While driving around Parke County looking at covered bridges, the two RV Gypsies took a few other photos.

Below: The Marshall Arch

Below: Anyone know what these red flowers are called?
If so, e-mail the two RV Gypsies.

Cox Ford Covered Bridge crosses Sugar Creek, located at the west edge of Turkey Run State Park in Parke County. This single span Burr Truss structure has a length of 176 feet, or 192 feet including the 8-foot overhang at each end. It is 16 feet wide and 13 feet high. Built in 1913 by Joseph A. Britton, the Cox Ford Covered Bridge has a rather unique distinction as it was built to replace a steel bridge that was lost in the 1913 flood; the arches used in construction were from a bridge built 60 years before which also washed out in the 1913 flood; during the depression she received a new coat of paint applied by a W.P.A. group. Though no historical marker is present, the Cox Ford Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Cox Ford Covered Bridge is listed in the 1989 "World Guide to Covered Bridges," published by The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc., as #14-61-34; however, the designation used by Parke County officials is #14-61-36.

Below: The two RV Gypsies drove through Cox Ford Covered Bridge.

Below: This part of the covered bridge tour, as well as several other sections, was on a two-way dirt road that was very narrow. The two RV Gypsies were glad that they did not meet another car while on this road. They can only imagine this road with cars coming and going in both directions during the Covered Bridge Festival each year. The two RV Gypsies are thankful to be here before the festival.

Below: Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge crosses Sugar Creek just northwest of Turkey Run State Park near US 41 in Parke County. This single span Burr Arch Truss structure has a length of 102 feet, or 120 feet including the 9-foot overhang at each end. It is 16 feet wide and 13 feet high. It was built in 1906 by William Hendricks. Though no historical marker is present, the Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge is listed in the 1989 "World Guide to Covered Bridges," published by The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc., as #14-61-35; Parke County officials use the same designation.

Below: The two RV Gypsies drove through the Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge, and Karen Duquette took another photo of the bridge.

Below: The Jackson Covered Bridge is the longest single span covered bridge in Indiana. Jackson Covered Bridge, also known as the Rockport Covered Bridge, crosses Sugar Creek just northwest of Bloomingdale on County Road North 50 West in Parke County. This single span Double Burr Arch Truss structure (double meaning that there are two arches, one atop the other on each side) is the longest single span covered bridge in Indiana (also the longest single span in the United States open to daily use) having a length of 207 feet, or 225 feet including the 9-foot overhang at each end, with portals that are 16 feet wide by 18 feet high; the unusual height is proportional to the unusual length of the bridge as the arches actually have to peak high up in the crown. Built in 1861 by Joseph J. Daniels, who dedicated the structure to Andrew Jackson. Though no historical marker is present, the Jackson Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and is listed in the 1989 "World Guide to Covered Bridges," published by The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc., as #14-61-28; Parke County officials use the same designation.

It is said that Daniels inspected and tightened all the bolts in 1863; it was renovated after the 1913 flood and again in 1977. In 2007, there was a total restoration of the Jackson Covered Bridge that required actually removing it from the river.

Below: Then the two RV Gypsies took a short walk to photograph the side of the bridge.

Below: The West Union Covered Bridge crosses Sugar Creek beside County Road 525 in Parke County. This double span Burr Arch Truss structure has a length of 315 feet, or 334 feet including the 9-foot 6-inch overhang at each end. It is 17 feet wide and 14 feet 6 inches high. It was built in 1876 by Joseph J. Daniels. The road bypassed the West Union Covered Bridge in 1964, and though no historical marker is present, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. West Union Covered Bridge is listed in the 1989 "World Guide to Covered Bridges," published by The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc., as #14-61-27; however, the designation used by Parke County officials is
#14-61-26.

Below: The two RV Gypsies think this was the most interesting covered bridge on this tour, besides the Bridgeton Covered Bridge of course. They thought the roof and the floor of the bridge appeared to be crooked.

Below: View of Sugar Creek from a window on each side of The West Union Covered Bridge.

Below: On the back side of the bridge, the two RV Gypsies saw a really large beehive at the top of the bridge. All the little black marks shown on the bridge are BEES. Yes - they are real bees.

Below: Looking out from the bridge, the two RV Gypsies were greeted with the site of a corn field.

Below: The road that runs alongside
the covered bridge.

Below: The Melcher Covered Bridge also known as the Klondyke Covered Bridge, crosses Leatherwood Creek on County Road 160 North in Parke County. This single span Burr Arch Truss structure has a length of 83 feet, or 97 feet including the 7-foot overhang at each end. It is 16 feet wide and 12 feet 6 inches high. It was built in 1896 by Joseph J. Daniels. A restoration of the structure was completed in 1995 and it was listed on the Register of Historic Places in 1978. Melcher Covered Bridge is listed in the 1989 "World Guide to Covered Bridges," published by The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc., as #14-61-26; however, the designation used by Parke County officials is #14-61-24.

Menu for the two RV Gypsies in Indiana, 2013
You may visit these four (4) sites in any order you choose.
There is also a link to Ohio plus the main navigational buttons below.

Indiana's most famous covered bridge

other Covered Bridges in Parke County, IN (back to page 1 if needed

Thousand Trails campground

Kayaking Sugar Valley

AFTER you have enjoyed all four sites above, please continue on to Ohio, the Big Twig Maze Sculpture Thing, the Carillon Bell Tower, Cedar Point Amusement Park, Cuyahoga NP, and more.

OR Continue Navigation in the order of your choice via the alphabetical or category buttons below OR Click here to see travels by the year (not the best way)