Emerts Cove Covered Bridge

Emerts Cove Covered Bridge. . This bridge is named in honor of Frederick Emert who came here with his family in 1790 as the area's first settler., In 1997, under the leadership of Mayor Judy Perryman the Mayor and Board of Aldermen provided local funds to go with state and federal money. In the spring of 2000 the bridge was constructed by the team of Steve McCarter and Garry Shultz for the town of Pittman Center in its continuing effort to provide improvements within the town that further its vision, which is: ,

“To create and perpetuate a quality living environment and to encourage quality development that supports that end. To encourage development that supports a tourist-oriented economic base that relates to and magnifies our unique relationship to and with the Great Smoky Mountains.”

The bridge spans the waters of the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River which was designated an “outstanding national resource water” in March 1998 by the State of Tennessee. At that time, this was the only stream outside a national park to receive this designation. Environmental stewardship has played a prominent role in achieving this designation. Special thanks goes to the “Save the Middle Prong” organization whose members spent time and money and were ultimately willing to go to court to maintain the integrity of this outstanding natural treasure for future generations.