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

Still in Parke County but outside Rockville, this is another Joseph A. Britton covered bridge that…read morehe completed in 1913. It is a single-span Burr Arch structure. This is originally the site of two other bridges that had been washed away before this one, the State Sanatorium Covered Bridge, was moved to here. It is open to traffic But I opted to take the bypass with the Sprinter van. The road to the east is hard packed dirt and not a great run. Total length of 170 feed with a clearance of 12.5 feet, it would have been fine for my heavy van but I thought, let's not today. [Review 1297 of 2024 - 174 in Indiana - 22320 overall]

This Single Span Burr Arch Truss originally crossed Little Raccoon Creek on State Sanatorium…read moreproperty, about a mile downstream from its current location. It was moved in 2008 to carry County Road 100N across Little Raccoon Creek. #1 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the bridge was built by J.A. Britton in 1913-- one of the twelve covered bridges that he constructed in the county.

Billie Creek Covered Bridge is the only covered bridge that is original to the Billie Creek…read moreVillage. The Burr Arch bridge was built by J. J. Daniels in 1895 over Williams Creek, just east of Rockville. The single lane bridge was open to traffic during our visit and we drove across. I love to hear the echo and feel the vibration when I drive across these old covered bridges. We crossed "at a walk" of course. The bridge is part of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. I like to visit the bridges off season when there are no crowds around.

One of the covered bridges in Billie Creek Village, it is the only one that is still open to…read morevehicles. And even better, the clearance and capacity were sufficient to fit my Sprinter van. It is a single lane. A Burr Arch Truss that was built by prolific builder Joseph J. Daniels, this one was completed in 1895. It was originally part of the roadway that would become US 36 nearby. The Howard and Hollandsburg Bridges nearby did get saved. Despite being open to traffic, it is still in excellent condition and well worth a visit. I believe it's a "star" in the annual Covered Bridge Festival. [Review 1295 of 2024 - 172 in Indiana - 22318 overall]

We had a heck of a time finding this little covered bridge. We drove around in circles before we…read moreasked someone at the campground. The Catlin Bridge is located near the southside of a golf course. There is parking and we walked down to see the bridge. It was a beautiful day and people were playing golf so I had to dodge a few balls. The Parke County Covered Bridge map and sign at the site told us that the 54' bridge was built in 1907 by Clark McDaniel and relocated to the golf course in 1961. The Burr Arch bridge is lovely but showing signs of age. It looks like the creek that may run under the bridge is dry. We talked to the manager of the golf course and he recommended a couple of his favorite spots in Parke County to visit and we did. (I love Midwest hospitality.)

This Single Span Burr Arch Truss was put up by Clark McDaniel in 1907 to carry the…read moreRockville-Rosedale Road across Sunderland Creek north of Catlin. In 1961, it was moved to the Rockville Golf Course, where it now crosses Bill Diddle Creek. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, it is #13 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map. It can be viewed from the north end of the club's parking lot.

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.

This Single Span Burr Arch Truss bridge was built in 1907 by William Hendricks-- the last of his…read morethree covered bridges in Parke County. It is readily accessible over the paved surface of Towpath Road. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, it is #31 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map. The sign at the bridge attributes it to D.M. Brown. Brown won the contract to build the bridge, but had to call in Hendricks to undertake the project.

In the northwest corner of Parke County is Mill Creek Covered Bridge. It's remote enough to be…read moreexcluded from the County's tourism routes (the "Yellow" comes within a few miles of this bridge). The bridge is a standard Burr Arch-truss structure in the familiar red and white colors with black lettering. The bridge is 111 feet in length and spans Mill Creek 90 feet. The bridge is open to through traffic without any place designated to pull off, so be aware of traffic if you pull over and walk through the bridge. The bridge is located about 8 miles northwest of Turkey Run. However, there is no direct route to get there. So, I would suggest heading west to US 41, then north about 3.25 miles to 1050 N. Head west about 6 miles passed Sylvania and Tangier to Tow Path road. Then head south about a half mile to reach the bridge. If you use alternate routes, you will probably encounter gravel roads. Either way, your driving speeds will be reduced due to limited road width and winding roads. Review #3225

The railroad trestle known locally as the Twin Arches or Four Arches is one of Greencastle's more…read moredistinctive pieces of rail infrastructure, even though it isn't as widely documented or visited as the city's depots or mainline history or the covered bridges. The arches sit along the old Big Four (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & Saint Louis) route, a corridor that reached Greencastle in 1854 when the New Albany & Salem Railroad completed its north-south line through Putnam County. The stonework of the arches reflects mid-19th-century railroad engineering, when railroads were rapidly expanding and building durable masonry structures to handle both grade changes and creek crossings. Walking up to the trestle today, you can see the symmetry of the arches and the way the structure anchors itself into the embankment. It's a reminder of how much early railroads relied on heavy, permanent construction to support steam-era traffic. The arches remain in use as part of the modern CSX line, which now operates the former Big Four route through Greencastle. Freight still moves overhead, as I noticed when I climbed up to take a look and encountered a train whizzing past. The trestle's solid masonry has held up well compared to timber or steel structures of the same era. Locals use both names - Twin Arches or Four Arches - depending on which side they approach and how much of the structure is visible through the trees and embankments. Even without interpretive signage, the trestle ties the city's present-day rail activity to the moment in 1854 when the railroad first arrived and reshaped transportation across Putnam County. [Review 1042 of 2026 - 246 in Indiana - 26221 overall]

I made the mistake of planning a visit to the Parke County Courthouse on the first day of the…read moreCovered Bridge Festival. There were crowds of people and tents were erected around the Square. But, there was an upside. The building was almost empty with no court and a clerk was there to let me into the courtroom. And the courtroom, THAT COURTROOM was magnificent with all original with late 1800's decor and furnishings. And it was immaculate as if it was cherished by the community. Original oak chairs, witness stand, judges bench and jury box stood as they have for over 140 years. The Second Empire/Mansard style courthouse was dedicated in 1881. The structure was designed by T. J. Tolan & Son, Fort Wayne, Indiana. The limestone building is ornate with columns, a balcony and clock tower. I entered through the basement which was filled with stacks of ancient surveyors books. The main level was dark with sparse lighting. Except for the courtroom, the interior is modest. Plaques honoring War heroes hung on the wall and a plaque indicated that the building was renovated 2001-2002. The standout features to me were the incredibly tall windows with original dark woodwork. There is a very old mural of President Lincoln at the top of the steps. The clerk that opened the courtroom was friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend a visit if you like architecture, history government or just being a Hoosier. Take a step back in time. There is parking around the Square. The original jail is now a bed and breakfast.

One of the most magnificent county courthouses I've seen, this could easily be a Capitol building…read moreif it were in Indianapolis! Parke County was formed in 1821 from land cut from Vigo County. The county seat is Rockville. Replacing an earlier two-story brick courthouse that had been built in 1832 (that itself was a replacement for a log courthouse), a new courthouse was designed by architects T.J. Nolan and his son Brentwood. This design incorporates Beaux Arts features with Second Empire design elements. The first floor features segmental-arched windows and the second story is more conventional arches with dormer windows. The building is topped with a three-story clock tower that has a dome of stone and iron. The interior is flush with fabulous doorways and a marble staircase. The Tolans also designed the Kosciusko County Courthouse in Warsaw, Delaware County Courthouse in Muncie and Whitley County's in Columbia City. [Review 1294 of 2024 - 171 in Indiana - 22317 overall]