French Lick Resort Named “Best Historic Hotel” in America

French Lick Resort. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2012, all rights reserved.

By Dyan Duncan
French Lick Resort

The results are in: French Lick Resort has been named Best Historic Hotel in the Readers’ Choice Awards – topping properties nationwide such as Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, Calif. and Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.

Out of the 260 hotels recognized by Historic Hotels of America, Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Director of the organization, narrowed down the field to just 20 nominees for the “Best Historic Hotels” category.

After the field was narrowed to 20, readers of USA TODAY and 10Best had the opportunity to vote for their favorite historic properties. After four weeks, the top 10 winners were announced, and French Lick Resort was awarded the title of Best Historic Hotel.

“For USA TODAY’s savvy world travelers to single of French Lick Resort amongst the prestigious list of historic properties speaks volumes about how far we’ve come since our re-opening just nine years ago,” said VP of Resort Operations Joe Vezzoso. “With a readership of 3.1 million, there’s huge opportunity for us to get our property in front of a lot of potential visitors.”

French Lick Resort features two grand hotels nestled in the Hoosier National Forest of southern Indiana. French Lick Springs Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, while the West Baden Springs Hotel, a National Historic Landmark, consistently makes Condé Nast Traveler’s “Best Places to Stay in the World” and has been ranked the No. 1 Hotel in Indiana by US News & World Report in 2013 and 2014.

There are 45 holes of golf, including the fully restored 1917-designed Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort and the 18-hole Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort, two world-class spas, Vegas-style gaming, horseback riding, activities for kids and meeting and event space totaling 200,000 square feet.

This prestigious award comes less than a week before the resort is set to host the 2015 Senior PGA Championship, May 19-24, 2015, presented by KitchenAid. The championship is expected to draw upwards of 25,000 people to the area and will be broadcast to 250 million homes in 160 countries and territories.

About French Lick Resort

French Lick Resort is a $560 million historic restoration and casino development project that includes the West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick Springs Hotel and the French Lick Casino. This premier resort and casino destination in Southern Indiana features 686 guest rooms and suites; a 51,000-square-foot, single-level casino; 63 holes of golf, including the fully restored 1917-designed Donald Ross Course at French Lick and the 18-hole Pete Dye Course at French Lick; two full-service spas with a combined 36 treatment rooms totaling 42,000 square feet; meeting and event space totaling 200,000 square feet and an array of dining and entertainment options.

For more information, visit http://frenchlick.com/, or call 812-936-9300.

Things to do in Indianapolis, Aug. 11-17, 2014

Madison Ribberfest, Aug. 15-16.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2013, all rights reserved.

15 Public Events in Indianapolis and Indiana
VERIFY ALL EVENT LISTINGS TO BE CERTAIN THEY WILL BE HELD AS SCHEDULED

1. THU-SUN: Gen Con Gaming Convention at the Indiana Convention Center
2. MON-SUN: 158th Indiana State Fair at the State Fairgrounds
3. THU-SUN: 10th Annual Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival in Indianapolis
4. SUN: 5th Annual Dig In, A Taste of Indiana at White River State Park
5. WED-SUN: LPGA Legends Championship at the French Lick Resort
6. FRI-SAT: 10th Annual SausageFest at St. Thomas Aquinas Church
7. THU-SAT: ‘City of Forking Paths’ at the Indiana Convention Center
8. SAT: Miranda Lambert in Concert at Klipsch Music Center
9. FRI-SUN: Elwood Glass Festival in Madison County
10. FRI-SAT: Madison Ribberfest BBQ and Blues in Jefferson County
11. MON-WED: Indianapolis Colts Training Camp at Anderson University
12. THU-SUN: Greensburg ‘Power of the Past’ at the Decatur County Fairgrounds
13. SAT: 6th Annual WAMMfest at Craig Park in Greenwood
14. THU, SAT: Indiana Fever WNBA Basketball at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
15. FRI-SAT: Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie Interactive History Park

To see thousands of upcoming event listings and things to do in Indianapolis and Indiana, visit our main Web site at http://aroundindy.com/, or visit our Mobile Web site on your smartphone or tablet PC at http://aroundindy.com/mobile. Thank you for making AroundIndy.com your #1 source for things to do around Indy!

LPGA Legends Championship at French Lick, Aug. 15-17

Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort. AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2012, all rights reserved.

By Kevin Frisch
On behalf of the Legends Championship
http://thelegendstour.com/

The Legends Championship benefitting Riley Children’s Foundation will return to the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort this month in French Lick, Indiana. The 2nd annual event will feature the largest purse on The Legends Tour at $500,000, with a field of 60 players competing for the championship title, August 15-17, 2014.

The 2013 tournament was held in late September, but will move to a new date on the calendar this year. Rain and cold temperatures made last year’s event a real test of endurance.

Defending champion Lorie Kane of Canada will return to Indiana hoping to retain her title and already gives the new tournament date a thumbs-up of approval.

“I’m looking forward to playing the course earlier in the summer, compared to last year,” said Kane, who edged Floridian Laurie Rinker on the final hole in last year’s soggy championship. “Being the inaugural winner was a thrill.”

The championship will be contested over 54 holes, with six players competing in a Super Legends division (36 holes, Saturday & Sunday only) for ages 63 and over. LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famers Pat Bradley, Donna Caponi, JoAnne Carner, Sandra Haynie, Nancy Lopez, Patty Sheehan and Hollis Stacy, along with Legends Tour Hall of Fame member Jan Stephenson, will be in the tournament field.

In addition, one player will earn a spot into the field through a qualifying tournament, set for Wednesday on the tournament course at 8:00 AM. Eight aspiring Legends are expected to compete, including Yumiko Takeuchi of Japan who also attempted to qualify in 2013.

Tickets are $10 each day at the gate or $25 for the week for a three-day pass. Kids under 18, as well as military personnel with an ID, get in free. College golf teams also will be admitted at no charge.

Competition will begin Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 AM, with gates opening at 7:30 a.m. Prior to the competitive rounds, a pro-am tournament will be held Thursday at 10:00 AM. Admission to the pro-am is free.

Proceeds from this year’s tournament will benefit the Riley Children’s Foundation in support of the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. As one of the country’s top children’s hospitals, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health strives to provide the most advanced care and premier pediatric research in the nation.

Here is the tournament field for the 2014 Legends Championship:

Dina Ammaccapane
Donna Andrews
Lori Atsedes
Susie Berning *
Jane Blalock *
Pat Bradley
Donna Caponi *
JoAnne Carner
Dawn Coe-Jones
Jane Crafter
Elaine Crosby
Alicia Dibos
Judy Dickinson *
Wendy Doolan
Dana Dormann
Heather Drew
Michelle Estill
Cindy Figg-Currier
Allison Finney
Amy Fruwirth
Jackie Gallagher-Smith
Lisa Grimes
Shelley Hamlin
Sandra Haynie *
Becky Iverson
Christa Johnson
Trish Johnson
Cathy Johnston-Forbes
Rosie Jones
Lorie Kane
Jenny Lidback
Sally Little
Nancy Lopez
Marilyn Lovander
Cindy Miller
Barb Moxness
Barb Mucha
Martha Nause
Lisolette Neumann
Anne Marie Palli
Sandra Palmer *
Joan Pitcock
Cindy Rarick
Michelle Redman
Laurie Rinker
Cindy Schreyer
Nancy Scranton
Laura Shanahan Rowe
Patty Sheehan
Val Skinner
Hollis Stacy
Sherri Steinhauer
Jan Stephenson
Kris Tschetter
Sherri Turner
Lori West
Kathryn Young Robyn

* Super Legends Division Player

For more information about The Legends Championship or The Legends Tour, please visit www.thelegendstour.com. For information about French Lick Resort, visit http://frenchlick.com/, or call 812-936-9300.

Editor’s Acknowledgement: Fusion Media Strategies.

Things to do in Indianapolis, Apr 28-May 4, 2014

ABOVE: Orchard in Bloom Garden Show at Holliday Park, May 2-4.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2010, all rights reserved.

15 Public Events in Indianapolis and Indiana
VERIFY ALL EVENT LISTINGS TO BE CERTAIN THEY WILL BE HELD AS SCHEDULED

1. FRI-SUN: 25th Annual ‘Orchard in Bloom’ Garden Show at Holliday Park
2. FRI: First Friday Food Truck Festival at the Old National Centre
3. TUE-SUN: 2014 Decorator’s Show House and Gardens in Indianapolis
4. FRI: Yelp Indy’s ‘Bold and Beautiful’ Event at Artistry Apartments
5. MON-SAT: Orleans Dogwood Festival in Orange County
6. MON: Indiana Pacers NBA Playoff Basketball at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7. FRI-SAT: Highway 38 Yard Sale in Central Indiana
8. FRI-SAT: Shipshewana MayFest in LaGrange County
9. FRI: IDADA First Friday Art Tour in Downtown Indianapolis
10. SAT: Broad Ripple Farmers Market at Broad Ripple High School
11. SAT: Indiana Latino Expo at the State Fairgrounds
12. SAT: Riley Wrangler’s 30th Annual Arts and Crafts Fair in Greenfield
13. MON-TUE: Indianapolis Indians Baseball at Victory Field
14. THU-SUN: Big Ten Men’s Golf Championship at French Lick Resort
15. FRI: Haste the Day at the Old National Centre

To see thousands of upcoming event listings and things to do in Indianapolis and Indiana, visit our main Web site at http://aroundindy.com/, or go mobile at http://aroundindy.com/mobile.

Things to do in Indianapolis, April 7-13, 2014

Indianapolis Indians Home Opener at Victory Field, April 10.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2013, all rights reserved.

15 Public Events in Indianapolis and Indiana
VERIFY ALL EVENT LISTINGS TO BE CERTAIN THEY WILL BE HELD AS SCHEDULED

1. THU-SUN: Murat Shrine Circus at the Indiana State Fairgrounds
2. FRI: Cher in Concert at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
3. FRI-SUN: Blue Man Group Live at Clowes Memorial Hall
4. FRI: Jerry Seinfeld Live at the Old National Centre
5. THU-SUN: Indianapolis Indians Baseball at Victory Field
6. WED-SUN: Vera Bradley Outlet Sale at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne
7. MON-SUN: ‘Fables, Fairy Tales, and Physics’ ArtsFest at Butler University
8. SAT: Ronnie Milsap Live at the Honeywell Center in Wabash
9. SAT: 4th Annual Carmel Marathon at the Carmel Palladium
10. SAT: Indy Eleven Pro Soccer at Michael Carroll Stadium at IUPUI
11. THU: Lady Antebellum in Concert at the Ford Center in Evansville
12. FRI-SUN: Hoosier Antiques Expo at the Indiana State Fairgrounds
13. FRI: Mandy Patinkin in Concert at the Carmel Palladium
14. TUE: ‘Jabberwocky’ at the IndyFringe Theatre
15. SAT: REO Speedwagon in Concert at French Lick Resort

To see thousands of upcoming event listings and things to do in Indianapolis and Indiana, visit our main Web site at http://aroundindy.com/, or go mobile at http://aroundindy.com/mobile.