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General information:
Founded in 1881 by American immigrants seeking their fortune in the still-wild lands of Lochburn, Woodbridge was born of a dream of gold... that never came true. The first prospectors arrived in the region as early as 1878, drawn by rumors of gold deposits in the hills south of Ivory Canyon, a narrow ravine about 200 feet wide through which a copper-colored river meandered.
Finding no trace of gold there, these pioneers decided to stay anyway. The rugged terrain offered a strategic location: in 1879, three enterprising families—the Hendersons, O'Donnells, and Carters—built a wooden bridge over the canyon. This crossing shortened the journey west to Lochburn City by a whole day. The bridge, later named Old Woodbridge Crossing, became the beating heart of the small settlement. A saloon, a post office, and several shops run by immigrant families soon sprang up around the crossing
In 1905, the construction of Carter & Sons Lumber Co., a sawmill located east of the canyon on Main Street, transformed the hamlet into a veritable village. Employing nearly fifty workers at its peak, the sawmill supplied wood for the entire county and made Woodbridge an essential stop on the road between Port Oxheller and Lochburn City. The population then rose to nearly 300 inhabitants, a considerable number for the time.
When the government assigned the number 66 to the road through Woodbridge in the 1930s, the village's fame grew even more. Motels and diners lined the road, and the old wooden bridge, still sturdy, became a picturesque symbol of the passage to the West. It remained in service until 1974, when it was closed to traffic for safety reasons. A new reinforced concrete bridge, the Ivory Canyon Bridge, was inaugurated in 1974 just next to it. This construction project was controversial: several families were expropriated, particularly on the west side of the canyon, to allow for the new route to be built.
Starting in the 2000s, Woodbridge suffered a major blow when the federal government decided to create a new, straighter section of Route 66, bypassing Woodbridge and Pamparina Bay. This bypass reduced the journey between Utopia and Lochburn City by fifteen minutes, but caused many businesses along the old route to close. The population then fell to around 100 inhabitants, concentrated around Main Street and the twenty or so houses that were still occupied.
Fortunately, the town experienced a revival in the 2010s thanks to the Historic GU Route 66 Foundation, which transformed Woodbridge into a heritage tourist destination. The old wooden bridge, restored and converted into a pedestrian walkway, now attracts curious visitors who come to admire the view of Ivory Canyon and the American flags still flying proudly in front of every house, a tribute to the founding families who came from America and to the pioneering spirit that, nearly a century and a half later, continues to inhabit the village.
Built in 1879 by the founding families Henderson, O'Donnell, and Carter, this 60-meter wooden bridge spans Ivory Canyon. Closed to vehicular traffic since 1974, it is now a historic landmark and accessible only to pedestrians. Restored by the Historic GU Route 66 Foundation, it offers an iconic view of the canyon and symbolizes Woodbridge's pioneering heritage.
Built in the early 20th century, when the town was experiencing rapid growth thanks to Carter & Sons Lumber Co., Woodbridge Town Hall is a testament to the prosperity of that era. Its red brick architecture and iconic clock tower reflect the residents' ambition to provide their community with a building worthy of its growing importance.
On the side of the city hall, an imposing boulder left in place during construction serves as the base for a large flagpole flying the American flag. A commemorative plaque pays tribute to the Henderson, O'Donnell, and Carter families, who founded the village in 1881.
The Cantal Saloon, opened in 1882 by a member of the O’Donnell family, quickly became a favorite meeting place for woodcutters, travelers, and Route 66 pioneers.