Renovated historic hotel will combine with a new Pete Dye course to create one of America’s top golf vacation destinations
FRENCH LICK, IN -The awards keep coming for West Baden Springs Hotel and French Lick Resort! Already recognized by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler as 21st in the “Top 75 U.S. Mainland Resorts”, the southern Indiana destination has now made the magazine’s ultra-exclusive Gold List for 2009.
The 15th annual Gold List, published in the January 2009 issue, features 710 of the best hotels, resorts, and cruise lines from around the world. Over 32,000 readers voted in the Readers’ Choice Awards and then the magazine interviewed those at the top to identify what specifically places them there.
This latest national award for West Baden combined with the upcoming opening of the spectacular Pete Dye golf course in 2009 further solidifies French Lick Resort as one of the premier luxury golf destinations in the country. French Lick Resort was joined on the list by Wynn Las Vegas, The Greenbrier (Virginia) and the American Club (Kohler, Wis.). With an average score of 90.2, the West Baden Hotel received ratings of 95.5 in the categories of rooms, service, food, and design, outranking these top well-known resorts.
“We are very excited about the combination of West Baden, with its luxurious amenities and national recognition, with the soon to be highly acclaimed Pete Dye golf course,”explained Mark Bommarito, vice president of sales and marketing. “It is also an honor and a tribute to the vision of our owners that we are on the same playing field in the Midwest with the American Club, Kohler, and their combined world-class resort product”.
Originally built in 1902, the West Baden Springs Hotel re-opened in May 2007 following a meticulous restoration. Nearly $100 million was spent in an effort that maintained the historic integrity of the building but upgraded its amenities to that of a four-star property.
West Baden is a part of the French Lick Resort, which as a whole has undergone a $500 million restoration and development project. In one of the largest such private projects in the U.S., the owners saved two turn-of-the-century grand hotels, added a casino and new golf course, thus bringing resort life back to Indiana. Their work has been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The new Dye course is located on a dramatic site that looks more like the rolling mountains of North Carolina than the flat lands of Indiana. The course, situated upon a hilltop -one of the highest points in the state – was carefully carved into the dramatic hillside offering a variety of elevation changes, rugged and dramatic terrain, narrow fairways and ever changing bunkers, along with spectacular views from every hole that stretch for over 40 miles. Many already believe that Dye has created one of the most breathtaking and exciting 18-holes of golf in the country.
Opening this spring, the new Pete Dye course will combine with the renovated Donald Ross course to offer a top-notch golf experience. Guests who stay at the luxurious West Baden Springs Hotel will have priority access to tee-times at the new Pete Dye course.
About French Lick Resort
French Lick Resort is a $500 million historic restoration and casino development project that includes the West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick Springs Hotel, and the new French Lick Casino. This premier resort and casino destination in southern Indiana features 689 guest rooms and suites; a 51,000-square-foot, single-level casino; 45-holes of golf, including the fully restored 1917-designed Donald Ross Course at French Lick and the new, 18-hole Pete Dye Course at French Lick (opening 2009); two full-service spas with a combined 36 treatment rooms totaling 42,000 square feet; meeting and event space totaling 115,000 square feet and an array of dining and entertainment options.
For more information or to book a stay, please visit www.frenchlick.com or call our reservation specialists at (888) 936-9360.
To view French Lick Resort photography, click on the link below:
http://gallery.me.com/golfrisch#100047
Contact:
Kevin Frisch
Fusion Media Strategies
Phone: (989) 614-0241
E-Mail: golfrisch@mac.com
Dyan Welsh Duncan
Public Relations Manager
French Lick Resort
Phone: (812) 936-5926
E-Mail: dduncan@frenchlick.com
