We were thrilled and honored to be recently named Best Historic Resort by Historic Hotels of America. This award is presented to a property that best celebrates its history in the guest experience — and you might be surprised to know about all the ties to history intertwined within everyday experiences here at French Lick Resort.
You can just feel the history within the walls of our historic hotels. And here are 10 ways you can experience some of our storied heritage during your next visit.
Slip Into a Sprudel or Pluto Bath
At our spas, you can bathe in the waters that built these hotels in the first place.
Guests in the 1800s swore by the healing properties of the sulfuric mineral water unique to this area. Competitors back then, French Lick Springs Hotel touted their “Pluto Water” and West Baden Springs Hotel called theirs “Sprudel Water.” Today, you can still draw a Pluto Bath or Sprudel Bath and experience a time-honored tradition.
Ride the Rail Trolley
What’s cheaper in 2026 than it was in 1903?
A ride on our rail trolley is about the only thing.
Electric cable car service first began at French Lick and West Baden 123 years ago, and you can still take a ride on the rails as our near-exact replica trolley car can shuttle you between hotels. It was a nickel to ride back then. But save your coins — all rides are complimentary today.
Tomato Juice Starter
Whether you order up the #1-selling King or Queen Cut Filet, the Diver Scallops or the famous Baked Lobster Mac & Cheese, every meal at 1875: The Steakhouse begins with a taste of our history.
Tomato juice was first served at French Lick Springs Hotel in 1917 by Chef Louis Perrin, who ran out of oranges to squeeze for breakfast one morning. He then concocted a tomato improvisation that was soon being enjoyed nationwide. At French Lick Springs Hotel, we still honor Perrin’s invention with a tomato juice shooter before those juicy steaks arrive at your table.
Events to Savor in the Atrium
The jaw-dropping atrium at West Baden Springs Hotel isn’t just for standing and admiring.
It’s for eating, sipping, painting, cheers-ing and more.
Many of the hotel’s signature events are held in the atrium so you can take a seat, relax, and take in a better view of the luxurious surroundings guests have been enjoying since the hotel was completed in 1902. Make plans for a Wine & Dessert Soiree, Afternoon Tea, Mixology Class or Wine & Canvas. You can even paint one of the original clay tiles left over from the hotel’s original construction.
The (Re)Opened Billiard and Bowling Pavilion
A must-see for your next visit. Just last week, we introduced the renovated Billiard and Bowling Pavilion in the West Baden Springs Hotel Gardens.
This historic building dates to 1917 and hadn’t been used by hotel guests since the hotel closed in the early 1930s. Beautifully renovated, it’s open for fun and games once again. The building’s exterior still looks much the same as it did in the early 1930s, and the interior underwent a modern facelift with a nod to some of the building’s original features.
An Old-School Round at Donald Ross
The third 1917 mention already in this list — must have been quite the exciting stretch around here 109 years ago.
On a stretch of rolling countryside just outside of town, Donald Ross rode the area on horseback while scouting a spot to build a new golf course. Ross’ course has stood the test of time while staying true to his architectural philosophies. It’s common for a course of this pedigree to be altered from its original layout with narrowed fairways, smaller greens and other features to fit the game’s changing trends.
Today’s Ross Course has none of that. The greens complexes remain huge, well-bunkered and are still contoured internally as well as toward the edges. The 18 holes still rise, fall and roll repeatedly over a meadow landscape. Old-school golf at its best. Come enjoy a round when the Donald Ross Course reopens for the season in March.
Tours, Tours, Tours
You may have already taken the traditional historical walking tour of French Lick or West Baden Springs Hotel.
Did you know about the other tours that give a whole new spin on our rich history?
At West Baden Springs Hotel, Indiana Landmarks offers Behind the Scenes Tours and Twilight Tours, the latter of which features costumed historical characters narrating the tour from their point of view. Or, hop aboard for a Historical Trolley Tour, which will take you on a ride through history in our local communities.
Batter Up at Sprudel Field
Baseball has deep roots at both our hotels—from the days of the Chicago Cubs visiting for spring training, to games played during the summer between our local Plutos and Sprudels teams to entertain the hotel guests.
So it’s only fitting we rebuilt the hotel baseball field on precisely the same footprint as the original.
Bring your gloves for a game of catch and run the bases at the newly imagined Sprudel Field. And pack a lunch to enjoy in a shady spot nearby at East Park, another original hotel feature brought back to life.
Rock Hallway
The corridor on the lower level that leads to Pluto’s Alley doesn’t just look old. It is old.
As in, mid-1800s hold.
Walk down this hall, and you can actually see and touch the foundation of Indiana limestone from the original Windsor Hotel that stood on this property. Dark and shrouded, the passageway was originally intended to be used by employees only. But it was opened to everyone so you can get a feel — quite literally — for the earliest days of the hotel.
Veranda Rockin’
If you could see into the future — say, the year 2234 — you’d probably see guests still rocking on chairs on the hotel veranda.
They’re just that iconic. Time passes and things change, but this is one of those traditions that isn’t going away anytime soon.
So grab a morning coffee or a summertime ice cream cone. Rock the day away. Some of the simplest traditions are the best.
