Her words: “I never expected these mountains.”
OK, so “mountains” may be a stretch. But hey, in comparison to Indiana and the rest of the Midwest, this is about as Rockies as it gets.
You’ve surely noticed it if you’ve played the sloping terrain at the Dye Course, or been on one of the side streets that rise steeply from the main highway through town. Go even higher, up to The Mansion at Pete Dye, and you’re treated to 40-mile vistas at Mt. Airie. At times, it seems like you’re not in Indiana — more like the rolling hills of Tennessee or North Carolina instead.
The Pete Dye statue always enjoys a great view of the 40-miles vistas that surround the Dye Course.
We love being a little different here, but why exactly does the terrain here look so un-Indiana? That’s the first of a couple questions we’re clearing up in a little geography lesson today, and for answers, we’re going straight to a professional — Robin Rupp, with the Indiana Geological & Water Survey at Indiana University.
As Robin explains, we’re uniquely situated right on the border where the Pennsylvanian and Mississippian bedrock formations meet. Mix in millions upon millions of years of erosion, and poof — you’ve got a steep hilltop with a spectacular view.
“What gives you Mt. Airie and that French Lick area kind of unique topography is the geology. The uplands there — Mt. Airie and the highest part of your hills — are a very resistant sandstone, that’s a Pennsylvanian-aged, pretty massive sandstone. And all the other formations below, most of them are limestone, so they’re going to be more susceptible to erosion. That’s the ideal factor in giving you this good relief and interesting terrain. That’s what’s making that area kind of spectacular – that 500-foot difference between your golf course and your valley.”
Trekking up the side streets in town can give you almost a bird's-eye view of the hotels — and it's a great workout if you're looking to take a walk or a jog nearby.
And that leads us to another question: Is Mt. Airie among the highest points in Indiana?
Even back in the resort’s early days, the former hotel owners advertised it as such — surely in an effort to romanticize this surrounding area. In 1915 when they were adding to West Baden Springs Hotel’s amenities, the Sinclair family added a golf course on parts of the upper and lower slopes of Mt. Airie, and in advertisements they touted it as being the highest point in Indiana. And so the legend grew over the years. It’s often been referred to as the highest point or the second-highest point.
In actuality? Robin puts the elevation at 906 feet. (Other sources even have it below 900 feet.) And with the official state high point (near the Indiana-Ohio border) being 1,257 feet and several other peaks in southern Indiana being above 1,000 feet, Mt. Airie falls a little lower on that list in reality.
Built around 1895, Buerk's Observatory offered guests a great view from the top of Mt. Airie, complete with a balustrade and a telescope for viewing from the top of the eight-story structure.
But you won’t find many other places in Indiana with the sharp elevation contrasts and the picturesque views — and that’s something that has captivated resort guests as far back as 125 years ago. In 1895, a local proprietor named Ed Buerk built an observation tower atop Mt. Airie back when the area was mostly empty countryside. With a telescope for viewing, a balustrade for outside viewing and a lunchroom on the bottom floor, the eight-story Buerk’s Observatory became a popular place to visit for guests staying at the nearby West Baden or French Lick hotels.
In the mid-1920s, Buerk’s Observatory was torn down to make way for the mansion that French Lick Springs Hotel owner Thomas Taggart built for his family on Mt. Airie (it’s believed that materials from the tower were used in building a new horse barn on the new Taggart estate). Today, there’s plenty to do on Mt. Airie’s peak, whether it’s playing 18 on the Pete Dye Course, eating lunch at the restored mansion after you play a round, or booking a table at the summer Sunset Dinners.
Whether or not you’re a golfer, do yourself a favor and make a stop up on Mt. Airie just to appreciate the panoramic vistas. Thanks to our unique topography, it’s a view that can’t be beat.
