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

A single-span Burr Arch Truss covered bridge, the Mecca Covered Bridge spans the Big Raccoon Creek…read morenear Mecca Indiana. It is 176 feet long with a width of 17 feet. 12.5 feet of clearance which means that my Sprinter van would fit but the bridge is now closed to vehicular traffic. Pedestrians are welcome. Completed in 1873, the bridge is still in excellent condition. Indiana has quite a few covered bridges and I'm looking forward to seeing many on this trip! There is parking nearby on both sides. A boring concrete bridge now carries the traffic and the proximity to the old bridge tells us that even in modern times, this was the perfect spot for a crossing. [Review 1292 of 2024 - 169 in Indiana - 22315 overall]

Constructed in 1873 by J.J. Daniels (one of his nine covered bridges in the county), this Single…read moreSpan Burr Arch Truss crosses Raccoon Creek in Mecca. Now out of service, it sits alongside Wabash Ave., and is one of the easiest bridges in the country to access. There is convenient parking at both ends of the bridge, but unfortunately the modern bypass road is so close to the bridge that it can only be photographed in its entirety at an angle. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The Eugene Covered Bridge is one of the most accessible bridges in the area. Since the bridge was…read moreclosed to vehicular traffic in 1974, it allows for more exploration of the inside of the bridge without fear of being run over. The bridge was built in 1873 by JJ Daniels using the Burr Arch-truss system. Built over the Vermillion River, the bridge is 187 feet long, with the longest span being 176.8 feet. The bridge also has convenient parking and windows on each side that makes it easy to get great views of the river. The covered bridge uses the familiar red sides and white faced openings of the area. Review #2834

EAGLE CAFÉ AND COVERED BRIDGE I had breakfast for dinner. It…read morewas very good, and the portions were decent. The price was very fair like most restaurants here. The server was efficient and friendly. Most of the servers at these small-town restaurants are like this. I could hear a few conversations around me. I could tell these were mostly farmers. It was very quaint. Being from California, I really appreciate this hometown type of restaurant. I wasn't there for the restaurant. That was just an extra perk. I was there for the covered bridge of the same name next to it. I left Nika in the car to eat and then walked her around the bridge. There was a dog on the other side of the bridge that was chained up out back that barked the at Nika the whole time. The bridge was beautiful as most of them are. I have a fascination for covered bridges. There are none in California. I have been to several since I've been living in Indiana. This one, as most do, has a stream under it. There is easy access to the stream unlike most covered bridges.

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

Although the actual visitor center part of the former depot is small, it does have a lot of…read morebrochures and booklets about the county. The staff member working was friendly and helpful with a good base of knowledge about the attractions and their history. I was able to get several questions answered without having to read through the brochures to find answers. They have convenient parking next to the depot and signs pointing you in the direction of the different covered bridge trails which are given colors. These driving trails correspond to their Parke County map and if you follow the path in the right direction, you will see signs about where to turn on your route. I also liked their website and response times for inquiry too. Not the biggest Visitor Center I've visited in the state, but a place worth checking out before exploring the county on your own. Review #3146

This Single Span Double Burr Arch Truss carries Bloomingdale Road across Sugar Creek. Paving makes…read morethis bridge easy to access. It is one of nine covered bridges put up by J.J. Daniels (1861) in Parke County, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is #28 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map.

Dating back to the Civil War, this Burr Arch-truss covered bridge was built in 1861. This is one…read moreof the oldest and longest bridges in Parke County. It is also unusual because it uses an all white paint scheme with black lettering, not the red walls that are found throughout the county. The bridge is still in service but requires slow, walking pace driving for safety as well as avoiding a problem with oncoming traffic. Jackson Bridge has an overall length of 227 feet and spans Sugar Creek 198 feet. It is located about ten miles north of Rockville, IN via US-41, then a short county road jog over to Bdale (Bloomingdale) Road northwest for the remaining distance. There is no direct route from Turkey Run State Park, but a slight detour south on US 41 down to 625 N will take you west to Bdale Road where you can then visit the bridge. Review #3222

Pretty covered bridge close to so many of the other fascinating historic covered bridges in the…read morearea.

Situated on the western edge of Turkey Run State Park, this Single Span Burr Arch Truss bridge was…read morebuilt in 1913 by J.A. Britton-- one of the dozen covered bridges that he erected in Parke County. It carries Cox Ford Road over Sugar Creek, and is easily accessed from US41 via a short stretch of gravel road. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, it is #36 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