Daytrippers, Part II

Our next stop is just a mile down the road. Here it is: French Lick Springs Resort and Casino. This hotel was built in 1901 and is the home of the famous Pluto Spring. Touted as being good for whatever ails you, people flocked here to be healed and to find rest. Bottled water from this spring was sold around the world a hundred years ago.

I promised you some history of the West Baden Springs hotel in my last post: after seeing the success of the French Lick Springs facility one mile to the south, Dr. John Lane built the “Mile Lick Inn” in 1855. He later changed the name of the hotel, and thus the name of the new town, to West Baden Springs. The hotel was purchased by Lee W. Sinclair in 1888 and he set about turning the hotel into an elegant resort. His chance to complete his vision came about in 1901, when a devastating fire damaged the hotel. With a budget of $414,000, Mr. Sinclair reopened the hotel one year later. Called the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, the hotel was popular with the rich and famous. In 1923 the hotel was purchased by Ed Ballard and gambling came to town.

The stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent depression meant that the party was over and Mr. Ballard sold the grand hotel to the Jesuits for $1. The Jesuits stripped the hotel of much of its finery and operated the property as a seminary college for 30 years. The Northwood Institute took over ownership and opened a satellite college, including a culinary school, in the building. They closed the doors in 1983 and the building sat empty until restoration began in 1996. Bill Cook of Cook Group in Bloomington, Indiana was a major factor in the salvation of this magnificent structure. The restoration of the hotel took 30 months at a cost of $30 million dollars.

And now back to the tour.

The casino at French Lick.

Though this building dates back to 1901, the hotel was first started in 1845.

Fortunately, this hotel did not suffer the same fate as its neighbor and remained in business as a hotel until it was closed for extensive renovations in 2005. Reopened a couple of years later, much of the original grandeur has been restored. In addition, a casino was built on the premises, though according to Indiana state law, it had to be on water. A moat was built to surround the casino and the casino was styled to look like a riverboat. The law has recently been changed, so the moat has been filled in and the outside of the casino is currently being remodeled to match it to the historic hotel.

Mosaic tile in the lobby.

By now we were ready to eat lunch, so we went down to the lower level to The Power Plant. This casual restaurant and bar features sandwiches and several TV screens along with the old master electrical panel gracing one wall. My husband approved of my choice of restaurants once he realized he would get to watch some of the Colts – Ravens game.

Unfortunately, cameras and video equipment were not allowed in the casino. This link shows you the hotel’s official picture though, so that you can get an idea of what awaited us as we stepped through the security gates.

Blinking, flashing colored lights, buzzing, ringing, clinking machines stretched the entire width and length of the casino. People sat at machines or tables or wandered around, looking for a machine to play. Cigarette smoke hung heavy in the air, aggravating my asthma, so we opted to not stay long. I know that the Suburban Hausfrau would be sorely disappointed in us, but neither my husband nor I felt like parting with any of our money, so we left without playing any of the slots or games. But, at least we didn’t lose any money!

Back to the hotel lobby. Look up at the pretty ceiling.

Looking down at the lobby from the balcony.

We were allowed in this hotel's indoor pool area.

The playful dolphin fountain graces the center of the pool.

And now we head back home. The trees are just beginning to turn color here.

And how do we top a perfect day? With a perfect sunset, of course. The fall foliage is lively even in the twilight.

And the moon rises to the east.

While the sun sets in the west.