Was there an Emily? Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
Vermont Public's Brave Little State (Oct. 22, 2026) looked into whether a real Emily inspired the legend. Source: Vermont Public.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
The Gold Brook Covered Bridge was built in 1844 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Wikipedia).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
A recent legend Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
The Vermont Historical Society says the story seems to have sprung up in the late 1960s or early 1970s and has been largely debunked. Source: Vermont Historical Society.
The Vermont Historical Society says the story seems to have sprung up in the late 1960s or early 1970s and has been largely debunked. Source: Vermont Historical Society.
Then and now
Public access
Partly open The bridge carries Covered Bridge Road, a public town highway, and the Town of Stowe names an "Emily's (Covered) Bridge Parking Area" in its Traffic & Vehicle Ordinance, but parking there (and on a 250-foot stretch of Gold Brook Road at Route 100) is prohibited from 8 pm to 6 am (Town of Stowe). Last checked: Nov 1, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Stowe and Vermont
- More haunted & abandoned trails & roads
- Nearby: Green Mountain Inn (Stowe, VT), Mount Washington Hotel (Bretton Woods, NH), The Equinox (Manchester, VT), Ocean-Born Mary House (Henniker, NH)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
Reader experiences
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