PARKE COUNTY GUIDE - Parke County COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL - VISITORS GUIDE - Rockville Indiana

Welcome to Southern Parke County (MAP)

Welcome to Southern Parke County, the home of fun and festivals! — there’s one for every season from Mushroom time to Christmastime. Come see this region decked out in the delicate blooms of redbud and dogwood in the spring, the vivid greens of summer, the vibrant hues the fall brings or in the soft, pristine snow cover of winter.

Historic Bridgeton 1878 House & Barn

A Country Love Affair

By Celia Case

There’s nothing more romantic than a wedding. It’s the perfect time of your life to express yourselves, personally and as a new couple, while welcoming family and friends to the ultimate celebration! Make your wedding unforgettable with the rustic elegance and lasting impression of a beautiful barn wedding in a country setting at the Bridgeton 1878 Barn.

Family’s Battle to Save a Historic Treasure

“14 Miracles - A Family’s Battle to 
Save a Historic Treasure”

You have heard the phrase “If only these walls could talk?” Well, with a slight twist, a new book titled “14 Miracles - A Family’s Battle to Save a Historic Treasure” could answer that very question about the old Bridgeton Mill.

“14 Miracles - A Family’s Battle to Save a Historic Treasure” tells the story of Mike and Karen Jean who purchased an old rundown building that stood in the creek with a covered bridge next to it. Under the bridge was the decayed ruins of an old dam. Mike realized this had been a mill dam and it created water power for the building. It was an historic treasure!

Ski’s Truck & RV Sales at Rockville

Visit Ski’s Truck & RV Sales at our new location, just west of Raccoon Lake, at 9272 E. U.S. Highway 36, Rockville, IN 47872. We have a wide selection of pre-owned vehicles for sale, including 4x4 trucks, SUVs, vans and cars, in just about every price range.

The Red Raccoon, A Unique Retail Store

The Red Raccoon is a unique, one of a kind retail store with TWO brick & mortar locations, plus a mobile boutique! Our main location is located on US HWY 36, just east of Raccoon Lake SRA, with our second location, Rubies, being located on the North side of the courthouse square in Rockville. Our mobile boutique, is just that, mobile!

Ditzler Orchard at Cherrywood Farm

Ditzler Orchard has been family owned and operated since 1970. Here you can pick your own strawberries, cherries, blueberries and apples in season. Rather not pick them yourself? Then come shop our market! We’re open daily May through December, so stop in to see us!

Visit The Historic Mansfield Roller Mill

Since 1819, the Mansfield Roller Mill has graced the banks of Big Raccoon Creek in the village that would become Mansfield, Indiana. The Mill was built of logs and used glacial stones quarried nearby to grind corn and wheat.

Be sure to visit the historic Mansfield Roller Mill in Mansfield Village during the Covered Bridge Festival in October.

New Look at Fox’s Overlook in Mansfield

Fox’s Overlook has a new look and a new owner. Stop by and check out the Mansfield Village Bar & Grill where you can grab a beer and rest while others are enjoying the festival. On the second floor you will still find the homemade fudge ready for those with a sweet tooth and you’ll find lots of shopping from various vendors. The Covered Bridge Welcome Center with information and maps is also located on the second floor.

Fisher’s Discount, Bellmore Country Store

The Fisher family has operated a successful dairy farm in northeast Parke County since 1997. In 2011, Joseph and Salome Fisher opened a small discount grocery store in their garage, three miles west of Lake Waveland.

The local demand was so strong for discount groceries that they opened a new, larger store on a separate drive from the dairy barn. This new store featured an eight door cooler and four door freezer. The store became so popular that it was again expanded in 2018 with much more shelf space, a twelve door cooler, eight door freezer and an additional walk-in cooler.

Hills & Bridges - Cycling Parke County

Photo: Wes Kendall

There’s no better way to enjoy the scenic beauty of Parke County than from the seat of your own bicycle. Rolling hills, rippling streams and our famous Covered Bridges make this the ideal place to explore on a bicycle.

The 1883 Railroad Depot and Tourist Center, (three blocks east of the Rockville Square on Highway 36) is the perfect place to begin your tour.

Grandmas Lakeside Café - Open All Year

Grandma’s Lakeside Café is new to the area, located at the corner of Walker Ramp road and 10585 E US HWY 36. Look for their Red Wagon on top of the hill! You will want to visit this peaceful Cafe for great home cooked meals with a full menu. You will find daily lunch and dinner specials and you can dine in or call ahead for carry out. Grandma’s Lakeside Cafe also serves pizza and hot, toasted sandwiches.

Quality and Versatility at Midwest Window

Along the Parke County byways and highways you will find numerous wonderful Amish businesses. One of those is Midwest Windows located right off of Highway 36 just west of the SR 59 and SR 36 Junction. Dave Kanagy, owner of Midwest Windows, has been in business for 20 years, after first locating and establishing his business in Ferndale, Indiana. He then moved to the huge location right off of Highway 36.

Tiki Hut - More Than A Convenience Store

You will find the Tiki Hut in Southern Parke County to be much more than just a convenience store! Located next to Raccoon Lake, this family owned store is loaded with camping and boating equipment galore. You won’t want to miss out on all their T-Shirts, many with a local flare to them. Or, have your own design screenprinted! Don’t lose track of your tribe at the Covered Bridge Festival with matching T-shirts, or show your sports or school favorites! They also have many sweatshirts and koozies from which to choose.

14th Annual Miami Indian Gathering

The 14th Annual Miami Indian Gathering (powwow) will be held June 6th & 7th, 2020.

The Gathering is located at 11515 East U.S. 36, Parke County, Indiana, just three miles east of Raccoon Lake. Known for its naturally beautiful pastoral landscapes, lakes, and rivers; Parke County is the ideal location to celebrate our place in the natural world.

Raccoon Lakeside Lodge - Open All Year!

Need a fishing get-away? A vacation? A peaceful hideaway? You’ll find Raccoon Lakeside Lodge in Parke County a relaxing place with lakeside furnished apartments and suites, a fishing dock, water-skiing, hiking, Jacuzzis, swimming, beaching, grilling, porch swinging and more!

Raccoon State Recreation Area

Providing access to wildlife and a fun environment for the whole family, Raccoon Lake Recreation Area offers opportunities to find the perfect fishing spot, go boating, ski and swim. While hiking the five scenic trails, you’ll experience a wide assortment of habitats including mature hardwood forests, open meadows, a beautiful shoreline and many small ponds.

Why Are Covered Bridges Covered?

Here are the Answers to Your Covered Bridge Questions

by Kelsey Canfield

Q: Why are covered bridges covered?

A: The roofs were placed on the bridges simply to keep them protected.

With the main support system of the bridges being inside, it is of the greatest importance to keep the beams clear of rain, snow and even sun.

The harshness of Indiana’s climate would leave the bridge rotten from the rain and snow, and weathered from the sun. Not the greatest combination if you need to use this bridge to travel from place to place.

Q: Why does the bridge say “Cross this bridge at a walk”?

A: Early cars had a gear called ‘walk’…..nah. Just kidding! When bridges began to be built, there were no automobiles. Their primary form of transportation was by horse or a horse drawn carriage. Bridges, like many structures, have a natural frequency of vibration. A force that’s applied to an object at the same frequency as the object’s natural frequency will radiate and amplify the vibration of the object. This is called a mechanical resonance. If a horse walks across the structure, they apply a force at the frequency of their step. If their frequency is closely matched to the bridge’s frequency, the horse’s rhythmed step will amplify the vibrational frequency of the bridge. If the mechanical resonance is strong enough, the bridge can vibrate until it collapses from the movement. So, long story short...if you are planning on taking your horse drawn carriage through a covered bridge on a romantic date, take it slow through the bridge - at a walk. As for traveling in your car, take it slow. No need to peel out and blaze through the bridge in fear of the bridge collapsing.

Q: Why are there so many bridges in Parke County?

A: Parke County has a large number of creeks and streams wandering through the landscape. Hence the building of bridges to cross said streams. With an abundance of trees in our area, bridge builders harvested these ancient trees to create the lumber necessary to build these covered bridges. The county was dotted with bridges over every stream and in multiple points of each stream. As the years passed, many still stood. Others were replaced due to flooding, and some were never rebuilt. Then came a time in the early 1900’s that more modern bridges were replacing the older wooded covered bridges. Steel and concrete paved the way to more sound and reliable bridge options.

While others replaced their covered bridges, Parke County continued to just maintain what we had - in part due to the cost of the upgrades. We may have been poor-but we are rich in history!

Welcome to Southern Parke County (MAP)

Welcome to Southern Parke County, the home of fun and festivals! — there’s one for every season from Mushroom time to Christmastime. Come see this region decked out in the delicate blooms of redbud and dogwood in the spring, the vivid greens of summer, the vibrant hues the fall brings or in the soft, pristine snow cover of winter.

Collom’s General Store in Bridgeton

Dan and Kathy Collom, as the owners of Collom’s General Store in Bridgeton, Indiana, would like to invite you to stop in and visit.

In October of 2006, they purchased the building formerly known as “The Parke Place.” After completely remodeling the building with new wood siding on the interior walls and a burlap ceiling, the Collom’s General Store opened in March of 2007.

Rosedale Strawberry Festival - June 7-9

Rosedale’s Strawberry Festival takes place the first full weekend in June and it claims the title as home to the best homemade shortcakes in Indiana! This family oriented three day festival is shock full of fun, good food, games, shopping, activities for old and young alike and, of course, it is full of strawberries! We are known for delectable homemade strawberry shortcake with heaps of strawberries and ice cream and real whipped cream that melts in your mouth. It’s a summertime treat you won’t want to miss.

Historic Bridgeton 1878 House & Barn

There’s nothing more romantic than a wedding. It’s the perfect time of your life to express yourselves, personally and as a new couple, while welcoming family and friends to the ultimate celebration! Make your wedding unforgettable with the rustic elegance and lasting impression of a beautiful barn wedding in a country setting at the Bridgeton 1878 Barn.

The Bridgeton Mill - Over 200 Years Ago

On October 12, 1818, O’Neil and Wasson purchased 200 acres along the Big Raccoon Creek in what would later become Bridgeton in Parke county Indiana to build a water powered mill. The first mill was a corn cracker on the creek bank. Later a log building was built in 1823 for sawing wood. Because of fires and improvements there have been four buildings. The fourth building, built in 1870, is still standing and operating today. It is owned by Mike and Karen Roe. They are the fourteenth owners and continue the milling tradition with the help of their family.

Ditzler Orchard - Rosedale Indiana

Ditzler Orchard has been family owned and operated since 1970. Here you can pick your own stawberries, cherries, blueberries and apples in season. Rather not pick them yourself? Then come shop our market! We’re open daily May through December, so stop in to see us!

Ski’s Truck & RV Sales at Rockville

Tour Parke County in style in a cool diesel truck or beautiful new RV from Ski’s Truck & RV Sales. Located just three miles east of Raccoon Lake, Ski’s Truck & RV Sales has a wide selection of pre-owned vehicles for sale, including 4x4 trucks, SUVs, vans and cars, in just about every price range.

The Happy Camper Market & Grill

Visit us at The Happy Camper Market & Grill... up on the hill for delicious food! You can call ahead, dine in or carry out. Beer and wine are also available. Book a party and let us do the work. Order brisket or pulled pork by the pound, add sides and pick it all up on your way home.

The Red Raccoon - Unique Retail Store

The Red Raccoon is a unique, one of a kind retail store located on US HWY 36 just east of Raccoon Lake SRA in Bellmore, Indiana. Our 3,500 square foot location allows for an array of products featuring boutique clothing, home décor, gardening and even landscaping items. Mike and Jamie Baird along with their children, Jennafer, Jessica, and Billy opened The Red Raccoon on April 1, 2014. Throughout the year you can find unique must have décor and garden items to make your house a home.

Mill Creek Honey Farms - Rockville

One “sweet” stop in Parke County is Mill Creek Honey Farms where you can buy raw Indiana honey at their self-serve stand just a couple miles East of Raccoon State Park on US 36. People world-wide know the health benefits and luscious taste of the product of the tiny honey bee. Honey was even known in Greek mythology to have the ability to achieve immortality to those who ate this golden delight. Today honey is used for all sorts of purposes from a cough suppressant to a natural sweetener. It is said it is “the one thing that can do everything.”

Mansfield Roller Mill at Mansfield Village

Since 1819, the Mansfield Roller Mill has graced the banks of Big Raccoon Creek in the village that would become Mansfield, Indiana. The Mill was built of logs and used glacial stones quarried nearby to grind corn and wheat.

13th Annual Miami Indian Gathering

The 13th Annual Miami Indian Gathering (powwow) will be held June 1st & 2nd, 2019.

The Gathering is located at 11515 East U.S. 36 Parke County, Indiana, just three miles east of Raccoon Lake. Known for its naturally beautiful pastoral landscapes, lakes, and rivers; Parke County is the ideal location to celebrate our place in the natural world.

Raccoon Lakeside Lodge Open Year-Round

Need a fishing get-away? A vacation? A peaceful hideaway? You’ll find Raccoon Lakeside Lodge in Parke County a relaxing place with lakeside furnished apartments and suites, a fishing dock, water-skiing, hiking, Jacuzzis, swimming, beaching, grilling, porch swinging and more!

Just imagine sitting outside and enjoying the patio, grilling a meal or having a picnic on the deck. Relax in a porch swing and enjoy the lakeside view. All the lodges’ housing units are situated within close proximity to a 20 X 40 outdoor pool or enjoy the 200 ft. sea wall deck at the lake front where you’ll find a very popular fishing pier. Ten floating docks are available as well as rental deck pontoon boats.

Tiki Hut - More than a Convenience Store

You will find the Tiki Hut in Northern Parke County to be much more than just a convenience store! Located next to Raccoon Lake, this family owned store is loaded with camping and boating equipment galore. You won’t want to miss out on all their T-Shirts, many with a local flare to them. Or, have your own designed screen-printed! Don’t lose track of your tribe at the Covered Bridge Festival with matching T-shirts, or show your sports or school favorites! They also have sweatshirts and koozies for you to choose from!

Raccoon State Recreation Area

Providing access to wildlife and a fun environment for the whole family, Raccoon Lake Recreation Area offers opportunities to find the perfect fishing spot, go boating, ski and swim. While hiking the five scenic trails, you’ll experience a wide assortment of habitats including mature hardwood forests, open meadows, a beautiful shoreline and many small ponds.

Welcome to Southern Parke County [MAP]

Welcome to Southern Parke County, the home of fun and festivals! — there’s one for every season from Mushroom time to Christmastime. Come see this region decked out in the delicate blooms of redbud and dogwood in the spring, the vivid greens of summer, the vibrant hues the fall brings or in the soft, pristine snow cover of winter. Southern Parke County is also home to two working grain mills, lots of good fishing places, winding country roads, more of those beautiful bridges, quaint inns, shops galore and savory fare. We know you’ll be enchanted with all the local splendor of this region!

Bridgeton Mountain Man Rendezvous 2018

Nothing beats cabin fever like springtime in Parke County, and you won’t want to miss the Bridgeton Mountain Man Rendezvous April 28-29, 2018. This living history event offers a taste of authentic early 1800s living in a beautiful historic setting.

The Bridgeton Mill in Bridgeton Indiana

“Gnarly” and the small mill building at the Indiana State Fair.

Mike and Karen Jean Roe purchased an old water-powered mill in Parke county, Indiana 22 years ago. It was in deplorable shape and many folks considered it an eyesore.

Ditzler Orchard at Cherrywood Farm

Ditzler Orchard has been family owned and operated since 1970. Here you can pick your own strawberries, cherries, blueberries and apples in season. Rather not pick them yourself? Then come shop our market! Visit us on the web at www.ditzlerorchard.com. We’re open daily May through December, so stop in to see us!

Collom’s General Store in Bridgeton

 

Bridgeton’s heritage is preserved in the bridge, the mill and its buildings. You will enjoy your visit of the past in this historic old mill town. — Photo: Pat McCarter

Dan and Kathy Collom, as the owners of Collom’s General Store in Bridgeton, Indiana, would like to invite you to stop in and visit.

Rosedale Strawberry Festival — June 1-3

Rosedale’s Strawberry Festival takes place the first full weekend in June and it claims the title as home to the best homemade shortcakes in Indiana! This family oriented three day festival is shock full of fun, good food, games, shopping, activities for old and young alike and, of course, it is full of strawberries! We are known for delectable homemade strawberry shortcake with heaps of strawberries and ice cream and real whipped cream that melts in your mouth. It’s a summertime treat you won’t want to miss.

Ski’s Truck & RV Sales in Rockville

Tour Parke County in style in a cool diesel truck or beautiful new RV from Ski’s Truck & RV Sales. Located just three miles east of Raccoon Lake, Ski’s Truck & RV Sales has a wide selection of pre-owned vehicles for sale, including 4x4 trucks, SUVs, vans and cars, in just about every price range.

The Happy Camper Market & Grill

Visit us at The Happy Camper Market & Grill... up on the hill for delicious food! You can call ahead, dine in or carry out. Beer and wine are also available. Book a party and let us do the work. Order brisket or pulled pork by the pound, add sides and pick it all up on your way home.

The Red Raccoon - East of Raccoon Lake

The Red Raccoon is a unique, one of a kind retail store located on US HWY 36 just east of Raccoon Lake SRA in Bellmore, Indiana. Our 3,500 square foot location allows for an array of products for your clothing, home decor, and gardening needs.

Mill Creek Honey Farms - Open Year-Round

One “sweet” stop in Parke County is Mill Creek Honey Farms where you can buy raw Indiana honey at their self-serve stand just a couple miles East of Raccoon State Park on US 36. People world-wide know the health benefits and luscious taste of the product of the tiny honey bee. Honey was even known in Greek mythology to have the ability to achieve immortality to those who ate this golden delight. Today honey is used for all sorts of purposes from a cough suppressant to a natural sweetener. It is said it is “the one thing that can do everything.”

Aaron’s Lake House Near Raccoon SRA

Come join in the fun— good food, good friends, good times— at Aaron’s Lake House, right across from Raccoon State Recreation Area in rural Rockville. You will find there’s something for everyone. A large family room, a full bar, a dance floor and stage for Saturday night’s live music—It all allows seating for up to 150 people! There’s also a pool table and a big screen TV for your enjoyment. Outdoors you will find a cozy fire pit surrounded by hay bales for seats and beyond that the woods of rural Rockville. It’s a place for a “country feel” good time!

Raccoon State Recreation Area

Providing access to wildlife and a fun environment for the whole family, Raccoon Lake Recreation Area offers opportunities to find the perfect fishing spot, go boating, ski and swim. While hiking the five scenic trails, you’ll experience a wide assortment of habitats including mature hardwood forests, open meadows, a beautiful shoreline and many small ponds.

12th Annual Miami All Nations Gathering

The 12th Annual Miami All Nations Gathering (powwow) will be held June 2nd & 3rd, 2018.

The Gathering is located at 11515 East U.S. 36 Parke County, Indiana, just three miles east of Raccoon Lake. Known for its naturally beautiful pastoral landscapes, lakes, and rivers; Parke County is the ideal location to celebrate our place in the natural world.

Raccoon Lakeside Lodge at Raccoon Lake

Need a fishing get-away? A vacation? A peaceful hideaway? You’ll find Raccoon Lakeside Lodge in Parke County a relaxing place with lakeside furnished apartments and suites, a fishing dock, water-skiing, hiking, Jacuzzis, swimming, beaching, grilling, porch swinging and more!