French Lick Resort: A Historic Experience

Feb 22, 2017 | Gaming News, Property Reviews

French Lick Resort is the Midwest’s premier resort destination. Located in the southern portion of Indiana, the resort offers two luxurious hotels, three championship-style golf courses, a casino and fourteen dining venues all surrounded by a quaint town in the middle of Indiana, you’ll find a great retreat for adults, or a family affair.

The property has a history like no other dating back to the late 1800’s, this property has changed hands several times. Created originally by a Dr. William Bowles, a physician from Paoli, Indiana, he used his knowledge to explore the healing powers of the mineral springs located around the property. Later, in the early 1900’s, Tom Taggart and company bought the property and really modernized the hotel and commercialized the mineral waters as healing ailments. At the time, Taggart served as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee and Franklin Roosevelt rounded up his support to be the party’s presidential nomination at the property in 1931. At one point, the both the Democratic National Convention was at French Lick while the West Baden Hotel hosted the Republican National Convention making the resort the hottest places in the country. Over the next 60 years, the properties changed hands and in 2005, it was acquired by the COOK Group who invested hundreds of millions of dollars to make the resort the crown jewel that it is today and earning it’s spot on one of the premier resorts in the country. It is a place where the rich Sulphur springs flow, bootleggers and gamblers once played and the rich and elite relaxed and were pampered with every need.

Stay
The West Baden Springs Hotel was once called the Eighth Wonder of the World with an atrium that stretches 200 feet across and interior facing rooms with balconies overlooking. There are several seating areas, a full-service bar, and Sinclair’s Restaurant for an elegant meal. Dozens of pictures from the past and restoration of the facility line the walls around the facility. Just off the main lobby of the hotel, you will find a ‘library’ and if your timing is right, there is a three-piece band playing the tunes of some old classics. The hotel houses 243 interior and exterior facing rooms and that includes 34 suites, and 3 specialty suites, a full-service spa as well as indoor and outdoor pools. Rumor has it that Al Capone used to rent the entire sixth floor for so that he could look down into the atrium to see who was there.

The French Lick Hotel is also a jewel boasting times of the past. Established in 1845, the hotel has been restored to its glory with a gold lined accented lobby with elaborate greek mythology painting lining the lobby ceiling. Be sure to ask for Tom, the concierge with the top hat, to tell you the meanings of the paintings! The hotel features 443 rooms as well as a full-service spa, indoor and outdoor pool and several dining venues.

Play
Whether you are with your family, or a couples getaway, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy at French Lick. There are areas around the resort to relax and walk around, trails to hike, horseback riding, an indoor tennis center that also features pickle ball, basketball and other activities. Plus, with three golf courses, you can’t go wrong. If you are an avid golfer, be sure to check out the Pete Dye course. It will cost you upwards of $300 to play it, but it is regularly regarded as one of the top courses in the country and hosts an annual Senior PGA event. You owe it to yourself to play this track!

In addition to on-property activities, there are also plenty of things to check out around the town. There are complimentary French Lick Shuttles that will take you around town, and you can just call them when you are
ready to get picked up to go somewhere else. Just across the street you’ll find several dining outlets and shops including 33 Brick, a restaurant dedicated to Larry Bird and his career accomplishments.

For more information or to make reservations, visit FrenchLick.com or call 1-888-936-9360.