Irishman Covered Bridge, also known as Honey Creek Bridge, can be found within Fowler Park…read more Besides driving through the park to visit, you can use the small parking lot along Bono Road and walk into the park from that entrance which accesses the bridge and the Pioneer Village. This is one of the State's oldest covered bridge which makes it interesting to view the building structure. However, because of a massive restoration project (the flooring is being replace for safety and preservation of the structure), the bridge was off limits to pedestrian traffic. The bridge used to be in service but in 1971, it was relocated to the park where it now spans a small inlet off Ruble Lake. The bridge sports the classic red side walls and white faced ends that are popular in Parke County. The bridge is 75' long, so it is one of the shorter spans left in the state. I hope the repairs are completed and can preserve this bridge much as the pioneer village has saved log cabins from the area. Review #2957

Highly recommend taking a trip out to the small unique town. There's plenty very large things check…read moreout like a giant mail box or a rocking chair. Some solid restaurants are available as well but they do seem to close early. People are friendly and more than willing to take a photo of you standing in front of a giant taco.

this is a crooked town with a crooked police force. They extort money from the citizens and pull…read moreover tourist extort more money to generate revenue for themselves

If you like covered bridges you'll love the Cumberland County Covered Bridge…read more Built in 1832 it stood strong until 1865 when the original bridge was washed out by a storm. It was then reconstructed in 1875 only to be washed out yet again in 1912. In 1920, the bridge was replaced once more and held out until 1996, when it was wiped out yet again. In 2000, the Cumberland County Covered Bridge, as it is now known today, was built to replicate the original version from 1832.

The Vigo County Courthouse is a jaw dropping work of architecture. The Victorian structure is one…read moreof the largest and grandest in the state of Indiana. The Courthouse was designed by Samuel Hannaford of Cincinnati and the builder was Terra Haute Stone Company. The French Neo-Baroque structure was completed in 1888 at the cost of $434,000. The building's limestone was mined from the Stilesville quarries. The two ton bell that runs rings in the clock tower was purchased by the County namesake, Col. Francis Vigo, who assisted with early exploration and Revolutionary War efforts. The west entrance is open to the public. Entry requires security screening. The officers are considerate and helpful. I obtained a paper describing the Courthouse history. The Courthouse is large with multiple Superior Courtrooms. There is a central atrium with a grand painted dome at the top. The woodwork has been painted and marble floors replaced. Doors to offices and courtrooms were closed and access limited. The iron staircases were beautiful. On the ground floor are several modern murals depicting local history. Unfortunately, I did not encounter anyone that shared stories about the Courthouse. Courts were in session and people were busy. The Courthouse grounds are immaculate. A beautiful water feature artwork runs near the west entrance of the Courthouse. Benches and tables attract the lunchtime visitors. Several war memorials stand on the Courthouse grounds. There was no or limited parking around the courthouse square. Construction on the grounds limited access to the entire square. We found free street parking across the street from the Courthouse. Traffic is crazy fast, so you need to be careful at crosswalks.

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

This is a small quiet winery a few miles off of Interstate 70. I have been visiting for a decade,…read moreand appreciate the quiet atmosphere. They have flights, so you can sample before you buy a bottle. There are snacks like cheese, nuts and meat, to purchase in a cooler if you are hungry. There are also plenty of beverage choices if you do not wish to have wine, and milk and juice for kiddos if you are visiting with your family. I have always felt comfortable walking in with my kids. We often stopped here on our way from Indianapolis to St. Louis and stretched our legs. It is also close to a beautiful covered bridge, so i t makes pulling off the interstate a nice experience to pair the winery and bridge together. I feel like the wines are a combination of excellent flavor and yet affordable for yourself or as a gift. This year they has a wine called "Let it Snow" with edible glitter that made a beautiful swirl.

Lovely vineyard nestled in Cumberland County close to the interstate…read more We really enjoyed the ambiance sitting on the porch overlooking flowers, grapevines, and nature. The owners were very friendly and helpful. I tried a flight of wine and a slushy, my husband had the Canoe. We left. with a bottle of Canoe and cherry wine. If you want food you can bring your own or they had cheese and crackers for sale.

In 1910, Jefferson P. Van Fossen received the contract to erect this Double Span Burr Arch Truss…read morebridge. It carries Virostko Road across Big Raccoon Creek, replacing an earlier effort (1865) of Joseph J. Daniels that was destroyed by arson. At 263 feet in length, it is one of the longest of the surviving covered bridges in Parke County (#18 on the Covered Bridge Map). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. As Harold Rau details in his A Guide to the Covered Bridges of Parke County, Indiana (2016), this is the one bridge with an unclear history. "Witnesses from the construction site claim the on-site foreman was Joseph J. Daniels, 84 years old at the time. But, an old photograph of the nearly finished bridge shows J.P. Van Fossen as contractor and J. Brooks as builder. The name of J.J. Daniels does not appear in the photo. The on-site witnesses didn't remember Mr. Brooks, and later photographs show portal lettering with J.J. Daniels as builder. However, the current portal inscription only reads 'Van Fossen' (p. 56)."

Just a short distance off the Red Route for touring Parke County Covered Bridges is the Roseville…read moreCovered Bridge near Coxville, IN. The Burr arch-truss style bridge was built in 1910 and restored in 1977, so it is in pretty 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 whopping 282 feet (2nd longest in the County) with the single longest span of around 119 feet which crosses the Big Raccoon Creek. The rest of the length hovers over ground that can frequently flood. There is also a marker on the west side of the bridge telling about the history of Rossville. To find this bridge, take US 41 west of Rockville to Coxville Road (7 miles). Head south for 4.25 miles to CR 325 W in Coxville. The bridge is only about 400 feet ahead on this gravel road. Note that this bridge is only 0.8 miles away from Harry Evans Covered Bridge which is also on CR 325W to the north. If you are coming from Rosedale, take Main Street/Coxville Road north 2.25 miles to Coxville and CR 325W. Head east. Review #3175

This Single Span Double Burr Arch Truss design was built in 1912 by Joseph A. Britton to carry the…read moreCatlin Road over Big Raccoon Creek. Bypassed in 1961, it sits alongside the paved Rosedale-Rockville road. There is ample parking just to the south of the modern bypass, but the new road is so close to the bridge that photographs have to be taken at an angle. #16 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map, in 1978 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

A short distance northeast of Rosedale, Indiana is the Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge. Built in 1912,…read morethis typical red and white covered bridge with black lettering was bypassed in 1961, but remains accessible for pedestrians. It also uses the Burr arch-truss support system to support its 181 feet length which spans 163 feet over the Big Raccoon Creek. Located near a bend in the road, I was able to pull over at the side of the road and walk to this bridge. It has windows inside for views of the creek. However, on my visit, it was raining and so I didn't get as much chance to explore the bridge as I would have liked. To find this bridge from Rockville, take Market St/Catlin Road south from Rockville about 10 miles. From Bridgeton, you can take Bridgeton Road south to High Banks Road which heads west/south for about 2 miles to Rosedale Road. Take the twisting Rosedale Road west for about 5 miles until you get to the Town of Rosedale. At 1000S/Central Street, head west 1/4 mile to Cemetery Street and head north. Cemetery Street become Catlin Road. The bridge is 1.5 miles from town. Review #3174