Another historic structure at French Lick Resort is welcoming guests once again, marking a major milestone in the resort’s ongoing preservation efforts.
The Billiard and Bowling Pavilion, located a short walk from the West Baden Springs Hotel within the hotel gardens, is reopening to guests for the first time in more than 90 years. The newly restored pavilion officially opens Tuesday, January 13, featuring six bowling lanes, billiard tables, and a new on-site pizzeria. A formal grand reopening ceremony will be scheduled at a later date.
Originally opened on Christmas Day in 1917, the pavilion served as a recreation hub for resort guests until the West Baden Springs Hotel closed in the early 1930s following the Great Depression. Until this project, it remained the only building on French Lick Resort grounds that had not undergone a modern renovation. The restored facility is now open to guests of all French Lick Resort hotels, as well as the general public.
“To bring back another building that had not been in service for almost a century is a real treat we’re excited to offer our guests,” said Chuck Franz, CEO of French Lick Resort. “We’re bringing it back pretty close to what it was like 100 years ago. Just like the restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel dome, we relied on historical photographs to bring it back to life and keep it as historically accurate as possible.”
The renovation carefully preserved original design elements, including limestone Tuscan columns that divide the bowling and billiard areas and restored windows that allow abundant natural light throughout the space. Lighting fixtures above the bowling lanes were recreated to closely match the original designs.
Before interior work could begin, extensive preparations were required. A flood control system with pumps and protective gates was installed to safeguard the structure. The building’s interior had been largely neglected for decades, dating back to its use by Northwood Institute, a private college that occupied the property prior to the West Baden Springs Hotel’s major restoration in the mid-2000s.
The pavilion’s east wing, which had been demolished at some point in its history, has been fully rebuilt and now houses Sprudel’s Pizzeria. The restaurant will offer artisan pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and Prohibition-era specialty cocktails.
Bowling and billiards will be available until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, making the pavilion a new late-night destination for resort guests.
“When our nighttime events wrap up at West Baden Springs Hotel, guests can continue their evening at the Billiard and Bowling Pavilion,” Franz said.
In addition to daily guest use, the pavilion is also available for group functions, offering both indoor recreation and outdoor space with scenic views of the hotel and surrounding gardens.
“We’ve tailored the exterior of the pavilion for group activities so guests can enjoy the grounds and beautiful views during spring, summer, and fall,” Franz added.
The reopening marks another chapter in French Lick Resort’s commitment to preserving its historic legacy while enhancing guest experiences for generations to come.