Quick Facts
- State
- Pennsylvania
- County
- Indiana County
- Status
- Unknown Status
- Access
- Unknown Access
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
Some ghost towns feel like museums. Bells Mills feels like an interruption — a place that stopped mid-sentence. Bells Mills Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge in Sewickley Township and South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It is a 95-foot-long (29 m), Burr truss bridge, constructed in 1850.
Indiana County holds 28 documented ghost towns, including Appalacha, Aqueduct, Armerford — Bells Mills keeps them company on the map.
The story of Bells Mills
Pennsylvania invented the American company town — coal patches and oil booms that burned bright and short.
Bells Mills Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge in Sewickley Township and South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It is a 95-foot-long (29 m), Burr truss bridge, constructed in 1850. It features pedimented gables and plain pilasters in the Greek Revival style. It crosses Sewickley Creek. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Bells Mills sounds like exactly what it was — a working town, not a resort.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Bells Mills is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Bells Mills is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.
Good to know
Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.
Bells Mills FAQs
Where is Bells Mills located?
What county is Bells Mills in?
What is the history of Bells Mills?
What remains at Bells Mills today?
Can you visit Bells Mills?
Sources: description based on Wikipedia (“Bells Mills Covered Bridge”), CC BY-SA.
