French Lick

I just had to write about a place with a funny name I have known of for most of my life because of Larry Bird’s celebrity as a basketball star. Everyone always said he was from French Lick, but he was born in West Baden Springs. He is basically the same age as me, just a few months older, so I remember him when he first played for the Celtics, coached, and worked with the NBA (I think). He retired somewhat early due to back injury.

He was truly famous in my neck-of-the-woods. I remember the young men I knew snickering at the town name. French Lick was supposed to be dirty according to them. In fact, much of Indiana was heavily influenced by the French fur traders who set up forts and trading facilities all over the Old Northwest Territory. The word lick ment mineral spring. The springs were heavy with the odor of sulphur. So the description of french trading post near the mineral spring became French Lick which is now the name of the township West Baden is in.

Like most of Indiana intense settlement by Europeans began mid-19th century and a town with a postal designation

I actually did not spend any real time in town of French Lick, which is where Larry Bird has a restaurant. My friend Kim and I strolled around the West Baden Springs Resort and Hotel, but we did not manage to get to the casino. Some sort of hotel or spa has been there for at least 160 years, but fires, economic woes, and other struggles took their toll and the beautiful resort fell into disrepair for several decades mid-20th Century. It began to collapse in the 1990s which was also when it was designated as an Indiana Landmark. That was also when renovation began. The hotel reopened in 2007 after a $500 million renovation and is now a 4 star hotel.

I dislike making anyone I visit play tour guide, but Kim, being a sweetheart suggested we drive down to West Baden in Orange County, Indiana and take in the gorgeous hotel, have lunch, and walk the grounds.