French Lick: Railway, Golf and History

French Lick offers several distinct reasons to visit: the Scenic Railway through southern Indiana, golf courses with different features, and historical tours. When looking for a hotel, it helps to first consider whether the railway, golf, or local history will shape your stay.

Rail Route Through Southern Indiana

The French Lick Scenic Railway departs from the French Lick Depot in the center of French Lick. The route passes through the rolling hills of southern Indiana and along the Hoosier National Forest. Along the way, the train passes limestone and sandstone outcrops, a lake, and the state’s second-longest railroad tunnel. This makes the ride a scenic travel experience that is clearly distinct from the golf courses and historical tours: what they have in common is the railroad route through the rolling hills of southern Indiana.

Golf Courses with Different Features

The Pete Dye Course at French Lick is a par-72 championship course measuring 8,102 yards. Its par, championship classification, and course length provide a concrete basis for assessing it. The Donald Ross Course at French Lick offers a different, design-related point of interest: it was restored in 2006 to preserve the elements of its classic design. If you consider a course’s history as well as its layout, this restoration year is a clear historical reference point.

The Valley Links Course at French Lick is a regular 9-hole course next to the French Lick Springs Hotel. The Sand Creek Course at French Lick, by contrast, is a short course with nine holes ranging from 40 to 90 yards. At Sand Creek, the range refers to the individual holes, so it is not the same kind of measurement as the Pete Dye Course’s length. This distinction makes the comparison more precise: Valley Links is defined by its regular 9-hole format and location next to the hotel, while Sand Creek is distinguished by its classification as a short course and the lengths of its individual holes.

Trails: Connections and Branches

The relationship between the two routes helps with orientation on the trails. The Ferguson Trail is an easy, paved 1-mile path connecting the French Lick Springs Hotel with the West Baden Springs Hotel. The Creek Trail branches off from the Ferguson Trail and is also easy; it is 0.4 miles long and passes through wooded scenery with pedestrian bridges. The practical difference is clear: the Ferguson Trail connects the two hotels, while the Creek Trail is a shorter branch that highlights woodland and pedestrian bridges.

Historical Tours at the French Lick Springs Hotel

The French Lick Springs Hotel offers historical tours. Since dates can change, check the current tour schedule before your visit. The tours cover the origins of tomato juice in 1917. In addition, the French Lick Resort’s self-guided historical tour at the French Lick Springs Hotel takes visitors to the site’s first guests in 1845. The years refer to different historical points: 1917 to the origins of tomato juice, and 1845 to the site’s first guests. This helps distinguish a tour on a specific topic from a self-guided tour with 1845 as its reference point.

For the broader travel overview: Orange County.