A journey along Route 66 in Missouri leads to a plethora of fascinating sites – from the old-school Route 66 Drive-In Theatre in Carthage to Meramec Caverns in Sullivan. There’s so much to see and to do along the famous route that it makes a fun road trip. However, one stop along Route 66, the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Missouri, has a sinister story behind it – a tragic tale that those who know it will never forget.
Connecting Missouri to Illinois, the (Old) Chain of Rocks Bridge has been a familiar sight over the Mississippi River since it opened to traffic in 1929. Some, however, may not have heard the tragic tale of what happened on this very bridge.
Google/Jeremy Rousan
Called “one of the more interesting bridges in America” by the National Park Service, the bridge’s most unique feature is the 22-degree bend at the halfway point.
Flickr/russellstreet
The bridge officially closed in 1968. In the years since, it has become part of a popular hiking and biking trail. However, it also has a sinister past – the sight of a double-murder in the early 1990s.
Wikipedia/Public Domain
On April 5, 1991, sisters Julie (20) and Robin Kerry (19) were hanging out with their cousin Thomas Cummins on the Chain of Rocks Bridge. The trio ran into several others on the bridge – Reginald Clemons, Marlin Gray, and teens Antonio Richardson and Daniel Winfrey.
Flickr/Joz3.96
A terrifying tale emerged of that evening’s events. The two men and two teens had, according to authorities, robbed Cummins and raped the sisters before throwing the women from the bridge to their deaths.
Flickr/Paul Saberman Cummins claimed he jumped off of the bridge to save himself. However, when authorities arrived at the bridge, he had no bruises and wasn’t wet. He was eventually cleared as a suspect.
All four men were either found or pled guilty. Gray was executed in 2005, and Richardson and Clemons both received life after their death sentences were overturned. Winfrey was eventually released.
Flickr/Jobs for Felons Hub
Today, visitors to the bridge will pass a memorial plaque, installed in honor of Julie and Robin. Julie’s body was recovered several weeks after the murders, but Robin was never found.
Wikipedia/Quentin Melson
Learn more about the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.
Google/Carla Votaw
Did you know the tragic tale behind the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Missouri? Have you hiked or biked along the bridge? Share your experience in the comments! Have you heard of the legend of the Kirksville Devil’s Chair? That tale will certainly give you chills, too.
Google/Jeremy Rousan
Flickr/russellstreet
Wikipedia/Public Domain
Flickr/Joz3.96
Flickr/Paul Saberman
Cummins claimed he jumped off of the bridge to save himself. However, when authorities arrived at the bridge, he had no bruises and wasn’t wet. He was eventually cleared as a suspect.
Flickr/Jobs for Felons Hub
Wikipedia/Quentin Melson
Google/Carla Votaw
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Address: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, 10820 Riverview Dr, St. Louis, MO 63137, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Exploring Missouri December 12, 2022 Beth Price-Williams What are some other bridges in Missouri? Although it has a heartbreaking history, Chain of Rocks Bridge continues to be part of a popular hiking and biking trail. However, it’s not the only bridge in Missouri worth a visit. Here are a few more Missouri bridges to check out:
The Christopher S. Bond Bridge is the tallest bridge in Missouri. Visit this Bridge to Nowhere in Missouri for a one-of-a-kind adventure. Follow an easy path to Sandy Creek Covered Bridge, just one of four covered bridges in Missouri. Cross over two Missouri bridges at Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site. Learn more about the Galena Y-Bridge, the only Y-Bridge in Missouri.
What are the best haunted places in Missouri? Tales of tragedy often mean stories about hauntings, and we have no shortage of haunted places in Missouri, including:
Explore this haunted road in Missouri, only if you dare. Learn the stories behind and plan a visit to some of the most haunted cemeteries in Missouri. Spend a day or a weekend in this most haunted town in Missouri. Check into the Elms Hotel, and see for yourself why it’s considered the most haunted hotel in Missouri. Channel your inner ghost hunter AND history buff at this haunted battlefield in Missouri.
What are some of the spookiest abandoned places in Missouri? Some of the most haunted places in Missouri are also abandoned. Some you can visit, and others you can’t. Here are some of the spookiest abandoned places in Missouri.
Times Beach is the creepiest abandoned town in Missouri. Learn more about Indian Ridge Resort, an abandoned resort in Missouri. (You cannot visit the resort but can view footage of it.) Embark on a scenic hike to an abandoned castle in Missouri. Follow along on a picturesque path to an abandoned fort in Missouri. View drone footage of an abandoned Missouri theme park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Exploring Missouri
December 12, 2022
Beth Price-Williams
What are some other bridges in Missouri? Although it has a heartbreaking history, Chain of Rocks Bridge continues to be part of a popular hiking and biking trail. However, it’s not the only bridge in Missouri worth a visit. Here are a few more Missouri bridges to check out:
The Christopher S. Bond Bridge is the tallest bridge in Missouri. Visit this Bridge to Nowhere in Missouri for a one-of-a-kind adventure. Follow an easy path to Sandy Creek Covered Bridge, just one of four covered bridges in Missouri. Cross over two Missouri bridges at Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site. Learn more about the Galena Y-Bridge, the only Y-Bridge in Missouri.
What are the best haunted places in Missouri? Tales of tragedy often mean stories about hauntings, and we have no shortage of haunted places in Missouri, including:
Explore this haunted road in Missouri, only if you dare. Learn the stories behind and plan a visit to some of the most haunted cemeteries in Missouri. Spend a day or a weekend in this most haunted town in Missouri. Check into the Elms Hotel, and see for yourself why it’s considered the most haunted hotel in Missouri. Channel your inner ghost hunter AND history buff at this haunted battlefield in Missouri.
What are some of the spookiest abandoned places in Missouri? Some of the most haunted places in Missouri are also abandoned. Some you can visit, and others you can’t. Here are some of the spookiest abandoned places in Missouri.
Times Beach is the creepiest abandoned town in Missouri. Learn more about Indian Ridge Resort, an abandoned resort in Missouri. (You cannot visit the resort but can view footage of it.) Embark on a scenic hike to an abandoned castle in Missouri. Follow along on a picturesque path to an abandoned fort in Missouri. View drone footage of an abandoned Missouri theme park.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Although it has a heartbreaking history, Chain of Rocks Bridge continues to be part of a popular hiking and biking trail. However, it’s not the only bridge in Missouri worth a visit. Here are a few more Missouri bridges to check out:
- The Christopher S. Bond Bridge is the tallest bridge in Missouri.
- Visit this Bridge to Nowhere in Missouri for a one-of-a-kind adventure.
- Follow an easy path to Sandy Creek Covered Bridge, just one of four covered bridges in Missouri.
- Cross over two Missouri bridges at Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site.
- Learn more about the Galena Y-Bridge, the only Y-Bridge in Missouri.
What are the best haunted places in Missouri?
Tales of tragedy often mean stories about hauntings, and we have no shortage of haunted places in Missouri, including:
- Explore this haunted road in Missouri, only if you dare.
- Learn the stories behind and plan a visit to some of the most haunted cemeteries in Missouri.
- Spend a day or a weekend in this most haunted town in Missouri.
- Check into the Elms Hotel, and see for yourself why it’s considered the most haunted hotel in Missouri.
- Channel your inner ghost hunter AND history buff at this haunted battlefield in Missouri.
What are some of the spookiest abandoned places in Missouri?
Some of the most haunted places in Missouri are also abandoned. Some you can visit, and others you can’t. Here are some of the spookiest abandoned places in Missouri.
- Times Beach is the creepiest abandoned town in Missouri.
- Learn more about Indian Ridge Resort, an abandoned resort in Missouri. (You cannot visit the resort but can view footage of it.)
- Embark on a scenic hike to an abandoned castle in Missouri.
- Follow along on a picturesque path to an abandoned fort in Missouri.
- View drone footage of an abandoned Missouri theme park.
