Thunder Bridge and Woods

   Thunder Bridge is well-known by all children in Chautauqua. Ride your bike across the bridge to hear the thunder. No visit to Chautauqau for a child is complete without a run or bike ride across the span. The original all wooden bridge was removed in the mid-1980s after a falling tree caused severe damage. The current bridge is a sturdy steel structure, but it still maintains the deck made of wooden boards. The boards are installed in a way that enabled them to make a thunder sound when ridden across by a bicycle or stomped on. Even though the thunder of the current bridge improves as the wooden boards age, many say that nothing can match the original bridge.
   The bridge in located in the woods, just above the Boys and Girls Club grounds and crosses over the ravine. Groups enjoy playing games in the woods, both during Club hours, and on their own time. Clubbers over the years have heard the folklore of "Dead Man's Cave". Are the tales true?