Henson Exhibit bridge collapses into Deer Creek

In the early morning hours of June 22, 2026, the wooden footbridge that connected the Jim Henson Exhibit to the opposite end of the creek collapsed into the water. This comes after weeks of discussion about the bridge being in bad shape. The footbridge itself has been closed to the public for years while the building remained open for people to tour.

The building’s sewage line was run directly under the bridge and to the other side of the creek, which reportedly caused the issues with the bridge. The City was looking for a way to move forward with that, but had no plan as to what was to be done about the sewer line. District Supervisor Mala Brooks informed the Leland Board of Alderpersons at the beginning of June that the sewage line under the bridge was not even the City’s, it was the County’s.

Further discussions are being had about tearing the rest of the bridge down and replacing the sewage line and even possibly building a new footbridge.