The Fascinating History of Royal Gorge Bridge

A Bridge Built for Wonder

The Royal Gorge Bridge didn't just appear—it was born from ambition, engineering brilliance, and a desire to share one of nature's most spectacular creations with the world.

The Royal Gorge War

Before the bridge, there was a canyon—and a railroad war. In 1878, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway fought a legal and sometimes physical battle for rights to build through the narrow gorge. The conflict, complete with armed standoffs and court battles, became known as the Royal Gorge War. The D&RGW ultimately prevailed, building the route that the Royal Gorge Route Railroad still uses today.

Building the Impossible

In 1929, the Texas Bridge Company took on an audacious project: suspend a bridge 956 feet above the Arkansas River across a 1,260-foot span. The construction took just six months, an remarkable achievement for the era. When completed, it was the highest suspension bridge in the world—a record it held for decades.

The original toll was 75 cents for a car and 25 cents for pedestrians. The bridge immediately became a tourist attraction, drawing visitors from across the country who came to experience the vertigo-inducing views.

The 2013 Fire

Disaster struck on June 11, 2013, when the Royal Gorge Fire swept through the park. The wildfire destroyed 48 of 52 buildings, including the visitor center, gondola, and historic funicular. Miraculously, the bridge itself survived—its wooden deck planks were the only wood that burned.

Rather than close permanently, the park rebuilt. The new facilities that opened in 2014 and beyond represent a $30 million investment in making the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park better than ever.

Today

The Royal Gorge Bridge remains an engineering marvel and Colorado's most visited attraction. New features like the Cloudscraper Zip Line, aerial gondola, and Tommy Knocker Playland have made it a full-day destination. Yet the bridge itself remains the star—a testament to 1920s engineering that continues to inspire wonder nearly a century later.