Yadkin River Park
Yadkin River Park is the newest feature in the Davidson County Parks and Recreation system. The park is centered around the Historical Wil-Cox Bridge, built in 1924, it is one of only eight bridges of similar design in the country and spans 1299 feet across the Yadkin River. Once serving as the main highway between the larger cities of Greensboro and Charlotte, the old structure now allows people to take a leisurely stroll high across the river and take in some amazing views. There are several covered benches that allow visitors to sit and soak in the surroundings. Along with the bridge, there are also several miles of hiking and biking trails and even a covered picnic shelter. The park also serves as an access point to the northern end of High Rock Lake. It's the perfect spot for paddlers and fishermen to launch their boats and travel upstream on the Yadkin River or downstream to the lake. There are even several tent camping spots available, however they must be reserved through the Davidson County Parks and Recreation Department. Beyond the scenic beauty of the river, the area has a rich history dating back thousands of years.
Longtime lake resident David Pettigrew has gathered and put together an interesting history of the bridge and area. You can find that here https://www.netfrontage.com/yadkinbridge/
In 2021 the Wilcox Bridge underwent extensive renovations and repairs. The drone video below shows how the facelift made the old structure look as good as new.
Park Features
At the park you'll find the York Hill Boating Access. It's a great place to launch your motor boat or kayak. If you don't own a boat, there are plenty of places to fish along the river bank and enjoy the beauty of the park. Catfish, crappie, perch and bass are caught regularly by anglers who visit this scenic spot. There are even fire pits for your enjoyment during those cooler days. For more about fishing on High Rock Lake click here.
Hiking and Biking
While the bridge itself is the most popular spot for walking or riding bikes, there are also 1.25 miles of hiking and biking trails in the park with more in the plans. The gravel trails take visitors on a walk through history passing by the earthen remains of Fort York. It was built by Confederate forces during the Civil War in anticipation of Union forces.
The park also has a convenient bike service stand with an air pump and even tools for basic repairs. Another similar station is located across the bridge on the Rowan County side of the park.
A short paved path just beyond the bike station will lead you to a fantastic dog park. Two feature filled fenced in areas for both large and smaller dogs. Please use the convenient bags and disposal cans to pick up after your pet.
The park is growing
A brand new playground was just completed and is now open to the public. A bog garden with waterfall and pond are nearly complete and restroom facilities are coming soon. There are plans for even more facilities in the near future.
The Wilcox bridge was completed in 1924 at a cost of $212,000,and is named for highway commissioners W.E. Wilkinson of Charlotte and Elwood Cox of High Point. The unique design was an engineering marvel in its day. Prior to the completion of the bridge, the options for traveling across the Yadkin River were limited to fords, shallow areas in the river, a few ferries that were privately operated and charged a toll for use and a private covered bridge that spanned the river near the current location the Wilcox Bridge. The original wooden bridge was built in the 1800s and was eventually replaced by a steel version using the same foundation. That bridge was used as the main river crossing until the completion of the Wilcox Bridge. You can still see the foundation stones for the old wooden bridge in the photos below. Some prankster put a mailbox on one of the stone foundations.
After the new Interstate 85 bridge was completed over the Yadkin River, the state was planning to demolish the old Wilcox bridge, but preservationists wanted it saved because of its historical significance. A few visionary citizens in Davidson County also saw the tourism value in the structure with the idea of creating a park adjacent to the Interstate. In March of 2010 the County Commissioners voted to take ownership and responsibility for maintenance of the bridge after the state completed some much needed repairs and sweetened the deal by giving the county the $2.5 million estimated cost of demolition. The bridge became the centerpiece of the county's newest park. It was dedicated in June of 2019.
A large crowd turned out to witness the the official opening of the park and to see all the work that had been done.
Many of the visitors toured the new park trails that go through what is left of the Civil War era "Fort York." It is believed that the Confederate fort was built in anticipation of Union General George Stoneman’s Raid into the Piedmont of North Carolina and to protect the nearby North Carolina Railroad Bridge. Ironically only one recorded military action took place at the fort. On April 12, 1865, three days after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, a small detachment of Union raiders fired artillery at the fort and the Confederates returned fire from the fort. The high ground gave the Confederates the advantage and the Union forces eventually retreated. Today you can still see the remains of the earthen walls of the fort and stand at what is believed to the the cannon positions on the bluffs over looking the river.
Located at the northern end of High Rock Lake, there is plenty to do at Yadkin River Park. You can access the lake and river, stroll across the bridge, hike the trails, picnic or spend some time fishing along the bank.
There are big plans for the park to continue to grow as Davidson County expands facilities on the north side of the river with enhanced facilities, a visitor center along with a proposed 11-mile trail connecting the Yadkin River Park and Boones Cave Park. On the south side, the Town of Spencer has completed a new trailhead and parking area. This beautiful addition gives the park a finished feel on both sides of the bridge. Eventually Spencer plans to continue a trail all the way to the North Carolina Transportation Museum.
Bike Repair Stations
If you're in need of a quick bike repair, there's a station located on the Spencer side of the park that's similar to the one found near the dog park on the north side of the bridge. These convenient stations are perfect for putting air in your tires or tightening up a loose bolt.
Yadkin River Park Events
September 30, 2021
Ice Cream Social and Park Tour
Friends of Yadkin River Park gathered gathered for an ice cream social and toured the facilities to see all the improvements that have been made. Attendees learned about area history and future plancs for the park.
