Billie Creek Village facts for kids

Billie Creek Village was a special place in Indiana. It was like stepping back in time! This large park had 38 old buildings and hundreds of cool items from the past. It was near Rockville, in an area famous for its many covered bridges. People started Billie Creek Village in the 1960s, and it opened in 1969. The village got its name from a nearby stream called Williams Creek.

The buildings at Billie Creek Village were from the late 1800s and early 1900s. You could see everything from a log cabin built in the 1830s to a schoolhouse from 1913.

The Billie Creek Inn is a separate place across the road. It offers lodging for visitors.

Discovering Covered Bridges at Billie Creek

Billie Creek Village was home to three amazing covered bridges. These bridges are very old and important. They are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Beeson Covered Bridge

This bridge has a special design called a Burr Arch. It was built in 1906.

Billie Creek Covered Bridge

Also a Burr Arch design, this bridge was built in 1895.

Leatherwood Station Covered Bridge

This bridge was built in 1899 and also features the Burr Arch design.

Exploring Historic Buildings at the Village

Many different buildings from the past were moved to Billie Creek Village. They showed what life was like long ago.

• Beeson-DePlanty Cabin - built in the 1830s
• Billie Creek Village General Store - a place to buy everything
• Billie Creek Village Bank - used to be a post office before 1900
• Blacksmith shop - where metal items were made
• Burr Mill - a type of mill
• Chautaqua Pavilion - a large open building for gatherings
• Covered Bridge Courier Office - a print shop
• Dr. Rice's Office - built in the mid-1800s
• Farmstead with log barn - showing farm life
• Gaebler Building - built before 1904
• Governor Wright home - a house with history
• Machinery Shed - for old farm machines
• Maple Syrup Camp - where maple syrup was made
• Refreshment Stand - built in 1911
• Schoolhouse - a one-room school
• Sorghum Mill and Cider Shack - for making sweet syrup and cider
• St. Joseph's Catholic Church - built in 1886
• Union Baptist Church - another historic church

Fun Events at Billie Creek Village

Billie Creek Village hosted many exciting events throughout the year. These events helped people learn about history in a fun way.

• School Days In May - where kids could experience school from the past
• Parke County Covered Bridge Bike Tour - a bike ride in May
• Parke County Covered Bridge Festival - a big festival in October
• Civil War Days - an event about the American Civil War in July
• Ice Cream Social - a sweet celebration on July 4th
• Steam Harvest Days - showing old farming machines in September

Challenges and Reopening of the Village

Billie Creek Village faced some tough times over the years. It had problems with money and had to close more than once.

In 2012, the village was put up for sale. After some time, in the summer of 2014, Billie Creek Village reopened its doors. There was a big Grand Reopening event on August 10, 2014. However, this reopening did not last, and the village closed again.

In April 2022, a new manager, Gregg Larson, took over. Under this new leadership, Billie Creek Village is now open again! Visitors can explore the village and attend events once more.