The Big Rocky Fork Covered Bridge is located southeast of Mansfield, in Parke County, Indiana. The length of the bridge is 88 feet which includes the 8-foot overhang at each end. This single-span Burr Arch Truss structure was finished on September 7, 1900, by J. J. Daniels, for $1,475.50, and named for the creek that it crosses. The foundations are built from hewn limestone blocks.

The road bypassed this structure in 1987. Though no historical marker is in place, the area around this bridge was known to be a favorite hideout for the infamous John Dillinger. The bridge was also known as "Murphy Bridge".

The bridge is near Fallen Rock Park which was named for a smokehouse-sized sandstone rock that fell into the creek. In the vicinity of Big Rocky Fork Bridge and Fallen Rock Park is one of Parke County’s mysterious rock graves. Hidden on the side of a 100-foot-high cliff, it is not visible from below or above. The grave is 9 feet long by 30 inches deep and 20 inches wide. A stone pillow is cut into the head end. There are three different stories to explain its origin: The first story attributes the grave to the Indians prior to the 1820s settlement of the area. A second story attributes the excavation to a group of campers from near Fallen Rock in the late 1800s. The third story attributes the grave to a local farmer, Mr. Israel Asbury. This story said that he dug it so that his family could bring him here. Or, they wondered if he intended to come here to die. Instead, he was killed while sitting on a railroad tie oblivious to the oncoming train whistle. He was buried in an ordinary cemetery, and the grave was never finished or occupied.

Since the bridge was bypassed, maintenance responsibility has passed from the Parke County Highway Department to the Parke County Park Department. Due to very limited funds, very little maintenance has been performed. On July 13, 1991, a local group began to clean up the bridge site in response to the Adopt-A-Bridge program.

Big Rocky Fork Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Located at:   N39 39.773     W87 04.842     -     WGCB # 14-61-01

Photographed in May 2022