California's Angeles National Forest features a bridge famous not for crossing, but for jumping. Joy Benedict reports.

California

California’s Angeles National Forest is home to a bridge renowned not for its function as a crossing, but as a destination for bungee jumping. Groups of adventure seekers trek through the canyon, crossing rivers and hiking for several miles, to reach the site. Once there, participants experience bungee jumping under the supervision of Bungee America, a company owned by Ron Jones.

The bridge is located in a remote part of the Angeles National Forest and has a distinctive history. Originally, the land was a gold mining claim from 1897. The road leading to the bridge was constructed in the 1930s, and five bridges were built along its path. A devastating flood in 1938 destroyed most of the infrastructure in the area, including dams, roads, and other bridges, but this particular bridge survived because of its height.

The bridge eventually fell into disuse after the road project was abandoned. In 1989, Ron Jones began renting the bridge for his bungee jumping company, and later purchased both the bridge and the surrounding 50 acres. Today, it remains a notable spot for those seeking adventure and personal achievement through bungee jumping.



The story of a California bridge famous for bungee jumping

We end in California's Angeles National Forest, where there's a bridge famous not for crossing, but for jumping. In tonight's Weekend Journal, CBS's Joy Benedict shows us it's a full day of adventure, not for the faint of heart. There's a lot of twists and turns in this canyon. It was a warning and a metaphor, as three dozen people gathered just after sunrise, took off on foot, over rocks, hovering on the edge of cliffs, and trudging across a river six times. We need to keep up. But it's not just a two-hour tour this crowd came for. For as they led each other five miles up a mountain, they then followed each other off a bridge. Three, two, one. It's the adrenaline. You know, the sense of accomplishment after you do everything. Matt Sanchez is a regular. His girlfriend is not. I'm excited. My love of bungee jumping is kind of the fabric of my soul. Ron Jones owns Bungee America and this bridge, which sits literally in the middle of nowhere. How does a bridge end up in the middle of the Angeles National Forest? This road has a great history. This is a gold mining claim that dates back to 1897. Fifty acres granted to a family, then partially taken back to build a road in the 1930s. Five bridges went up before the reins fell. It destroyed dams, roads, and bridges all over the county. It washed away this canyon. More than a hundred people died in the Los Angeles flood of 1938. Five thousand buildings were destroyed and every bridge on this 2B Canyon Road, except this one. The bridge is so tall, the water passed underneath it. It was unscathed. But the project was abandoned, as was the bridge. And then in 1989, you said, let's jump off of it. Correct. We were looking for a bridge. He rented the bridge for his new company and 20 years later, he bought it and all 50 acres. And that is the best metaphor for life right there. It's in your face. You either jump or you don't. As everyone came to simply let go, conquer their fears and fly. For together on this bridge, they were far from nowhere. Joy Benedict, CBS News, Cagle Canyon, California.

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