Inn | Garrett | MD-11-b | 1983 | 20' | N39°41'45" W79°9'6" |
Grantsville. From I-68, take exit 19 north, S. Yoder Street MD495 for about .3 mile to Grantsville, turn right on ALT US40, Main Street and continue .3 mile to the motel and bridge on the left side at 113 E. Main St. |
| Streams and Dreams | Garrett | MD-11-c | Unk | 22' | N39°31'45" W79°24'37" |
North of Oakland. From I-68, take exit 14-A, US219 south for 13.2 miles to Sang Run Road, turn right just after the Exxon Station. Continue for one-half mile to Hoyes Run Road, turn left. Proceed 3.8 miles to Oakland-Sang Run Road, turn right. Continue around the turn and look for the bridge on your right. |
| Spruce Forest | Garrett | MD-11-(a) | Unk | 16' | N39°41'47" W79°8'31 |
Grantsville. From I-68, take exit 19 north, S. Yoder Street MD495 for about .3 mile to Grantsville, turn right on ALT US40, Main Street and continue .8 mile to the village and bridge on the left at 177 Casselman Road across from the Penn Alps Restaurant. |
| Beitzel | Garrett | MD-11-E | 2005 | 59' | N39°35'37" W79°13'14" |
Near Bittinger. From I-68 near Grantsville, take exit 19, MD495 Bittinger Rd south for 8 miles. Turn left on Brenneman Rd, go .2 mile to fork in road and bear right on Frank Brenneman Road. Continue for 2.4 miles to bridge on the right (west side). |
| Grube | Harford | MD-12-a | 1970 | 22'-8" | N39°33'27" W76°18'1" |
GONE, collapsed in 2007. Was located Near Bel Air, at 402 Prospect Mill Road, .6 mile from intersection with Churchville Rd. |
| Cernik | Harford | MD-12-b | c1990 | 16' | N39°42'15" W76°33'3" |
Norrisville. From the intersection of MD136 (Harkins Rd) and MD23 (Norrisville Rd), travel north .3 mile to Church Lane, turn left and proceed for .4 mile to Duncan Road. Turn right at Duncan Road and continue .6 mile to the bridge on private property at 3017, left side of road. Ask permission to visit. |
| Burdette | Howard | MD-13-A | 1942 | 24' | N39°21'43" W77°04'02" |
GONE. Was located near Woodbine, off Newport Road, .2 mile from intersection with MD94 Woodbine Road. (Burdette #2 is now at this location.) |
| Burdette #2 | Howard | MD-13-A#2 | 1980 | 24' | N39°21'43" W77°04'02" |
Near Woodbine. From I-70 west of Baltimore City, take Exit 73 MD94, Woodbine Rd north for 1 mile to Newport Rd, turn left. Continue .2 mile to a paved road on the left. When the paved road ends, continue on the dirt road to the first dirt driveway on the right. Continue to the bridge. Private property, ask permission to visit the bridge. |
| Turf Valley Resort | Howard | MD-13-b | 1994 | 24' | N39°17'58" W76°54'00" |
At the Turf Valley Resort. From intersection of US29 and US40 near Ellicott City, go west on US40 for 4.6 miles, then right on Marriottsville Road for .3 mile to the bridge on the right side of the road, only a few feet from fenced off area. |
| Valley Mill Park or Snowden Mill | Montgomery | MD-15-a | 1960 | 32'-6" | N39°3'57" W76°58'41" |
GONE, removed in 2007. Was located near Colesville, at 1600 East Randolph Road in Valley Mill Park. |
| Smokey Glen Farm | Montgomery | MD-15-B | 1976 | 28' | N39°7'30" W77°15'57" |
East of Darnestown. From intersection of MD28 Darnestown Road and MD112 Seneca Road, go east on Darnestown Road for 2 miles, left on Riffle Ford Road for .7 mile to Smokey Glen Farm on the right. Bridge is .2 mile from the main road. Stop at the Farm building and ask permission to visit bridge. |
| Lawson King | Montgomery | MD-15-C | 1973 | 43' | N39°7'53" W77°11'9" |
SE of Gaithersburg. From intersection of I-370 and S. Frederick Road MD355, go NW on S. Frederick Road for .7 mile, turn right on Central Avenue. Bridge is located about 100 yards down 2nd driveway on left at 101 Central Avenue. Private property, please ask permission to visit. |
| Valieant | Montgomery | MD-15-d | 1977 | 20' | N39°6'48" W77°6'35" |
West of Norbeck, not far from Rockville. From intersection of Georgia Avenue MD97 and Norbeck Road MD28, go west for only .2 mile to Muncaster Mill Road MD 115, turn right and continue for 1.5 miles to Meadowside Lane, turn left and proceed to Meadowside Nature Center. |
| H. Deets Warfield | Montgomery | MD-15-E | 1966 | 44' | N39°18'52" W77°11'32" |
Near Damascus. From I-70, take MD27 south (Ridge Rd) for 3.4 miles to 28025 (near intersection of MD27 and MD80 (Kemptown Rd). Turn left onto private road. Continue past 28025 to 28031, and proceed left on small vehicle path to bridge, approximately .3 mile from main road. Private property, ask permission to visit. |
| Bowie Horse Crossing | Prince George's | MD-16-a | 1989 | 113' | N39°0'27" W76°44'40" |
Near Bowie. From intersection of MD197 Collington Road and US50 John Hanson Hgwy, go north on Collington Road (becomes Laurel Bowie Road) for 2.2 miles, turn right onto Old Chapel Road (merges with Race Track Road), for 2.2 miles to bridge. Not accessible to public but can be easily viewed from roadway. |
| Peachblossom Creek | Talbot | MD-20-a | Unk | Approx. 50' | N38°43'56" W76°04'20" |
Just south of Easton. Traveling from points south to Easton on Route 50W, turn left onto RT322/565. Continue for 1.5 miles to Oxford Road, RT333, turn left. Go 1.4 miles to Cooks Hope Rd, turn left. Go 1.1 miles to Springfield Dr., turn left. Go .5 mile to dead end and park at turnaround. Walk the trail straight ahead for short distance to a narrow path on the left. Continue down that path for about 1/4 mile to an even smaller path on the right. Take that path a short distance to the bridge. |
| Green Spring | Washington | MD-21-a | Unk | 30' | N39°36'52" W77°58'21" |
Just south of Clear Spring. Take Exit 18 off I-70 to Clear Spring at US40. Turn left on US40, go .4 mile to a left on Boyd Rd. Continue 2.8 miles to dead end, turn right on MD56 Big Pool Rd for .5 mile, left on McCoys Ferry Rd for .5 mile to the bridge on your right at driveway of 11040 McCoys Ferry Rd. |
11/11/2011 One Romantic Shelter added for Carroll County, MD-06-d, Carroll County Farm Museum Bridge
09/16/2011 One Romantic Shelter added for Washington County, MD-21-a, Green Spring Bridge.
09/20/2010 Two Romantic Shelters added for Garrett County, MD-11-c, Streams and Dreams Bridge and MD-11-(a) Spruce Forest Bridge.
09/13/2010 One Romantic Shelter added for Carroll County, MD-06-c, Hearts Over Water Bridge.
Maryland Covered Bridges
Email me: mdcoveredbridges@comcast.net