Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
FRENCH LICK – A historic building on the grounds of the French Lick Resort re-opened Tuesday nearly 100 years after it was first built.
The newly restored Billiard & Bowling Pavilion offers six lanes of bowling and two pool tables. Sprudel’s Pizzeria will serve 11 artisan pizzas, salads, sandwiches and sweets; guests can order Prohibition-inspired cocktails from the bar.
This refurbished recreation hall is open to guests of all French Lick Resort hotels, as well as the public.
“To bring back another building that had not been in service for almost a century is a real treat we’re excited to offer our guests,” said Chuck Franz, CEO of French Lick Resort. “And, we’re bringing it back pretty close to what it was like 100 years ago with six lanes for bowling and the billiard tables in the front section of the building. Just like the restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel dome, we relied on historical pictures to bring it back to the life that it had more than a century ago. We wanted to keep it as historically accurate as possible.”
Lighting fixtures that hang from the ceiling above the lanes closely mimic those of the original pavilion. Another original feature is the pair of limestone Tuscan columns, which separate the bowling portion of the building from the billiard area. All the windows on the sides of the building were kept to fill the interior with natural light.
The pavilion was the last building on French Lick Resort grounds that had not undergone a modern renovation.
The restoration included reconstructing one wing that had been lost and a major renovation of the interior. Before the restoration could begin, the hotel had to address recurrent flooding.
The Resort constructed a flood wall and installed pumps to divert water from the building.
Justin Harris, French Lick Resort’s Director of Facilities and a licensed engineer, said in an earlier Resort blog post that, “In essence, we’re creating a miniature Amsterdam.”
Preserving history
The Billiard & Bowling Pavilion, located near the Hygeia and Apollo spring structures, opened to hotel guests on Christmas Day of 1917. Following the stock market crash of 1929, the West Baden Springs Hotel closed in 1932 and the property was given to the Society of Jesuits. Later the hotel and grounds were home to the Northwood Institute.
The pavilion sat empty and neglected for more than 50 years. Time wasn’t kind to the pavilion but it was fortunate to have good bones and a solid foundation.
“Seeing it today, it’s just outstanding what’s been done,” said Jeff Lane, Resort historian. “It’s really exciting to see it restored to what it was intended when it was built in 1917.”
Over the years, Lane said he wondered if the pavilion would become a lost piece of Orange County history.
“Once the Cooks got involved, I knew it would be brought back,” he said.
The restoration of the pavilion was celebrated around Orange County.
“Bringing the Billiard and Bowling Pavilion back into use adds another attraction to the Resort grounds while staying true to the character of West Baden,” said Joe Lannan, executive director of the Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This kind of restoration-driven growth reflects the spirit of sustainable tourism and hospitality in Orange County.”
“It completes the picture of the era,” said Sandi Woodward, French Lick West Baden Springs program manager for Indiana Landmarks. “Both hotels are two treasures to be appreciated. This wouldn’t be possible without the vision and dedication of the Cooks to saving these treasures.”
Bill and Gayle Cook, and their company Cook Group, invested millions of dollars to restore the two historic hotels. Today, the French Lick Resort is a thriving destination that has revitalized Orange County tourism, created jobs and sparked business and tourism development.
If you go
Franz foresees the pavilion as the resort’s newest late-night hangout.
“When our nighttime events close over at West Baden Springs Hotel, guests can venture over to the Billiard and Bowling Pavilion and continue their evening later into the night,” he said.
Additionally, the Billiard and Bowling Pavilion can be booked for group functions for those wanting indoor recreation plus outdoor use with terrific views.
“We’ve tailored the exterior of the Billiard and Bowling Pavilion for group activities, so that on beautiful fall, spring or summer days, guests can move outdoors and enjoy great views of the hotel and gardens,” Franz said.
The Billiard & Bowling Pavilion is open Sunday – Thursday from 11 am – 11 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11 am to midnight.