Who’s ready to roll at our refurbished Billiard & Bowling Pavilion?
We’re just a few months away from reopening this historic recreation hall on the West Baden Springs Hotel grounds. Look for it to be open by late summer or fall of 2025. With this being National Rebuilding Day, it’s the perfect time to take a peek inside at the progress.
This is the final building on French Lick Resort grounds that had not undergone a modern renovation — until now. The original Billiard & Bowling Pavilion opened Christmas Day of 1917, and guests came here for fun and games until the adjacent West Baden Springs Hotel closed its doors in the early 1930s.
A few years ago when plans began brewing to bring this building back to life, it was originally decided this would be made into an upscale venue for private events like weddings. But, plans changed. The new direction allowed this building to be restored to its original use, and it’ll soon be a gathering place everyone can enjoy, open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. When completed, the center of this pictured area will have a couple billiard tables inside the entrance to the building.
Six lanes of bowling will soon occupy this part of the building. Natural light from the side windows will add a pop of brightness you typically don’t see inside a bowling alley.
The hanging lights from the ceiling closely mimic the fixtures from the original building more than 100 years ago.
The left wing of the Billiard & Bowling Pavilion has been completely rebuilt. This portion of the building was removed when the Jesuits occupied the hotel after its closure in the 1930s. The “before” photo below shows the building when work was just beginning to add this section.
The rebuilt wing will contain Sprudel’s Pizzeria— similar to Pluto’s Pizzeria over at French Lick Springs Hotel, but with a whole new taste. Once things quiet down for the evening at West Baden Springs Hotel, this will be the place to hang out.
At the bar, look for unique Prohibition-era specialty cocktails, including the Buffalo Trace Smoked Old Fashioned, Gin Rickey, Sidecar, Vodka Gimlet and the Sazerac.
If you want to keep the party going outside, a new fire pit is also being added just outside the entrance. Just imagine spending a summer evening here with this view of West Baden Springs Hotel in the background. The Billiard & Bowling Pavilion can be reserved for special events and booked for group functions.
