In modern times, basketball superstar Larry Bird put his southern Indiana hometown on the map when he became known as "the hick from French Lick."
Decades before that, from the early 20th century through the Roaring Twenties, the hamlet in southern Indiana's rolling hills flourished, drawing celebrities and infamous guests — from Groucho Marx and Bing Crosby to John Dillinger and Al Capone — to its mineral waters that flowed from the region's natural springs and to the illegal gambling halls that were an open secret around town.
Today, the area's gaming tradition has been revived with the development into a casino destination of the restored French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel, called French Lick Resort Casino. Fresh from a $382 million renovation and expansion, the complex features 42,000 square feet of blackjack and craps tables, poker rooms and slot machines, all entertaining visitors beneath majestic 27-foot ceilings.
A vintage ambiance — seen in features such as the West Baden Springs Hotel's stunning domed atrium, once dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" — is paired with many contemporary amenities, including a 27,000-square-foot, full-service spa, salon and health club; an indoor tennis center; riding stables; and even a bowling alley.
Add fine-dining restaurants and a wealth of retail shops, and the new French Lick Resort Casino offers a new generation of visitors a grand introduction to gaming in the Midwest.