French Lick Springs Hotel
Encyclopedia
The French Lick Springs Hotel is a historic resort hotel complex, now a part of the French Lick Resort Casino
.
The location was originally known as the French Lick Springs Hotel, a grand resort that catered to those who came to partake of the advertised healing properties of the town's sulfur
springs
. The first hotel was opened in 1845 by William A. Bowles
and was an immediate success. The original hotel burned in 1897, but the resort was rebuilt on an even grander scale by new owner Thomas Taggart
, mayor of Indianapolis
and chairman of the Democratic National Committee
.
In 1904 the state discovered gambling was going on at the resort, and Governor
Frank Hanly
raided the hotel, and seized all its gambling equipment, from poker cards and chips, to klondike tables and roulette wheels. He brought suit against the hotel and forced it into receivership
. The court case dragged on for several years, until his Democrat successor dropped the case and returned the company to Taggart. Taggart convinced the Monon Railroad
to build a spur directly to the hotel grounds with daily passenger service to Chicago
. The rich and famous were guests during the heyday of the resort, including Franklin D. Roosevelt
(who announced his candidacy for president at the 1931 National Governors' Conference there), Ronald Reagan
and numerous others. Casino gambling, though illegal, flourished near the resort (but not at the resort proper).
The spring water known as Pluto Water
was bottled at a plant across the street from the hotel for use on the property and for commercial distribution. Tomato juice
is said to have been served for the first time at the hotel in 1917 when the chef Louis Perrin ran out of orange juice and needed an alternative.
The resort went into a steady decline with the Great Depression
, enjoyed a brief revival during World War II
, then went into decline again, particularly after the illegal casinos were again shuttered by action of Indiana Governor Henry Schricker in 1949. The property went through a procession of owners, some of whom attempted to return the resort to its former glory. National Conventions of the Phi Kappa Tau
fraternity were held at the hotel in 1940, 1953, and 1968.
Revival in earnest came when, after considerable campaigning by local residents, Indiana gaming authorities finally awarded a long-promised license for a riverboat casino to the city. The new casino was a bit slow to get into the water, after businessman Donald Trump
was granted the original operating license, only to have it withdrawn for a variety of reasons. The license was finally awarded to a partnership of business interests from within Indiana including billionaire Bill Cook. Cook later bought out the partners after a legal dispute.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and is recognized as one of the Historic Hotels of America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
.
French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort is a resort complex located in the towns of West Baden and French Lick, Indiana. The complex includes two historic resort spa hotels, stables, a casino and three golf courses, all part of a $500 million restoration and development project....
.
The location was originally known as the French Lick Springs Hotel, a grand resort that catered to those who came to partake of the advertised healing properties of the town's sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
. The first hotel was opened in 1845 by William A. Bowles
William A. Bowles
William A. Bowles was a doctor who led the Knights of the Golden Circle in Indiana in the early 1860s. Earlier he founded the town of French Lick, Indiana and began a resort at an area, which lasts to this day.-Pre-war:...
and was an immediate success. The original hotel burned in 1897, but the resort was rebuilt on an even grander scale by new owner Thomas Taggart
Thomas Taggart
Thomas Taggart was a U.S. political figure, serving as mayor of Indianapolis and influential in state and national politics.-Early life and family:...
, mayor of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
and chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
.
In 1904 the state discovered gambling was going on at the resort, and Governor
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
Frank Hanly
Frank Hanly
James Franklin Hanly was a United States politician who served as a congressman from Indiana from 1895 until 1897, and was the 26th Governor of Indiana from 1905 to 1909...
raided the hotel, and seized all its gambling equipment, from poker cards and chips, to klondike tables and roulette wheels. He brought suit against the hotel and forced it into receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
. The court case dragged on for several years, until his Democrat successor dropped the case and returned the company to Taggart. Taggart convinced the Monon Railroad
Monon Railroad
The Monon Railroad , also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway from 1897–1956, operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana...
to build a spur directly to the hotel grounds with daily passenger service to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The rich and famous were guests during the heyday of the resort, including Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
(who announced his candidacy for president at the 1931 National Governors' Conference there), Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and numerous others. Casino gambling, though illegal, flourished near the resort (but not at the resort proper).
Pluto Water
Pluto Water was a trademark for a strongly laxative natural water product which was very popular in the United States in the early 20th century. The water's high native content of mineral salts generally made it effective within one hour of ingestion, a fact the company played up in their...
was bottled at a plant across the street from the hotel for use on the property and for commercial distribution. Tomato juice
Tomato juice
Tomato juice is a juice made from tomatoes. It is usually used as a beverage, either plain or in cocktails such as a Bloody Mary or Michelada.-History:...
is said to have been served for the first time at the hotel in 1917 when the chef Louis Perrin ran out of orange juice and needed an alternative.
The resort went into a steady decline with the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, enjoyed a brief revival during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, then went into decline again, particularly after the illegal casinos were again shuttered by action of Indiana Governor Henry Schricker in 1949. The property went through a procession of owners, some of whom attempted to return the resort to its former glory. National Conventions of the Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
fraternity were held at the hotel in 1940, 1953, and 1968.
Revival in earnest came when, after considerable campaigning by local residents, Indiana gaming authorities finally awarded a long-promised license for a riverboat casino to the city. The new casino was a bit slow to get into the water, after businessman Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
was granted the original operating license, only to have it withdrawn for a variety of reasons. The license was finally awarded to a partnership of business interests from within Indiana including billionaire Bill Cook. Cook later bought out the partners after a legal dispute.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and is recognized as one of the Historic Hotels of America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
.