Cherry Rock Bridge

The prairie is buzzing with life as winter finally packs its bags and spring is here to stay! The sky is bright, the weather’s a peach, and our beloved bike trail looping around the Big Sioux River is a hive of activity. My favorite part? Soaking up the history along the way! This week took me to Cherry Rock Bridge in Cherry Rock Park.

Back in the 1880s and 1890s, newspaper articles raved about Cherry Rock as the go-to swimming hotspot. Why "Cherry Rock," you ask? Well, it was named after a rock ledge that supposedly looked like a cherry. Maybe it was cherry-colored—quartzite is pink, after all—or maybe it sported cherry-like marks. We’ll never know, as the rock is now part of the bridge foundation, snugly encased in quartzite!

This prime swimming spot had to make way for progress as Sioux Falls expanded. In 1902, the 192-foot-long Cherry Rock Bridge was born, courtesy of the C. A. Grinde Company. It’s a mix of Parker Truss and Pratt Pony Truss, built to battle the winds that love to whip through here!

In 1984, the bridge switched gears to a pedestrian-only pathway. Half of it flaunts a steel grate, the other half, wood. Originally, the road was all wood planks, but in the 1960s, the steel grate made its debut. Now it sports a quirky half-and-half look!

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, Cherry Rock Bridge is just one of many historical gems along our bike trail. Can’t wait to discover more of these historic treasures this summer!