Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
FRENCH LICK – Comfort Suites in French Lick has spent the past year undergoing a renovation.
The 80-room hotel has received new furnishings, carpet, paint, lighting and artwork as well as a new roof.
“It’s almost like a new hotel,” co-owner Mike Hicks said. “We made as many purchases locally as we could. The furniture was all made in Dubois County and Pritchett Bros installed the new roof.”
Owners Mike and Debbie Hicks opened Comfort Suites in French Lick in 2009. Renovations began a year ago and are nearly complete. Each room is a suite. Amenities include complimentary hot breakfast and indoor pool.
Located on Ind. 56 near the French Lick Resort’s Donald Ross Course, the hotel was the couple’s first venture in the hospitality sector. Since then, they’ve developed the Legend at French Lick, a property formerly owned by NBA great Larry Bird, into an entertainment and event venue and built a MainStay Suites / Sleep Inn in Newberry.
Mike Hicks said the decision to build a hotel in French Lick was triggered by the involvement of Bill and Gayle Cook, who took on the renovation of the French Lick Springs Hotel, the restoration of the historic West Baden Springs Hotel and developed the Pete Dye Golf Course that is one of the top courses in the US.
“Knowing the reputation of Bill Cook and Steve Ferguson, if they were involved, they were going to bring change to French Lick,” he said.
They built the hotel on three acres they owned on Ind. 56 and became franchise owners via Choice Hotels.
The COVD-19 pandemic was a difficult time to be in the hospitality industry, Hicks said, and although the region has seen a return of visitors, Hicks said inflation continues to affect families and limits their resources for leisure travel.
“Our biggest challenge right now is the families that are feeling the economic squeeze from inflation,” he said. “We provide an excellent solution for families to experience a lower priced vacation with a wide variety of activities in the area.”
Seeing the revitalization of French Lick-West Baden and the growth of tourism has been highly rewarding, Hicks said.
The strength of the French Lick Resort is a positive for local businesses, including Comfort Suites. Hicks said when the resort hosts large conventions or golf events such as the Korn Ferry Championship later this year, Comfort Suites accommodates those overflow guests.
Comfort Suites is also popular with golfers and families in town to experience Wilstem Wildlife Park, the French Lick Railway as well as those looking for a hotel that is a short drive to Holiday World.