Drive-By
Drive Nine Mile Bridge
A short crossing on a rural gravel road outside Auxvasse, locally associated with a long-running car-won't-start legend. Use turnouts only and watch for oncoming farm traffic.
- Duration:
- 20 min
Photo coming soon
Outdoor / Natural Site
Nine Mile Bridge
A rural Callaway County bridge wrapped in long-running car-won't-start folklore
Auxvasse, MO
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Public rural road. No fees.
Access
Limited Access
Gravel rural roadway, unlit at night
Equipment
Photos OK
Nine Mile Bridge crosses a creek on a rural road in Callaway County, Missouri, outside the small community of Auxvasse. The name reflects local folk-etymology rather than a verified historical record. No county history, newspaper archive, or state historical-society record accessed during research uniquely documents a specific named event tied to this bridge.
A long-running local legend describes the killing of enslaved African American people at or near the bridge during the antebellum era. The most active chronicler of the legend, the Haunts of Missouri project, explicitly classifies that claim as myth rather than documented fact. We follow that framing here: the racialized violence narrative associated with this bridge is folkloric, has not been substantiated by archival research, and should not be treated as confirmed history.
Broader context for the bridge is found in published histories of Auxvasse and Auxvasse Township maintained by the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society and Wikipedia. The town of Auxvasse was platted in the 1870s along the Chicago and Alton rail line, and the rural road that crosses the bridge follows nineteenth-century township section lines. No archival reference to the bridge as a documented event site has been located through Callaway County or State Historical Society of Missouri collections.
Sources
- https://hauntsofmissouri.wordpress.com/2014/09/20/9-mile-bridge/
- https://www.callawaymohistory.org/auxvasse
- https://www.callawaymohistory.org/smaller-communities
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxvasse_Township,_Callaway_County,_Missouri
ApparitionsPhantom footstepsPhantom soundsEquipment malfunctionObject movement
Local tradition holds that Nine Mile Bridge is one of those rural Missouri spans where the laws of internal combustion politely suspend themselves after dark. The central legend instructs the visitor to drive onto the bridge, switch off the engine, and try to restart it. The car, the legend insists, will refuse to turn over until it has been pushed clear of the deck. The Haunts of Missouri site, which tracked the bridge for years, notes that the trick has never actually worked for the people who tried it.
A secondary set of stories attaches a wider range of reported phenomena to the bridge and to the small cemetery on the hill above it. Visitors who sit on the rail with their shoes off and their feet over the creek report a faint tickling sensation on their soles. Cars left parked on the gravel are sometimes reported to return with handprints and footprints on the hood and windshield. Distant pinpoint lights — described variously as eyes, lanterns, or reflections — appear at the tree line, the bridge underside, and the cemetery above. The silhouette of a woman is sometimes reported walking the deck at night.
The historical lore that explains these phenomena involves antebellum racial violence at the site. Local chroniclers, including the Haunts of Missouri author, classify that backstory as myth rather than verified history. The bridge is real, the legend is durable, and the documentary record is empty.
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nine Mile Bridge family-friendly?
The site is a quiet rural bridge by day. Older folklore associated with the bridge references racial violence; parents may want to read up before sharing the legend with younger visitors. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Nine Mile Bridge?
Public rural road. No fees. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Nine Mile Bridge wheelchair accessible?
Nine Mile Bridge has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Gravel rural roadway, unlit at night.