Swick's Creekside BBQ

06/07/2026

A few months ago, it was hard to imagine standing here looking at anything other than devastation.

Today, we're looking at a clean slate.

The Creekside site has officially been cleared and is now ready for the next chapter.

What was lost can never be replaced exactly as it was, but we have an incredible opportunity to build back something beautiful for our community, our team, and everyone who has made memories along Sugar Creek over the years.

We're currently finalizing plans and blueprints with local architect Judy Kliene, along with Roger Azar and the team at DES Civil & Environmental Engineering. Every detail is being thoughtfully considered as we work toward bringing Creekside back to life.

Our hope is to break ground this fall, be under roof by winter, and spend the winter and spring completing the interior so we can welcome everyone back to the Creek by Memorial Day weekend next year.

We also want to say thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has stopped by SWICK'S Kitchen & Emporium over these past few months for a carryout meal, a treat, a little shopping, or simply to say hello. We've loved seeing your faces, sharing hugs, hearing your stories, and being reminded every day just how much this community cares.

Your support has carried us through some of our hardest days, and we will never take that for granted.

And while we're rebuilding, we're also exploring ways to gather again sooner. We're working on plans for a few outdoor Creekside pop-up nights later this summer featuring barbecue from our old-school show smoker, cold drinks, and a chance to spend an evening by the creek once again. Stay tuned for more details.

The view may look different today, but the future is beginning to take shape.

We're rebuilding. And we can't wait to welcome you home to the Creek.
❤️

04/28/2026

🤍 AN UPDATE FROM THE SWICK FAMILY 🤍
We have received so many messages over the past two weeks. While we haven’t been able to respond to each one, please know—we have read them all, and they have meant more to us than we can put into words.

The support shown for our employees has especially stayed with us. Thank you for caring for them the way you have.

🔥 UPDATE ON THE FIRE
The investigation has now been completed, and we can confirm the fire was electrical in nature—an accidental fire caused by older wiring in an area we had not yet renovated.

We remain incredibly grateful for our first responders and that no one was hurt. It is not lost on us that had this started even an hour earlier, members of our team may have still been inside.

Buildings can be rebuilt. People cannot.

🛠 WHAT’S NEXT
Demolition and site clearing will begin later this week and into next.

From there, we begin the process of rebuilding. Our hope is to be back under roof by fall, with interior work continuing through the winter and a potential reopening in time for deck season next summer.

🤍 GRATITUDE
We cannot say enough about the support we’ve received from our insurance team and our local agents. They have been by our side since 2 am the morning of the fire—and every day since—helping us navigate this process and ensuring both our family and our employees are taken care of.

Between that support and the generosity of this community, our team will be cared for during this time. That means everything to us.

We may have brought the BBQ and the recipes—but our team is the heart of Creekside.

📍 IN THE MEANTIME
You can continue to find us at our downtown location:
Swick’s Kitchen & Emporium

Beginning this week, we’ll be offering a daily hot smoked BBQ meal for carryout, along with extended hours to make after-work pickup easier:
Wed–Fri 10–6PM
Saturday 9–6PM

We are heartbroken—but we are also moving forward. And so grateful to be doing it with all of you behind us.

🤍 The Swick Family

04/22/2026

As many of you have heard, our Creekside location was lost in a fire last week. We are incredibly grateful that no one was hurt.

We are currently temporarily closed as we work through next steps — and we fully intend to rebuild.

👉 In the meantime, you can still find us serving our BBQ, sides, and baked goods at our downtown location:
Swick's Kitchen & Emporium | 115 W. Market, Crawfordsville.

We are open with limited hours as we get back on our feet and continue to fulfill catering orders.

If you’ve been asking how to support us —
this is the best way right now.

👉 Visit us downtown, grab a treat, have a cup of coffee
👉 Order catering or pick up Take & Heat BBQ
👉 Share our story

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for the support you’ve shown our family and our team.

🤍 The Swick Family

You can read the more detailed update along with a recent interview here:

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind.(WLFI) - When Joe and Candace Swick and Steven Tomamichel bought The Creekside Lodge just a couple of months ago, they kept every single staff member.

04/18/2026

This past week has been something we’re still trying to put into words. We’re so thankful to WLFI News 18 for sharing our story and the incredible support we’ve felt from this community.

Above all else — we are grateful that no one was hurt and we continue to be deeply grateful for our first responders and the care they showed that night.

What has followed in the days since has been truly overwhelming. The kindness, generosity, and support from this community have meant more than we can put into words. From messages, meals, donations, and the fund that’s been started to support our team… we are humbled beyond words.

We also want to share this clearly — our team is being taken care of.
Between the generosity of this community and the support we are receiving, our employees remain our top priority, and we are working hard to keep everyone moving forward.

We also want to acknowledge the incredible support we’ve received behind the scenes:

Our insurance team — especially our local agent — showed up for us immediately, standing with us at 2am during one of the hardest nights of our lives, and has not left our side since.

As we begin navigating next steps, their presence has brought a sense of stability we didn’t know we would have… or need to be honest… in a moment like this, and we are deeply grateful.

We are still working through the official process and aren’t able to share all details just yet, but we promise to keep you updated as more information becomes available.

What we can say is this: We fully intend to rebuild.

And in the meantime, we are already working on ways to keep things going through our downtown shop and catering so we can continue serving you and supporting our team.

From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.
We feel it. We see it. And we will never forget it.
🤍 The Swick Family

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind.(WLFI) - When Joe and Candace Swick and Steven Tomamichel bought The Creekside Lodge just a couple of months ago, they kept every single staff member.

04/14/2026

A NOTE FROM THE SWICK FAMILY

Last night, a fire broke out at Creekside sometime around midnight. At this time, the cause is still unknown.

We are incredibly grateful to share that no one was hurt.

Our local police discovered the fire during routine rounds and responded immediately. From there, our fire department and first responders acted swiftly and with incredible care—not only protecting lives, but also preventing further damage to the surrounding woods and Sugar Creek.
We truly cannot express how thankful we are for every person involved.

While we are heartbroken to confirm that the building and its contents are a total loss… we are holding tight to what matters most—our people are safe, and this community has already began wrapping its arms around us.

Out of an abundance of caution and to allow our team time to regroup, our downtown location (Swick's Kitchen & Emporium) will be closed this week.

All previously scheduled catering orders (with the exception of two lunches today) will be fulfilled as planned.

This is a difficult moment for our family and our team, and we would deeply appreciate your prayers as we begin to process what comes next.

There will be a next chapter... we fully intend to rebuild—and while it’s hard to see it today, we believe there is a path forward to create something even more meaningful, built with intention from the ground up.

Thank you for standing with us.

With grateful hearts,
Joe & Candace Swick, Steve Tomamichel, and the entire Swick Team 🤍

04/11/2026

🥪 NEW AT THE CREEK 🥪
Meet the Creek Club a classic sandwich stacked how it should be—
smoked ham & turkey shaved thin, crispy bacon, cool crunch of lettuce, and that signature Alabama white sauce 👏

All on toasted brioche.

Simple. Smoky. SWICK’N GOOD.

04/04/2026

Easter Sunday at the Creek 🐣🌿✝

Tomorrow’s the day — and we’ve got something delicious cooking for you.

Join us Sunday from 11AM–8PM for our Easter specials, served hot from the kitchen and smoker, alongside our regular menu.

✨ Easter Feature Plate — $18
• Citrus Bourbon Glazed Smoked Ham
• Loaded Smashed Potatoes
• Honey Glazed Carrots
• Aces Spring Green Salad
• Garlic Herb Yeast Roll

We’ll also have Chicken & Noodles (a comfort classic 🤍)!

And of course desserts…
• Lemon bar
• Lemon glazed almond pound cake
• Banana pudding

Bring your people, grab a table, and let us take care of the rest.

03/31/2026

Easter at the Creek 🐣🌿✝

If your perfect Easter includes a hot meal, good company, and a seat at the creek… we’ve got you.

Join us at Creekside for a relaxed Easter Sunday — we’ll be serving our holiday ham alongside our regular menu, fresh from the kitchen and smoker.

✨ Easter Special:
• Citrus bourbon glazed smoked ham
• Loaded smashed potatoes
• Honey glazed carrots
• Ace’s spring green salad
• Fresh baked garlic herb yeast rolls

$18 per person
Children 12 & under — $12

➕ Add a scratch baked dessert ($4):
• Luscious Lemon bar
• Lemon glazed Southern Almond LB Cake
• Banana pudding

Bring your family, grab a table, and let us take care of the rest. 🤍