For this week’s outing, Kiera and I went to Three Bridges Park. I was told by three different people on three separate occasions that it is haunted. I was told by one person that it was not. None of the people could tell me how it was haunted — a poltergeist? The ghost of a jilted lover? They just said weird things are supposed to happen there.

I also could not find anything written about what the haunting might be.

So we went in on Sunday night with a clean slate, no idea what to expect.

This was our first time at Three Bridges and upon driving to the area, it gave off a very Blair Witch feel. The woods and the rumors, the setting sun and the cold temperatures set the tone. We were kind of excited because the mood that was set was perfect for an alleged haunted location.

T-R photos by Lana Bradstream Ominous graffiti can be found on one of the bridges in the Three Bridges Park.

I parked the truck and Kiera hopped right out and dashed into the woods. We found some wooden steps that led down to the first bridge which was made out of stone.

It was obvious there had been some people in the area. There was some scattered garbage. As Kiera explored here and I explored there, I heard her yell. That startled me.

“I found a shoe!”

Her face was twisted in disgust as she picked it up with a stick.

We walked back up the steps and proceeded toward the second bridge made of wood and metal. Plenty of graffiti decorated the bridge, including a “666.”

Kiera Bradstream investigates the stone bridge at the Three Bridges Park.

I have never studied religion, but I am pretty sure that is not a good sign. However, we trudged on with Kiera pointing out different words and phrases, including some vulgarities.

In the distance we heard a small motor running. It was either a fishing boat or a chain saw. I am fairly certain it was a fishing boat as we saw some men head upstream in their boat, but if it was a chain saw it certainly added to the creep factor.

There was a point on the bridge where Kiera stepped differently. I asked her about it after we both got back on land and she said she felt a little weird in that one spot. I told her to cross the bridge again and she felt weird again in that one spot. As soon as she left the spot, the weird feeling went away she said.

Kiera said she believed there was something paranormal about the area because of the feeling she got. That is not something Kiera says lightly, but remember we are not experts. Both of us admit that there might be a placebo effect going on.

I knew there was another bridge somewhere so we explored through the woods more and heard small animals and birds clear the way, rustling leaves and sticks in their wake.

We finally found the wooden steps leading to the suspended bridge. Kiera ran up them with barely stopping. I stopped at least once to catch my breath and question my sanity.

Half way up the stairs, I heard Kiera yell, “OMG!”

Not wanting to miss anything, I sucked in as much breath as I could and got up the stairs as fast as I could — which leaves a lot to be desired.

Kiera found the suspended bridge and could not wait to scamper her way across.

I have a problem with heights, so I did not venture across and realized how pathetic it was that my daughter could cross a bridge while I cowered on land.

Kiera came back across the bridge and demanded to know why I would not cross.

I did not want to admit that it made me nervous so I did my best to distract her with my Saturday Night Live Gilly impression as we drove back home.

Three Bridges is a prime setting for rumored hauntings. There are old structures and woods, running water and places for people to write obscenities or carve their names into trees. Is it haunted? Again, we are not experts but Kiera thinks there is something to the wood and metal bridge and we both agree that the park is an excellent location for spooky specter stories to begin.

It worked.

Contact Lana Bradstream at (641) 753-6611 ext. 255 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com