The Forgotten Bridge of Sorrow: Helen's Bridge

Background

Helen’s Bridge was constructed in 1909. This bridge was used to provide access to Beaucatcher Mountain to the grand Zealandia Mansion. This is merely a legend and it is not confirmed in historical records. It was originally called “Zealandia Bridge” and was then later changed to Helen’s bridge.

The Most Common Legend

Helen was a mother living near Zealandia with her young daughter. One day, the house caught on fire and Helen did everything she could to save her daughter, but failed. Her daughter ended up perishing in the fire, leaving Helen heart broken. Helen was so heart broken from the death of her daughter, she went to the bridge and hung herself.

Other Legends

There are many other theories and narratives around Helen's Bridge.The most popular story told is that Helen loses her daughter to a fire. But there are other stories that have been spread over the years. Some have said that Helen was involved in a scandalous affair of some sort. Feeling rejected and shameful from the affair, she jumps off the bridge. Others say she was betrayed and that’s what drove her to take her last breath. Overall, there are so many stories, so it’s really hard to know which one of them is the true one.

My Experience

I visited the bridge when I flew to Asheville back in May 2025. I begged my boyfriend to take me to the bridge, since he had told me about Helen's bridge story. It seems like it’s a story that everyone in Asheville knows about. I’ve always been one who has been so intrigued by history, and most of all, ghost stories. So this was a must see for me. I heard stories about people's cars turning off once you approached the bridge. Part of me wished that had happened, so I had a cool ghost story to tell my friends and co-workers. But nothing out of the ordinary happened to the eye, but I did get strong feelings. I had such an eerie feeling as we approached the bridge.
My boyfriend didn't want to get out of the car, but me, being the crazy one, wanted to get out to get a picture. It was a place with such a dark history, but was truly beautiful. The way nature has taken over the bridge, the way it became ONE with nature. The vines hang over the stone that has been worn down over the decades. It’s truly remarkable that the structure has maintained its shape. It was a gorgeous sight, but I felt so sad from the history that it holds. Whichever circumstance Helen was in, it’s still sad to know that she took her own life. I felt this heavy energy when I looked at this bridge. It’s almost as if I felt the sadness in the air.

Other People’s Experiences

Even though I unfortunately didn't get to experience anything paranormal, other people certainly did. People have said they have seen a woman’s apparition. She appeared sad and to have been searching for someone, likely her daughter. Others have said to experience unexplained chills, a drastic change in temperature, and feeling an overwhelming sadness once they approached the bridge.
People have also heard things such as cries, whispers and the sound of footsteps in the middle of the night, when the area appears to be quiet. Technical difficulties also have happened, such as cars not starting or electronic devices suddenly deciding to fail and to not work.
There had also been some reports of people hearing and seeing Helen herself. They thought they saw Helen’s deceased body hanging off of the bridge. Her spirit has also asked several visitors:

“Have you seen my daughter?”

Videos of the Bridge:

Helen’s Bridge Vlog

Helens Bridge WLOS 13 News Story