01-04-2012 The updated list of those who have signed the guest register includes over 2700 names from 40 states and 17 countries and provinces plus two who gave thier address as outer space!! There were several who signed but did not give any further information. Surprisingly, there were only 4 or 5 that appeared to be bogus.
10-20-2011, Between Aug 20, 2011 and Oct. 19, 2011, 973 spaces heve been filled in the guest register. When families and groups are added this represents over 5,000 people who have visited the bridge in the past two months from 35 states and 6 countries. It is estimated that at least half of the people visiting the bridge do not sign the guest register which would double that number. The top reason (90%) for visiting the bridge continues to be the listing on the state highway map as the longest historic covered bridge in the U.S.A.. Almost all of the visitors question why there are no signs pointing to this historic monument. A recent visitor commented that the picnic tables provided by INDOT are ideal for wheelchairs.
09-15-2011, Beginning August 20, 2011, we placed a sign-in book on the west end of the bridge. 405 spaces have been filled. This represents individuals, families and large groups. We estimate that about 2/3 of the people visiting the bridge are signing. One individual signed for a group of more than 200 people and there were other groups of 75 or more represented in one space. The majority of people say they are seeing it on the Indiana State Map as the longest historic covered bridge in the U.S. and that is why they are visiting.
06-21-2011, In the past two weeks there have been people visiting the bridge from New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland and Hong Kong, besides several states in the U.S. A young lady from Oklahoma was given a graduation present from her parents that she could pick out any place she wanted to go in the U.S. and they would take her there. She had visited this web site and she chose the Medora Covered Bridge as one of the places she wanted to visit. Is that cool or what?!
There have been over 300 e-mails besides the oral and written comments of over 1,000 people from 40 states and 12 countries who were personally greeted at the bridge since June 25, 2009. Vists to the bridge were down during construction, for obvious reasons, but there was a steady stream of people slowing down to look and stopping to take pictures from the highway. Check out the guest book page for posted comments.
The following comments and questions are from those visiting the bridge:
The most common reason given for visiting the bridge: Listing on maps as the longest historical covered bridge in the U.S. There have been several who have asked why it is on the Road Maps, but not on the Indiana Tourism Map.
The most frequently asked question is: Why would they build a bridge this big at this location?
What is now SR 235 was the major east-west route at the time the bridge was built. There was a ferry crossing at the point where the bridge is now.
The most frequent overall suggestion has been: Nice signs on Highways 50 and 235 identifying the bridge as the longest historic covered bridge in the U.S. would be a great service to travelers and would benefit the economy of the area.
The most frequent comments refer to the length and design of the bridge and how awesome it is.
The comments about rehab and the addition of concrete picnic tables (posted on the updates page) have been positive.
When people enter the bridge, the statments most often heard have to do with the graffiti, vandalism and lack of respect for the bridge.
There have been many questions and suggestions about security now that the restoration is complete. The most common suggestions have been education, security cameras that could be monitered, lighting and increased patrolling. These are all issues that are being addressed, but not yet resolved.
