Thinking about a getaway to French Lick Resort in the year ahead, or already got one on the books? There’s a lot you can look forward to.
Here are 8 things on the horizon for 2024 in and around our historic hotels:
Reopening of the Billiard & Bowling Pavilion
For the first time in more than 90 years, guests will be rolling strikes and sinking 8-balls in this historic recreation building on the West Baden Springs Hotel grounds.
The Billiard & Bowling Pavilion is coming back to life and should be ready to roll by this fall. This building in the gardens has sat vacant for decades, but the revival will be worth the wait. It will feature 6 lanes of bowling plus a couple billiard tables (just as the original did when it opened in 1917), and there will also be a dining area serving pizza and sandwiches. An original wing of the building that was removed will also be rebuilt, making the Billiard & Bowling Pavilion true to its original form.
Another Golfing Option
Major news to share! Get those wedges and putters ready....
We are developing a new course that will offer a totally new golf experience — unlike anything we have at the resort. It'll be located near our Valley Links Course, for easy access for guests staying at all three of our hotels. Stay tuned for updates as we're excited to get the ball rolling on this new course in the coming year.
Health, Spa & Recreation
We’re leaning into our roots and placing a big emphasis on health and wellness in 2024. Who’s with us?
We’ll be adding new hiking and walking trails around our 3,000+ acres of resort property. You’ll see new relaxing and rejuvenating services available at our two spas. We're adding more pickleball courts — this time at French Lick Springs Hotel. And to top it off, we’re adding yoga to the menu to help you enjoy your stay in a more mindful way.
Eclipse Day
We’re less than 100 days away, the major moment arrives at 3:04 p.m., and our duration of totality is 3 minutes and 5 seconds.
Not that we’re counting down the days and geeking out over all the details about this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon, or anything.
The total solar eclipse is coming on April 8, and French Lick & West Baden are squarely in the path of totality for this big day. If you secured reservations at our sold-out hotels, we’ve got a lot of great things planned for Eclipse Day — including designated viewing locations and viewing glasses, memorabilia and souvenirs, family-friendly activities and photo ops, and themed restaurant specials. Even if you don’t have reservations, feel free to come and join us for the day. The good news is there’s plenty of great outdoors around here for viewing.
Completion of Dome Renovations
Another few months, and our historic dome at West Baden Springs Hotel will be good as new.
The dome has been undergoing a facelift since taking a direct hit from a massive hailstorm last June. Ever since, our resort staff and local contractors have worked practically nonstop to get things back to normal – first making temporary repairs so we could safely reopen the atrium, then beginning the long process of a full replacement of 12,000 square feet of glass panels, clay tiles and asphalt shingles on the dome.
We’re happy to report the timeline for completion remains on track, and the finishing touches should be complete by late April. In fact, we just removed the covering from the first completed section of the dome. Let there be light again in the atrium!
More good news: the new glass being installed is Lexan, a type of safety glass that’s 250 times stronger than the original glass on the dome. So we like our chances of standing up to the elements for years and years to come.
Oh, and did we mention you can own your own piece of this history? We’ve taken the original dome glass and clay tiles and turned them into keepsake coasters you can use or cherish in your own home. A limited supply of them are on sale exclusively at the West Baden Mercantile Company inside the hotel.
New on the Menu
Get set to sink your teeth into lots more options at Power Plant Bar & Grill. The menu is expanding to bring back old favorites like the breaded tenderloin, along with dinner options like a sous vide-style flat iron steak and a new salmon entrée.
If outdoor dining is your taste, you’re in luck. A brand-new awning is being added at 1875: The Steakhouse for alfresco dining once the nice weather arrives. And this summer, you can also look forward to the return of our popular food trailer at the French Lick Springs Hotel outdoor pool.
How 'bout dinner with a view? We're excited to bring back Sunset Dinners in 2024. Stay tuned to see what's on the menu and when you can enjoy this unique dining experience at The Pete Dye Course at French Lick.
We’re also excited to now be featuring locally made ice cream from Zax Creamery all our restaurants and shops resort-wide. Later in 2024 we’ll be rolling out two custom flavors made exclusively for our hotels. (We can’t spoil all the secrets just yet, but if you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll likely be a fan of both flavors.)
Korn Ferry Tour
Catch the future stars of the PGA Tour at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance. Our Pete Dye Course will host the Korn Ferry’s annual season-ending tournament October 3-6, highlighted by the celebratory PGA Tour Card Ceremony. The tournament will be contested here at French Lick through at least 2028, so you’ll have plenty of chances to see top-flight golf at the resort in the coming years.
Carriage Rides
Because life deserves more of those relaxing ahhhhh moments, we’re working to expand carriage ride offerings throughout the resort in 2024. In the short term, carriage rides will also be offered around Valentine’s Day (weather permitting), in case you’re starting to think about a romantic surprise for February. Stay tuned for more details to come.
