Crossing Through Time: The Concord Covered Bridge in Smyrna, GA

If you're on the hunt for offbeat, fascinating spots around Smyrna, Kennesaw, Marietta, or Acworth, put the Concord Covered Bridge on your map. It’s not just a pretty bridge—it’s a surviving relic of 19th-century Georgia with a story worth telling.

A Bridge with Roots: Background & Importance

The Concord Covered Bridge, originally built around 1872, spans Nickajack Creek on Concord Road in Smyrna. It replaced earlier versions going back to 1848 that were lost during the Civil War and other events ref

This is the only covered bridge left in Cobb County and one of just 16 remaining in Georgia, making it both rare and deeply rooted in local history 

The nearby Ruff’s Mill and Concord Covered Bridge complex includes the old grist mill, Miller’s house, and this bridge—echoing a time when water-powered mills made rural economy possible  

Why It’s Still Standing Today

Modern-day traffic, highway planning, and storms have threatened the bridge over time. The East-West Connector project, proposed in the 1970s, could’ve wiped it out—or at least affected its surroundings—but local preservationists and Cobb County’s Historic Preservation Commission pushed back hard Cobb Courier.

In 1986, the area was designated as the Concord Covered Bridge Historic District, helping ensure the bridge couldn’t be easily removed or ignored ref

Since then, it’s been repaired and reinforced several times—most recently with SPLOST funds in 2017 for structural updates—so it can handle cars, despite being just one lane wide and prone to occasional crashes from oversized vehicles Cobb County GovernmentCobb Courier.

What Makes It Special

• Built in the Civil War Era (rebuilt 1872)

• Length: About 132 feet; Design: Queen-rod, echoing classic covered-bridge craftsmanship  

• Connected history: Near ruins of Nickajack Dam, Ruff’s Mill, and part of the larger Concord milling area—key elements of early Cobb County development

•  Still in use: Cars can drive across—carefully. It’s one of the few functioning covered bridges left in Georgia  

How to Visit It

Where: Concord Road, over Nickajack Creek in Smyrna—part of the Concord Covered Bridge Historic District  

What nearby: The Silver Comet Trail runs nearby on an old railroad trestle. You can easily pair a walk or bike ride with a bridge visit  

No admission fee—just drive by or park nearby and take a look. Do watch for low clearance and signs warning oversized vehicles; it’s narrow, historic, and still carries traffic.

Final Thoughts

The Concord Covered Bridge is a beautiful example of living history—small, wooden, and quietly defying the odds by still standing. It represents Smyrna’s rural roots, early industry, and a community that chose preservation over progress.

As you drive through Northwest Georgia, make this your visit-with-purpose spot: it’s a reminder that preservation matters, even when modern roads make life hustle by fast.

Curious for more hidden historic gems around Metro Atlanta—like Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta’s historic squares, or Acworth’s hidden trails? Visit me at www.CasitaMeansHome.com and I’ll help you uncover the real stories behind the places we live and love.