Beloved Simsbury Landmark Shuttered For Renovation

SIMSBURY, CT — A beloved piece of town history and a popular local attraction shut down this week, and it will remain closed through the end of next year.

The Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge in Simsbury, located off Old Bridge Road, closed for renovations on Monday and town officials said it could be a year or more before it is open to the public again.

Simsbury officials said the project will last through at least the end of the summer of 2024, though the town will not accept reservations for the bridge for the rest of this year and all of next year.

The bridge is a popular place for outdoor public gatherings such as weddings, anniversaries, and other photogenic milestones.

It is especially known for the flora and fauna that decorate what is now a pedestrian walkway over the Farmington River and part of a trail system there.

In addition, an adjacent park that features passive recreation opportunities will also be closed as renovation work contines, according to the town.

"There will be no flowers on the bridge in 2024 and the park adjacent to the bridge will not be open to the public until the construction is completed," wrote the Town of Simsbury.

The bridge was initially built in 1892 over the Farmington River and it is seen as an example of 19th Century metal-truss bridges of the day.

It spans 183 feet, according to the town, and it features a 12-foot roadway (now a walkway) that is 18 feet above the river.

For more information on the Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge, visit this link.