Ohio's Abandoned Bridge Near Cleveland Resembles Picturesque Greek Ruins

There are a number of charming small towns to visit in the Buckeye State, including the overlooked waterfront escape of Bay Village. Tucked along the southern shore of Lake Erie, this town is home to an ethereal set of ruins that are just begging to be explored. Known formally as the Porter Creek Bridge Ruins, this dramatic set of bridge piers is located in the woods of Porter Creek Valley. Whether you're interested in history, photography, or semi-urban exploring, this is one hidden gem not to be missed.

These almost eerie structures are the remains of a railway line that was built in 1901 as part of the Lake Shore Electric Railroad, connecting the major Ohio hubs of Cleveland and Toledo via an interurban trolley system. The railway once carried five million passengers a year during its heyday, before a decline that Cleveland Historical attributes to modernization, such as personal automobiles and buses. The last car ran on the railway line in May of 1938, and the line was dismantled after the company went bankrupt in 1939 during the Great Depression.

The striking remains of the Porter Creek Bridge are worth seeing in person. The bridge piers look like ancient relics, resembling Greek architecture. Trip Explorer Guide says the "structures jut from the forest canopy like classical columns," and one Google reviewer reports that the ruins are a "cool piece of history." It's a unique spot as nature has reclaimed the trestles, and the ruins are overgrown.

The Porter Creek Bridge Ruins are relatively simple to reach, at a short 25-minute drive from Cleveland. Visitors should start at the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, just outside of Bay Village, and then head north on the bike path until they can drop down below the bridge piers. The location is marked on Google Maps as Lake Shore Electric Railway Trestle. Trip Explorers Guide advises the walk from the parking lot to the ruins is easy, although it can be muddy. There is no cost to visit the ruins, but as they aren't maintained, visitors should take care when exploring. For more fascinating ruins, travelers can add a visit to nearby Euclid to their list to see the Bridge to Nowhere in Hillandale Park — an eerie architectural wonder surrounded by woodlands.