Backyard Adventures

2D PIKE PUBLISHING BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2018 swimsuits required—as well as take part in a variety of more modern spa offerings. While the resort had a down period after a natural disaster, a $ 600 million investment has expanded the hotels beyond its original grandeur. According to Duncan, the charm of the resort is that a person can have whatever experience they want, doing as much or as little as they like. Many people come to sit on the porch rockers and appreciate the landscape. Others, though, make it into an active and adventurous venue—they go horseback riding, rent two to four person bicycles, play kickball, golf on the three courses and foot golf (basically golf with a soccer ball.) They swim and attend dive-in movies at the pool and shoot archery. For the social urbanite, there are concerts and casino games. For families, a kids' area, Kids Fest Lodge, hosts events for ages six through 12, so parents can get away, then there's bowling, an arcade, and in town, a day at the nearby indoor waterpark, laser tag, mini golf, and riding historic French Lick trains. Duncan added that people do not have to check in to dine and experience the enter- tainment of the resort—it's not limited to guests. This summer she expects the biggest par- ty to be the Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo con- cert at 8 p.m. July 5. (Doors open at 6 p.m.) The event, which will be in the Hoosier Ballroom, is during one of the resort's busi- est weeks of the summer, and the four-time Grammy winners are a draw in their own right, with Benatar being a standout multi- Platinum artist of the 1980s, with Top 10 hits like "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Love Is a Battlefield," "We Belong" and "Invincible." During the early days of MT V, Benatar was one of the most heavily-played artists on the popular music channel. Duncan advises buying tickets through Ticketmaster as early as possible for people FUN FACTS ■ The name "French Lick" comes from the buffalo that traditionally herded to the area, attracted to the natural salt deposits which they would lick. Eventually the French settled the area, and called it "the Lick," which turned into "French Lick." ■ The first time tomato juice was served as a breakfast drink was in the hotel. A chef ran short on or- ange juice, and, not knowing what to do, improvised from among the other fruit and vegetable choices. Who knows where we'd be if he'd chosen beets! ■ Several different major league baseball teams have trained at the resort, including the Chicago Cubs—the last time they won the World Series, they trained in French Lick. ■ President Franklin Delano Roos- evelt received his party's nomina- tion to run for president at the 1931 Governor's Conference hosted by the resort. who want to attend the concert, and added rooms will probably also go quickly. "I think part of our charm, we are not pre- tentious. We get a lot of compliments on our staff," she said. "People are surprised this resort exists in southern Indiana." The resort has been blessed with its growth and variety of visitors, and locals speculate it's tied to a secret room of murals, with hidden angels, painted by an Italian art- ist, reachable only by climbing the exterior dome of the West Baden Springs Hotel. The mysterious room is said to be the artist's blessing on the hotel, though no one knows the true origin of the space. Through pictures that detail how one would reach the room, and what the murals look like, the hotel tries to share the experi- ence with visitors, said Duncan. From miraculous springs below to the domed blessing above, Duncan said the most poignant thing she personally likes about the resort is how authentic it is, in a world of hotels that seem to duplicate one another in style and themes, the resort has its own stories, history and style. "I like that it's authentic," she said. "Our employees are local people who work here, some in the third generation working at the hotel...A lot of people have a connection to the resort, some come every summer and forge friendships." Above: A view of the grand French Lick Resort, a classic American hotel, offers visitors a glimpse into the past. Below, left: The dome at West Baden Springs Hotel offers a unique way to relax in the mid-summer Indiana heat. Below, right: Mineral springs are part of what has drawn visitors to the French Lick are for more than a century and are known for their "healing properties." Pluto Springs can be found in the courtyard of French Lick Resort. Coming Home to Our Irish Roots FESTIVAL Sunday, June 24 • Noon-5pm (EDT) 800 East 500 South, Corning, Indiana • Daviess County Tours of Curran House & Celtic Hall www.corningheritagecenter.com FOOD • ENTERTAINMENT • FELLOWSHIP • GENEOLOGY ASSISTANCE CORNING IRISH HERITAGE CENTER Come and join us for a nature walk you will never forget. More than 4,000 azaleas plus a large variety of unusual plants and native Indiana trees. Book your tour today! 1502 N. County Road 825 W., Hazelton, IN 47640 812-640-9133 • azaleapatharboretum.org Hours of Operation OPEN DAILY April 1 - June 15, 7am-7pm Aer June 15, we are closed for the season or by appointment only.

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