story by GLENDA WINDERS
The annual Parke County Covered Bridge Festival is its namesake county’s biggest draw, and for good reason. The county has been called the “covered bridge capital of the world” and its festival has grown and morphed into an extraordinary happening since it was established in 1957. The fun gets underway on the second Friday of October and lasts for 10 days — Oct. 9 to 18 in 2026. This is when the county’s nine communities come together to celebrate their 31 covered bridges, two-thirds of them open to vehicular traffic. They’re also paying homage to all things autumn–colorful foliage, art, crafts, and iconic food.
“This is Indiana’s largest festival with more than two million visitors,” said Doug Weisheit, Parke County Convention and Visitors Commission member. “They come for the nostalgia, they come because we’re safe, and our research shows that people come here for foods they can’t get anyplace else.” In Montezuma on U.S. 36 on the west side, for example, hand-rolled sugar-coated crullers are the specialty. In Rockville, the county seat and headquarters of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival since 1957, spruced-up baked potatoes are available on the courthouse lawn.
Over in Tangier, the buried beef is not to be missed. First the locals dig a hole that they line with sand before putting in the meat. They cover that with burlap, hot coals and dirt. After it cooks overnight, they dig it up, slice it, and add barbecue sauce–or not. “It’s fabulous,” Weisheit said.
A home-baked treat by Dottie’s Cinnamon Rolls is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth. The company has been at the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival festival in Bridgeton for more than 45 years.
The perfect finish is a cup of Cider George’s pure cider. George makes the beverage onsite from the boxes of fresh apples delivered to him on the Rockville Courthouse Square. When the festival and its iconic foods are finished for the year, Parke County still offers plenty of options for a tasty and memorable meal. All of the restaurants here are members of the Indiana Foodways Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the celebration, promotion and preservation of food culture in Indiana.
One of those is The Narrows at the Turkey Run Inn inside Turkey Run State Park. This is Indiana’s favorite park and one of the most popular in the Midwest, in part because of its hiking trails. The specialties here are grilled or hand-breaded tenderloins served on a brioche bun, a BLT made with thick-cut applewood bacon on Texas toast and their fresh-made mashed potatoes. Best of all, many of their servers have been here for more than 20 years, so they know how to make a meal special for their customers.
For a more earthy vibe, there’s the Thirty-Six Saloon, which occupies half a block on U.S. 36 in Rockville. The two-story building used to be the Rockville Hotel, but the current owners removed part of the second floor to make a wide-open bar.
Still part of the complex is the Hog Pit, where the menu features such highlights as Hog Slop-Hog Chips (potato chips) made fresh every day and covered with beans, cheese and smoked chicken, pork, or brisket. Another popular item is Hog Turds–jalapenos stuffed with brisket and pepper jack cheese, then wrapped in a soft pretzel and deep-fried.
Beer is the drink of choice here, with rum and Coke about as sophisticated as it gets. Weisheit said the business is proud to call itself a “joint” — Indiana’s largest biker bar, where summertime weekends sometimes see as many as 500 motorcycles parked outside. They have live music here, too, as well as plenty of places outside the bar areas for families to eat.
Another spot to grab a cold one is the Mecca Tavern. Close to the historic Mecca Covered Bridge and Schoolhouse, the bar dates back to the 1800s and is the oldest tavern in Parke County. It was built in a flood plain and frequently floods, but that doesn’t keep people away for long.
Here they serve one of the top-rated hand-pounded hand-breaded tenderloins in the state and other sandwiches for under $11. They call the hamburgers “Meatheads,” and cod and catfish are also on the menu. Another of their top sellers is a giant pretzel that comes in a pizza box with three dipping sauces.
What patrons see as they enter is a worn shuffleboard table that has been here for more than 50 years, and very often people are playing. Above that is an antique sign advertising Clabber Girl baking powder, a nod to the product’s original home in Terre Haute.
This intimate place seats just 70, and no one under 21 is admitted. There is dining outside, but smokers are welcome on the patio. Their live entertainment is intermittent.
When the occasion calls for something a bit more upscale, the place to go is The Ranch. Located across the street from the Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area, this spot is at the other end of the spectrum from the taverns.
Here all manner of cocktails and wines are also on offer along with signature items such as baked potatoes, prime rib, imaginative salads and s’mores — a selection of crackers served with marshmallows and a skillet of warm chocolate. A chef prepares the dishes, and service is paced for leisurely dining.
Another option for dessert is the Tasty Freeze ice cream shop right on U.S. 36 in Montezuma. While they are also known for their cheeseburgers, cheese sticks, coney dogs and onion rings, the star here is the ice cream in 24 tempting flavors. Have it in cones, sundaes, milkshakes, malts, flurries, mudslides, banana splits, parfaits or piled high in a glass jar. There’s no indoor seating, and on a hot summer day there might be a line, but the flavors and prices make it worth the wait. It’s the perfect ending to a Parke County adventure.
For more information www.coveredbridges.com/covered-bridge-festival
