The KOA was nice but I would not suggest going into city. I pulled out out of the parking lot to…read morerun to hardware store noticed a cop tailgating someone down the road. Then I guess it was my turn to have a cop 8ft off my bumper for mile and a half. Being a former fed I know looking for mistakes through intimidation but it is not just done randomly. You definitely want to stay out of this city if you can.

Coming from the perspective of man that spent his childhood and quite a few years of his adult life…read morehere, this small town was and still is a great place to grow up and make good friends. Referred to as "the City" by locals surrounding Montgomery County, Crawfordsville is definitely the biggest town in the county. With a population of around 15,000 that should tell you that Cville really isnt that big at all. However, plenty of small businesses have popped up along with some major industry that gives the town life. I would still estimate that most of Crawfordsvilles residents commute to other cities like Lafayette or Indianapolis for work, which both are not that far. This is what makes this town so appealing because it has a great location. The perfect little sleeper town that allows for a great setting to raise a family without the hustle and bustle of the big city. For those of you looking to move here with intentions of starting a family, there are several elementary and middle schools for younger children along with three high schools in the county to choose from. College-wise, there isnt much to choose from; however, Crawfordsville is home to Wabash College, a very prestigious all male college that is nestled right in the center of town. There is also a branch of Ivy Tech Community College in town but the classes are limited offering a small selection. As far as entertainment goes, Cville really doesnt have a whole lot to offer other than a movie theatre, live theatre, and a bowling alley along with various restaurants and nightlife establishments. Trust me it does get boring here fast but during the summer there are plenty of activities to do in the local area. There is Milligan Park which has disc golf course, a pool and baseball diamonds for public use, Sugar Creek runs right along the edge of town, the municipal golf course, and several camp grounds. You just need to look a bit harder and become a little inventive when it comes to finding fun things to do but if not, then like I said before, Lafayette and Indy arent too far away. Crawfordsville is a good community that looks after their own. If you are looking to live in a place where you can meet nice and dependable people to surround you as neighbors then I would suggest this place. It is truly the Athens of Indiana.

Crossing Indiana from east to west on this trip, it turns out that the Houck Covered Bridge is the…read morelast one I will visit on this trip. It's not my favorite - that honor goes to the Dunbar Bridge that is still open to traffic and I could drive through - but this is still a fabulous bridge with a long, well-documented history. The Houck Covered Bridge was built in 1880 by the Massillon Bridge Company of Massillon Ohio. It uses a two-span Howe truss design, a system patented in 1840 that combined timber with adjustable iron rods for greater strength. The bridge originally carried County Road 550 South over Big Walnut Creek in Washington Township near Manhattan, resting on cut-limestone abutments and a central pier nearly 13 feet tall. Traffic declined after improved routes through nearby Hamrick Station were built in the 1930s and in 2014 Putnam County officials officially bypassed the bridge and restored it to pedestrian-only use. Houck gained formal recognition when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024, part of a county-wide nomination covering all surviving covered bridges. The bridge might not be drivable any longer but it is still a beautifully preserved example of 19th-century engineering and a fitting final stop on a westbound covered-bridge tour. [Review 1043 of 2026 - 247 in Indiana - 26222 overall]

Houck Covered Bridge is a historic bridge constructed in 1880. The bridge crosses Big Walnut Creek…read moreand is no longer open to traffic, but can be walked across by pedestrians. The Howe Truss design was built by the Massillon Bridge Company of Ohio. The bridge is 210 feet long and sits on stone abutments and a pier. The Houck Covered Bridge is longest of three covered bridges over the Big Walnut Creek that we visited in Putnam County. The Putnam County Visitors Center provides free maps of the Counties nine covered bridges. I walked the length of the covered bridge and took photos. The Houck Covered Bridge was bypassed in 2014 for a new bridge, but is fortunately maintained for historical purposes. The bridge was named after the Houck family who owned the nearby property when it was built. The bridge was also referred to as the Hamrick Bridge after the Hamrick RR Station, a proposed Pennsylvania RR Station. Parking is available for four cars at the west side of the bridge. There are no other amenities at the site, except a good fishing hole.

This Single Span Burr Arch Truss bridge was built in 1904 and rebuilt in 1977. It is one of three…read morecovered bridges in Parke County put up by William Hendricks. The bridge crosses Rush Creek on County Road 900N, which is a gravel surface. The easiest approach is from County Road 425W (paved). The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is #30 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map.

Rush Creek Covered Bridge is one of the stops along the "Yellow" Route of the Parke County trails…read more It is located about 6 miles northwest of Turkey Run State Park, but there is no direct route to get to the bridge. Built in 1904, this bridge is 96' in length and spans 76' over Rush Creek. It has the standard Burr Arch-truss style framing and the red & white coloring with black letters that most Parke County covered bridges have. It was last rehabilitated in 1977. The bridge is open to traffic without any specific pull over spot, so please use caution when stopping on the road for photos and be aware of oncoming traffic if you venture into the bridge. The best directions I can give with decent roads to travel from Turkey Run are to head west to US 41, then north about 3.25 miles to 1050 N. Head west 4.5 miles through Sylvania and Tangier to 425W. Head south for about a mile to reach 900N. Follow that east about a half mile to the bridge. Note that 900N is a gravel road. Review #3224

I'm on a quest to visit all the covered bridges in Indiana. Covered bridges connect us with the…read morepast. The Leatherwood Station Covered Bridge was built by the famous Indiana bridge builder, J. A. Britton in 1899. The Burr Arch bridge originally crossed Leatherwood Creek at Leatherwood Station, Indiana. The bridge was moved to Billie Creek Village, where it stands today and is open to traffic (sometimes). I've walked across several of Britton's bridges now, and they seem familiar to me. Britton built approximately 40 bridges in Indiana during his lifetime. This 72' bridge is in exceptional condition. The bridge is part of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, but I prefer to visit off season to avoid the crowds. There is free parking at Billie Creek Village. There are three covered bridges at the site, each with its own story. Interesting side fact, leatherwood is a tree with a pliable bark that was used by indigenous people and early settlers to make rope and other useful materials. I assume that there are leatherwood trees along Leatherwood Creek.

This is one of three covered bridges inside Billie Creek Village. J.A. Britton put up this Single…read moreSpan Burr Arch Truss design in 1899 to span Leatherwood Creek at the Leatherwood train station. The bridge was moved to its current location over Williams Creek in 1981. Also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, this is #25 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map.

This is one of the more remote of the 31 surviving covered bridges in Parke County. It was…read moreconstructed by Joseph A. Britton in 1908 (one of his 12 surviving bridges in the county) to span Rock Run creek. It is a wonderful example of the Single Span Burr Arch Truss design, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is on Tick Ridge Road, just to the east of its terminus at 325W road. The well maintained gravel roads offer three different approaches to the bridge. We filmed it about a week after peak fall foliage, when a sea of fallen leaves and the fading color on the surrounding trees accentuated its beauty while allowing unobstructed photo possibilities. Late fall and winter are ideal for photographing the bridges of Parke County. #20 on the Parke County Covered Bridge map.

Just a few miles off the Red Route for touring Parke County Covered Bridges is the Zacke Cox…read moreCovered Bridge south of Mecca, IN. The Burr arch-truss style bridge was built in 1908 and restored in 1991 and again in 2002, so it is in good shape. The bridge is still in service though traffic is told to greatly reduce speeds to a walking pace to cross the span. The red and white bridge with black lettering has a total length of a tiny 53 feet with a span of around 51 feet which crosses the Rock Run. To find this bridge, take US 41 west of Rockville just passed Mecca Road to CR 325W (4.3 miles). Head south for 2.5 miles to reach Tickridge Road. Head east one half mile to reach the bridge. Note that Tickridge is a gravel road. Also of interest is that this bridge is just a miles away from Harry Evans Covered Bridge and Roseville Covered Bridge. Both are farther south on CR 325W which becomes a gravel road until it reaches Coxville, IN. Review #3204

The Mansfield Covered Bridge is one of the few covered bridges that is still opened to traffic in…read moreParke County. A nice park on the north side of the bridge offers lovely views of the bridge over Big Raccoon Creek. The double Burr Arch truss bridge was built by J. J. Daniels in 1867. At 247 feet, the bridge is one of the longer ones in Parke County. We walked and drove across the bridge. There is quite a bit of traffic that uses the one lane bridge, so we had to be careful crossing. A large sign acknowledging contributions for painting the bridge hangs inside. Several windows offer view of the creek below. As with many of the bridges, vandals have left graffiti inside. We found easy parking in the north side of the bridge.

Built by Joseph J. Daniels in 1867 and still in use, this is the second longest surviving covered…read morebridge in Parke County with a footprint of 279 feet (#5 on the Covered Bridge Map). The unusual Double Span Double Burr Arch Truss carries Mansfield Road across Big Raccoon Creek. There is a picnic table alongside the creek, but if you come during the festival, be prepared to pay for parking, and to cope with large crowds. We came a week after the festival closed, to find the site utterly deserted. If you are a photography buff, we strongly recommend visiting the bridges a week before or a week after the festival. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, this is one of nine covered bridges erected by Daniels in Parke County.

The Phillips, or Arabia covered bridge, carries Arabia Road across Rocky Run Creek (alias Big Pond…read moreCreek), This four segment King Post Truss design was put up in 1909 by J.A. Britton. It is one of a dozen covered bridges that he built in Parke County, and it has the distinction at 43 feet in length of being the shortest of the 31 surviving bridges. In the National Register of Historic Places since 1978, it is #22 on the Parke Country Covered Bridge Map. You will find it about six miles west of Rockville, just off US 36.

One of the smaller covered bridges of Parke County can be found on the "Brown" Route designed by…read morethe County for exploring their multiple bridges. The Phillips Covered Bridge is only 60 feet in length and spans 39 feet over Rocky Run. Though it has the standard Parke County colors of red walls, with white faces and black lettering, the bridge is a rarity in these parts. It doesn't use the standard Burr Arch-truss support system. Instead, it uses a multiple Kingpost through truss system. No long curved arch in this one. Just lots of sturdy vertical beams. To view this drive through bridge, take US 36 west from Rockville to CR W 40N (about 4.5 miles). Take that to about a third of a mile to Arabia Road. The bridge is about 400 feet to the south. The road is paved! The bridge is less than a mile away from Sim Smith Covered Bridge which is further west on W 40N. Review #3215

The Oakalla Covered Bridge is currently closed to automobile traffic. The bridge crosses the big…read moreWalnut Creek in a remote and beautiful wooded area of Putnam County. We parked on the west side of the bridge and walked across the span. Several windows in the bridge offer views of the creek below. A path down to the creek on the east side offers great creek views of the bridge and stone abutments. We enjoyed some creek stomping. I found information about the bridge at the Putnam County Visitors Center. The single lane bridge spans 152 feet and uses a Burr Arch Truss. The bridge was built by the famous J. J. Daniels in 1898.

The Oakalla Covered Bridge sits just west of Greencastle, and coming from the better maintained…read moreDunbar Bridge barely ten minutes earlier, this one immediately feels older and far less refreshed. It was built in 1898 by noted Indiana bridgewright J.J. Daniels and spans Big Walnut Creek using a classic Burr-arch truss design. Since it is closed to traffic, I was only able to walk through it, which made the aging details stand out even more. The paint is peeling in big strips, several exterior boards are split, and the siding shows the kind of weathering that comes from decades without a full restoration. Oakalla takes its name from the former Oakalla Station on the Big Four Railroad, a small community that once supported quarries and lime kilns before fading away in the early twentieth century. The bridge's decline mirrors the area's history. As quarry operations shut down and roads shifted, Oakalla saw less use, and Putnam County eventually closed it to vehicles in 2022 after inspectors found structural issues. Even so, it remains historically significant. In May 2024, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, joining Putnam County's other surviving Daniels bridges. Today it stands as a weathered but authentic piece of local history. As a bridge that hasn't been recently refreshed, it still wears its age openly while awaiting the kind of rehabilitation that could bring it back to the condition of its better-maintained sisters. [Review 1041 of 2026 - 245 in Indiana - 26220 overall]