Nothing was more exciting to me as a child than a trip to Parke County, Indiana to the Covered Bridge Festival that is held there each fall. The site and sound of a car traveling across a wooden bridge was thrilling even back then. Now I appreciate the true craftsmanship that goes into each of these and realize what a true piece of art they are. Covered bridges are rare in some places in Indiana but Parke County has 31 of them making it the Covered Bridge Capital of Indiana and the United States. These bridges make the areas that they are located in some of the must see sites in Indiana.
The true history of these bridges is that they were oten build near mills and usually connected farms that were separated by streams. Today they are more for visions of days gone by and to enjoy the pure beauty that radiants from them. Indiana is not the only state that brags of their bridges, as Iowa and Ohio also have some wonderful ones as well. Madison County, Iowa is home to 6 covered bridges that were actually the inspiration for a novel and movie. Ashtabula County, Ohio is home to 17 bridges that have survived the test of time. Many of the bridges that once stood across many places in the United States have deteriorated with weather, time, and storms and have just been torn down.
Parke County is pleased to know that located just 55 miles west of the state capital they are considered to have the highest concentration of covered bridges in the nation. For 52 years they have honored those bridges with a festival each year that brings thousands of tourists in from all over to enjoy the beauty that the county and the bridges has to offer. Most locals will tell you that Christmas is a more favorite time to enjoy the view as there is nothing prettier than a red and white covered bridge sitting against a background of a snow covered field. It is the perfect postcard image.
Visitors who stop at the Rockville Visitors Center are encouraged to pick up a map and take a self-guided tour of the county and enjoy the brdges in their own time. The routes on the maps are color coded to make it easy for anyone to follow and these routes will wind through a 30×20 mile stretch of the county through farms and small towns making for a relaxing and peaceful journey to see each bridge.
It is recommended that the visitors start at the Mansfield Bridge. This 143 year old bridge is a pure natural beauty.This bridge is located in Mansfield Village, a living-history village that hosts an Old Fashioned Christmas Festival each year for visitors to enjoy the bridges in the area as well as some holiday shopping and cheer in this small town. At 247 foot long, the Mansifield Bridge offers a look at the Big Raccoon Creek that flows below it in a way that no other biew does. There are long, rectangular windows inside thei bridge that are unglazed to aid travelers who happen to be crossing it a unobstucted view of the beauty outside the bridge. Near the bridge is another piece of American History, the Mansfield Roller Mill. This three story white clapboard building with it’s giant weathered waterwheel is a true piece of history. This is still a working mill although it does not operate every day.
The Narrows Bridge that is part of Turkey Run State Park is another must see bridge. This is usually the most photograped bridge in Parke County. At 122 feet long, this beauty lies across Sugar Creek and offers a view of a swinging footbridge that is part of the hiking within Turkey Run State Park. This bridge is absolutely stunning to see anytime of the year.
Billie Creek Village is another piece of history. This historical village showcases life in the pioneer days and is home to another fabulously beautiful bridge. The Billie Creek Village bridge was built in 1895 and still remains open to traffic today. This bridge has to be crossed to get into the village so all travelers who enter will enjoy the site of it.
Two more bridges in the county are unique to both the area and to covered bridges in general as they are all white. Most bridges are red, but these two are completely white. The Zache Cox Bridge and The Jackson Bridge are both pure white and the absolute picture of perfection. The Zacke Cox bridge opened in 1905 and can still be driven across. Visitors love to hear the slapping planks of the bridge as their car goes across it. This bridge can look almost sacred with a fresh blanket of snow covering the road leading to it. While the Jackson Bridge has the honor of being the longest single span bridge in the county , at 207 feet it is a true work of art by any artist.
Any history buff, artist, or any fan of covered bridges can take a step back into time by visiting the people of Rockville, Indiana and Parke County. These bridges make this a popular tourist attraction and the people keep visitors returning year after year. This area is known for being home to some of the most traveled backroads in the nation. Visitors are often told to travel to Terre Haute which is only a half hour southwest of Rockvile if they truly are looking for the perfect ending for their day to the Clabber Girl restaurant. Perfect for lunch or dinner, the biscuits made in the headquarters of this centuries old company are the absolute best that diners can find throughout the Midwest. There is also a museum here that has 19th century signs and a 1905 delivery wagon as part of the memoriabilia that they offer. A truly good day for all who visit here and a true reminder of the days when life was a little more simple.
Source: personal knowledge