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 beautiful Single Span Burr Arch Truss was the first of the dozen covered bridges built by…read moreJoseph A. Britton in Parke County (1882). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Spanning Sugar Creek, today it sits alongside Narrows Road on the eastern edge of Turkey Run State Park, having been bypassed in 1960. It is #37 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map.

On the far eastern edge of Turkey Run State Park, Narrows Road crosses Sugar Creek at a high…read moreelevation. Just to the west of the road is a covered bridge that was built in 1882 but was bypassed for preservation and safety. The new road has stairs that lead down to the covered bridge though I didn't see any designated parking. So, be careful pulling off the road to park and crossing to the stairs. The bridge is listed as 121 feet long though I don't know if that is the total length or just the length of the span over Sugar Creek. The bridge features the standard Burr Arch-truss support system and uses the standard red and white colors with black lettering. You can walk through the bridge and because it is no longer used for traffic, you can get some decent views of the bridge as you move around the grounds on either end. Review #3229

Built by J.J. Daniels in 1896 (one of his nine covered bridges in Parke County) to carry Strawberry…read moreRoad over Leatherwood Creek west of Rockville, this Single Span Burr Arch Truss was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. #24 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map, it was closed to traffic when we viewed it in early November of 2022.

This covered bridge is fairly average for Parke County. Middle length (99 feet with an 81' span…read moreover the Leatherwood Creek), middle age (built in 1896), and uses the standard red and white paint scheme with black lettering. It also is another Burr arch-truss structure like most of them. The bridge, also known as "Marion" and "Klondyke", is in pretty good shape having undergone two restorations (1977 and again in 1995). This is one of the more isolated bridges along the "brown" route. It isn't far from a couple bridges to the south "as the crow flies". The problem is there aren't many county roads in the area. If you are coming from Montezuma, head east on US 36 about 1 mile and turn north onto county road N 600W. Go about 500 ft and turn east on Strawberry Road. Follow that about a mile to the bridge. The roads are paved. From Rockville, there are backroads you can take, but I think it easiest to take US 36 west about 7 miles to N 600W. Follow the directions above to find the bridge. There is a bit of a gravel pull off, but I would still caution you to be aware of traffic since the bridge is still in service. Review #3217

Billie Creek Village was a surprising hidden gem and a step back in history for us. I wanted to…read morevisit a couple covered bridges in Parke County and stumbled across this charming recreated 19th century village. There are three covered bridges in Billie Creek. One of the three bridges only accommodates foot traffic, while the other two are passable by car. Two of the bridges were relocated to the village from other parts of Parke County. The village itself is made up of about 20 historic buildings that have been relocated to the site. We were amazed that we could walk through the buildings and find period furnishings. I particularly like the information describing the history and inhabitants of the buildings. We saw two churches, a schoolhouse, log cabin and doctor's office. The school house contains its original furnishings and many books. The original modest home of Indiana's 10th governor, Joseph A. Wright, is on the site, complete with law books and a spinning wheel. We bought cookies at the Gaebler's Cafe, which also serves coffee and sandwiches. You can buy sodas and candy at the General Store. Behind the barn are Billy goats. There is a Civil War era house on the grounds, also. Restrooms are available and clean. Parking is free. Not all the buildings are wheelchair accessible, but several are. Billie Creek is a great place to bring kids to learn about early settlements in Indiana. Admission is free, but they do ask for donations to help with maintenance. Wear good walking shoes. I think they have vendors and other activities at the village during the Covered Bridge Festival.

One of the first things I noticed when I began traveling to Putnam County regularly during my…read morefather's illness and after his death was that Rockville, Indiana is not actually far from Putnam County. While Rockville is mostly known for the Covered Bridge Festival, it's also home to Billie Creek Village. Billie Creek is smack dab in Parke County. It takes its name from the nearby Williams Creek. It's a 70-acre history museum and park with around 38 historical buildings/structures and an abundance of antiques and such. Buildings are mostly mid-19th century to early 20th century. The 1913 Schoolhouse is considered a highlight. You'll likely think of a place like Conner Prairie when you visit, though truthfully I thought more of a place like Chesterfield (minus the alternative spirituality focus). There are three covered bridges (all on the National Register of Historic Places) Billie Creek has an interesting history. It has closed at least a couple times due to financial issues. It was purchased in 2022 and is currently free to visit the buildings (though there are events that do have a price and there's a general store and a cafe in the Gaebler building now). I will note that you can visit from 8am-4pm daily, however, the cafe is 6am-2pm. Buildings include an 1830s cabin, the general store, a village bank (was a 19th century post-office), a blacksmith shop, Burr Mill, Chataqua Pavilion, a doctor's office, Governor Wright Home, a maple syrup camp, refreshment stand (built in 1911), St. Joseph's Catholic Church (built in 1886), Union Baptist Church, and quite a bit more. There are events throughout the year - the website has been redeveloped (I submitted the new link) and is quite nicely done with the schedule. Is accessibility perfect? Definitely not. These are historic buildings and accessibility simply isn't always workable. However, it's better than expected. This is also a more casual experience. Don't go expecting all the scenes and scenarios and cosplay that you'll find at Conner Prairie - this is a historic village that for me is more relaxing, more immersive, and pretty amazing to experience in Rockville (which is, in itself, a beautiful area). If you're visiting the area, Billie Creek is a great stop along with the area's covered bridges and Raccoon Lake not too far away. For kids on summer vacation, this is definitely worth a stop!

The Neet Bridge was the last bridge that we visited on our Covered Bridge Tour. You can see the…read morehistoric bridge from Bridgeton Road, but there is a better vantage point from the little parking area that is just south of the bridge. The bridge was built in 1904 by J. J. Daniels and crosses Little Raccoon Creek. The bridge is no longer passable by car but remains a lovely reminder of the past.

Parking is a bit tricky for this one, since the main road doesn't allow for parking. However, if…read moreyou get a map from Billie Creek historic village or from one of the visitor centers in town, they point out a good way to tour.

I attended my first Covered Bridge Festival yesterday. I have to admit that I was a bit overwhelmed…read moreby the traffic and vendors. We attempted to drive early into the heart of the festival, Rockville. The traffic was crazy. We were able to park long enough to get a festival brochure to learn the routes to see the bridges. We also explored a couple of art vendor booths around the courthouse. We were able to see four bridges along two of the routes, though asking for help at one point. The traffic was heavy along the narrow roads. People stopping to the see the bridges were friendly. The bridges were amazing and picturesque in the beautiful weather. As we wound our way to Bridgeton, we found our selves in an immense parking lot surround by circus tents. The scene and crowd of people was uncomfortable. We were able to leave on a route that took us away from the bridges. We had intended to have a nice lunch at a local restaurant in Park County, but did not find any restaurants along the two partial routes that we travelled. We did find a nice restaurant in Putnam County that was serving lunch. I hope to return to Parke County after the festival to see the bridges and experience some of the local restaurants.

Every Oct, Parke County hosts the largest festival in IN. The covered bridge festival. Parke County…read morehas more covered bridges than any other place in the world. I love that they have a festival to celebrate these pieces of history. The county is made up of small towns with tight roads, and parking isn't in abundance. So when 2 million people show up, you're going to feel it. Be prepared to walk. I didn't visit any bridges or see any sites. I was just there for fair food, artisan crafts, and my sister. It's nostalgic for me. I love an Indiana fair in the fall. I cannot believe how many questionable food decisions I made today though. The grape milkshake was at the top of the questionable list. -I'm such a sucker for Amish stands. Elephant ears, persimmon pudding, fried bologna, Mexican corn, apple cider slushies, and that grape milkshake. Ugh. Have cash on hand. While many of the stands take plastic, not all do. So just have some cash. I was just thinking this was a one and done experience but my sister is making plans for us next yr too. I'll have to remember to skip the grape milkshake next time.

MeAllister Covered Bridge which crosses Little Raccoon Creek, was the third stop on our tour in…read moreParke County. This beauty was built in 1914 by the famous Joseph A. Britton, who built a majority of the bridges in the area. The Parke County Covered Bridge Map is helpful in locating the bridges and providing a tad bit of history. The bridge is crossable by car, but we parked at the base and walked across so we could study the structure and enjoy the fall colors. There is not really a parking area, cars just pulled off to the side of the road. We learned from J. A. Britton's great grandson (who we met later in the day) that Joseph studied to be an attorney, but preferred to build bridges. He learned is carpentry skills from his father. McAllister is one of the later bridges that he built. The 110 year old bridge is in remarkable shape and worth a visit.

This bridge is really tucked away and accessible by a fairly short gravel road. Easy to park and do…read morea quick three-point turn out to the main road.

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