Discovering mineral springs in the 1800’s resulted in resorts popping up nationwide to provide eager visitors with healing waters. Two resorts were built at the twin towns of French Lick and West Baden, Indiana, to accommodate the popularity of “taking the waters,” the French Lick Springs Hotel with its historical firsts and the West Baden Springs Hotel with its breath-taking dome. Today, both are AAA Four-Diamond historic hotels with a host of amenities. But that’s not all this tiny Indiana town produced. Boxer Joe Lewis trained in town and NBA superstar Larry Bird, the Celtics star known as “the hick from French Lick,” both hailed from here.
Stay
Both resorts offer stunning architecture and a host of amenities. The Beaux-Arts French Lick Springs Hotel showcases the history of the resorts with historic memorabilia plus gaming at the French Lick Casino. It was long a favorite among celebrities, athletes and politicians — even presidents. Visitors to the West Baden Springs Hotel will enjoy rooms with balconies overlooking the atrium beneath a stunning 200-foot domed ceiling, at once time the largest free-spanning dome in the world. Along with their host of amenities within the resorts’ hundreds of acres, some springs still exist within the resort gardens.
Indulge
Both hotels offer numerous signature treatments in decadent spas, but don’t miss a chance to slip inside a Pluto Water Bath. Celebrities and presidents would arrive to enjoy Pluto Water, the bottled water produced from the Sulphur springs. Drinking Pluto Water was said to “cleanse even the hardiest GI track,” but now it’s only used to relax and enhance the skin.
Get Sporting
Amenities at the resorts include clay shooting, horseback riding, archery, hiking and birdwatching, with classes in most to get visitors started in the sport. Golfers will revel in the fact that only here can you play courses designed by Pete Dye and Donald Ross together at one resort. Enjoy the rolling Indiana hills playing the Donald Ross Course that was built in 1917, used for the PGA Championship won by Walter Hagen. Today, the course maintains nearly all the classic elements of its original design.
Hit the Rails
Board the historic French Lick Scenic Railway for a 25-mile ride to the town of Jasper and spot a waterfall, a cave spring, a cabin dating to the 1850s and the childhood home of Larry Bird. The train climbs to the highest destination of the area and back again with a fun excursion through a long, dark train tunnel.
Dine
The elegant 1875: The Steakhouse at French Lick Springs Hotel commemorates the first Kentucky Derby run on May 17, 1875. Horses and gaming have a long history at the hotel. Every guest receives a glass of tomato juice, which was created here in 1917 by a chef who ran out of oranges at breakfast and squeezed tomatoes to fill the gap. The restaurant serves 100 percent aged Midwest, corn-fed Angus beef and a host of craft cocktails and fine wines.
For a casual meal that comes with a spectacular view, Hagen’s Club House Restaurant offers a diverse menu with views that overlook the Donald Ross Course. Be sure to visit at sunset and dine or enjoy cocktails on the back patio to watch the show only nature can provide.
