Bids placed on Wabash Valley landmark

PARKE CO., Ind. (WTHI) - Questions surround a Wabash Valley landmark as to what’s going to become of it.

Billie Creek Village, in Rockville, Ind., went up for public auction this morning and has uncertain future.

Paul Collinson, better known as Print Shop Paul, stands as a staple volunteer at Billie Creek Village, and has been there for 25 years.

The village was closed for the season, due to the possibility of a change in ownership.

“If nobody was allowed to walk through here, then I would have found something else to do this week. But, I didn’t want to be anywhere else if people were going to come here and see this,” said Collinson.

So far, the print shop is in no shortage of visitors.

Joe McCurdy is among many locals that came to the village Saturday morning.

“All the past work, and all the past dedication that a lot of the local people have put into this…you hate to see it basically, kind of, be disassembled,” said McCurdy.

Billie Creek Village’s owner said nothing has been determined yet.

Saturday morning, three people placed bids on three parcels. The current owner, then, has three days to make a decision to either approve or deny the bids.

“If Billie Creek gets a new owner, what I hope is somebody who is able to have the ability and the time that it takes, and the passion to get it back and going the way it once was,” said Collinson.

Most of the people that spoke with us said they hope the village stays.

“I hope it’s the best for Parke County, and you’d like to see it stay together, and, kind of, come back again. It was very interesting, very beneficial to the local people and whole county and state,” said McCurdy.

So, the community waits for an answer, and hopefully, a happy ending.

“Whatever happens, I hope that the village is able to get back up and going like it was: fully open and really active. It was a wonderful place to visit, and it was a good place to come and volunteer,” said Collinson.

Billie Creek Village opened almost 50 years ago.

It’s located east of Rockville on US 36.