Indiana Railway Museum / West Baden Springs Hotel (08.27.2006)

On our last day in the Southern Indiana area, we went back to French Lick / West Baden Springs to visit the Indiana Railway Museum and the gorgeous West Baden Springs hotel which at one time had the largest indoor dome in the world. (More cool pics)

Our last morning at the ranch. Dewy and miles away from the busy everyday world.


Leaving the ranch one last time ...


This is an advertisement for the water from the local area. It smells like rotten eggs, but had healing properties.


Trying to make the last train at the French Lick station... Hurry!


The Five Musketeers!


Roger, Amelia and I are posed in the doorway of the train station.


The kids "playing" piano. You just inserted a quarter, and it played an old-fashioned tune for you.


We're exploring the passenger trains on the track. Cool beans.


We bade our farewells at the train station and made our way to the West Baden Springs Hotel. It was hot and humid outside, but we entertained ourselves with Minnie's new katydid friend who kept jumping on his back and hanging out on his head. :O) Here are some of the awesome pictures of the building deemed the "Eighth Wonder of the World." Believe it or not, this area used to be the Las Vegas before there was a Las Vegas! There were over 40 casinos in the area.

Unfortunately, when the stock market crashed in 1929, most of the rich and famous (i.e. the Rockerfellers, Vanderbilts, Fords, etc.) who spent their three week holidays here stopped coming. This forced the owner at the time to sell the hotel to the Jesuits who ran a school to prepare young men for priesthood for the next 30 or so years. Then, the Jesuits sold the property to Northwood University in Michigan who opened an Indiana campus there. They were not able to maintain the facility, so the building became vacant for many many years. Then, a very generous couple who made their fortunes in heart defibulators took on the project of renovating the hotel using $ 40 million of their own money. It looks amazing. They are scheduled to reopen next year for guests, and we are seriously considering being one of their first guests. At least, that's what I wrote in their guestbook! :O)

This picture is of Spring # 1 (There used to be four) dubbed "Apollo."


This building held the bowling alley and pool hall.


This building held another Spring. There were a total of four springs on the property at one time. They were covered up by the Jesuits who did not see the need to keep the Springs running.


The fountain has been restored.


This is one of four towers have been restored and are now visible when you drive into town.


The entire floor of the great dome, lobby and other large public areas of the hotel were covered in itsy bitsy elaborate patterned tiles.


The kids are standing in front of the dome's $ 1 million fireplace. This fireplace was created by a pair of sisters from Ohio.


Looking outside of the office to the veranda outside. Wow.


This enormous arch greets visitors and sends off one more departing note of West Baden Springs.

Here are some videos:
Yummer and Minnie are helping our tour guide turn on the light in the renovated dining area. There is a balcony where an orchestra used to play and serenade guests. Once they were done, they headed upstairs to the grand ballroom to continue playing!


Here are the kids turning off the lights.


Here is the video that Michael took of the dome.