Central Missouri / Lake Country
The Joe Dice Swinging Bridge is Benton County's river-crossing landmark
Warsaw's Joe Dice Swinging Bridge gives Benton County a memorable old bridge story tied to local travel, storms, repair, and Drake Harbor.
The Joe Dice Swinging Bridge gives Warsaw a local landmark with a little motion in its name. Visit Missouri says the bridge was originally known as the Upper Bridge, was built in 1904, destroyed by a tornado in 1924, and rebuilt in 1928.
That is a good Benton County story because it is not just old. It shows how people crossed the Osage River, repaired a route after weather tore it up, and kept a visible piece of local engineering in the public memory. Visit Missouri says the bridge carried automotive traffic until 1979 and later became a pedestrian bridge, with repairs after a closure around 2000.
For a visitor, the bridge pairs naturally with Warsaw’s lake-and-harbor side. Visit Missouri connects it to Drake Harbor trails. Check current access before walking it, because old bridges can have changing repair or safety rules.
Where to see it
- Joe Dice Swinging Bridge
Use Visit Missouri and local sources for current access before planning a walk.
References
More from Benton County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: July 16, 2026.