Located along US-71, this swing bridge crosses the channel connecting East and West Okoboji Lakes.
Built in 1890, the bridge features a large fishbellied deck girder swing span, approached by numerous trestle spans, all set on timber substructures. This deck girder span has the appearance of being an older turntable, although bridge indexes and blueprints have given no indication of this span being secondhand.
The first drawbridge opened here in 1884, and a resulting lawsuit forced a permanently maintained drawbridge at this location. That span was a wooden span, considered to be substandard by most nearby residents.
During the 1920s, the swing span had steel stringer approaches added to each side, so the swing span could cease to operate. It has been closed since.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good to fair condition. It is now a trail bridge, and was raised when it was converted to a trail, while keeping the original materials.
The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the unique design.
The photo above is an overview.