Twin Bridges has a campground, canoe rental, and bar/restaurant set beside one of two scenic bridges in West Plains, Missouri. As often happens in remote spots such a this one, the postal address is West Plains, but the actual site is pretty far out of town (in case you are headed that way).
It’s a nice place to stop and have a drink and a bite, overlooking the North Fork River. The food is regular bar fare, and being in the south, a lot of yummy fried options from pickle chips and okra to battered mushrooms. They also have garlic cheese curds, wings, pulled pork and a brisket dinner. Big fans of buying locally, we were proud to see a variety of our Piney River Brewing Company’s beer on draft (see Piney River post here ).
While there is indoor seating, we’ve only been on nicer days and the deck has multiple levels, so we grabbed a few mugs, placed an appetizer order and headed outside to enjoy the views of the North Fork River and one of the twin bridges.
I’ve never put in at the river there, nor stayed over, but when out on a drive in the countryside, it’s a nice oasis, even in winter. Although the name notes the existence of a second bridge, it almost gets forgotten, as most of the business end of the resort (canoe rental and restaurant) is situated in the shadow of one bridge, the one over the North Fork River. The smaller span arches over Spring Creek, near additional camping.
Little could be found, historically, about the bridges. As for the one we sat near, it was built in 1931 by Glen E. Stoner and is described by Bridgehunter.com as an, “open-spandrel arch” design with three arches. Stoner built it’s twin in the same year, over Spring Creek, with two arches.
The bridges sit on either side of the junction of Highways 181 and 14 in Douglas County, Missouri. The last inspection report was in 2018 and it was rated “good” and in “fair” condition. It looks old, is well traveled, but she’s a pretty, old bridge.
Thinking of adding it to the list of future camping places and canoeing, I looked up reviews and sadly the campgrounds seem to lack the upkeep, customer service and charm of the restaurant. Maybe that’ll change in the future as there is a nice breakfast menu available, a riverside fire pit and corn hole set up, and I was impressed that the sheltered, outdoor bathrooms had a space heater and heat lamp running in each stall; a thoughtful touch in January, especially if you weren’t renting a cabin or had an RV.
Just outside of the facilities, an old, Old Town canoe was repurposed into a flower bed. We have the same canoe, not yet ready to garden, but a fun sight.
On the day that we last visited, a large and happy black lab followed us from the parking lot to the door of the restaurant. It sat patiently at the door, but the bartender said she didn’t know where it came from. When we left, other patrons on the deck went out the door ahead of us and the dog dutifully followed it’s people and hopped in their truck and left.