New owners vow to preserve Natural Bridge in Winston County

A sigh of relief in Winston County as Natural Bridge Park will remain open to the public, despite ownership changing hands recently. The Lowman family bought the sprawling property last summer, leaving many conservation groups anxiously waiting to see what would become of the property.

Now, the Lowman family has announced the park will stay open to the public, inviting a group of scientists to come check out the property over the weekend for a Bio Blitz. We’ll tell you more about the Natural Bridge and why it’s so important to conservation efforts in North Alabama.

About the Natural Bridge

For those of us who may not be familiar, a natural bridge is created when a rocky archway bears a striking resemblance to a bridge we humans would build. Natural Bridge Park in Winston County is a privately owned swath of property with at least 3 natural bridges within its 140+ acres. The “big bridge”, for lack of better terminology, looms 60 feet over hiking trails and spans 148 feet.

Why Natural Bridge Park was filled with scientists this weekend

_{The scientists looking for lichen were particularly thrilled. (Wild Alabama / Facebook)}

Wild Alabama hosted a “Bio Blitz” at Natural Bridge Park over the weekend. The park invited over 40 scientists to study everything from mosquitos to moss.

“This property is right on the border between Northern species and Southern species. So, [researchers] were finding both.”

Maggie Johnston, Executive Director of Wild Alabama

Wild Alabama mainly works with Alabama’s two national forests: Talladega and Bankhead. They brought Natural Bridge Park into their fold when the property first went up for sale. They wanted to ensure the property went to a group that would keep the park open to the public and the land safe from development. Executive Director Maggie Johnston seems to think they’re up for the job.

“They are hard working, folks. The three of them are renovating the facilities. They had two little buildings on it, so they’re living out there and managing it.”

Maggie Johnston, Executive Director of Wild Alabama

Check it out for yourself!

• Address: 315 Co Rd 3500, Natural Bridge, AL 35577
• Admission: $10 for adults | $5 for kids over 6
• Website | Facebook

Want more like this in your inbox? Subscribe to our FREE newsletter.