Coyle Media Group’s Jon Hudon and Marc Lahaie lived it up at French Lick
We hear all the time about girls’ getaways and women’s wine tours. How about the fellows hopping on planes to go golfing, hiking or—in the case of Coyle Media Group (CMG)’s Jon Hudon and Marc Lahaie—exploring the wonders of Southern Indiana?
Back to tell us about it, Jon and Marc are proof that travelling with your guy friends is a great idea at any age. Especially, for these dudes, since they were guests at the iconic, luxurious French Lick Resort.
Jon, a new grandpa, is a guy who rocks camo and absolutely masters any grilling duties. Marc, a cosmopolitan Francophone, appreciates the finer things in life (including arches that are golden). So sure, at the office, we teased them about packing their Speedos and we griped about shlepping away while our two favourite characters went off galivanting in another country.
Yes, we “got our licks in.” But please know the unusual name—French Lick—of the deluxe resort and surrounding town has nothing to do with how Marc eats his lunch. It’s actually rooted in American frontier history. A couple of centuries ago, French trappers and traders established a trading post near a salt lick (where animals would go to lick natural salt deposits in the ground). The “lick” drew wildlife that in turn drew the settlers, resulting in the unique name that is internationally known today.
When mineral springs were discovered and lauded for their healing properties, French Lick became famous as a wellness and spa destination, drawing the high-society classes who came to “take the waters.”
Today this region in Southern Indiana continues to draw vacationers from all over the world, who seek it out for any number of reasons. The lush landscape provides an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, from hiking, cycling and birdwatching to boating, fishing and canoeing at Patoka Lake.
Golf options are excellent and encompass three championship courses at French Lick Resort, including the Donald Ross Course and the Pete Dye Course, which is ranked among the top in the United States. Wineries, distilleries, fine dining, shopping and horseback riding are also part of the attraction.
But the enduring appeal of French Lick is its historic grandeur and glamour. And that golden-age aura is at the heart of French Lick Resort—where our own dear Jon and Marc frolicked on the weekdays.
The 3,000-acre resort encompasses everything from a casino and a museum to a stable with 27 horses, but it’s distinguished by two stately properties: the French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel, both on the National Register of Historic Places. Dating back to 1845, the French Lick Springs Hotel typifies Gilded Age elegance with its Beaux-Arts architecture, grand staircases and art deco elements.
Wonder of the World
The West Baden Springs Hotel is acclaimed for its massive domed atrium, once called the Eighth Wonder of the World. Built in 1902 and spanning 200 feet, the atrium is magnificent, particularly when it’s lit up at night, Marc and Jon report.
Those carefree bros stayed right at the West Baden Springs and their fun started with cocktails on the veranda, followed by a four-course dinner in the atrium. After breakfast the next morning at the hotel’s Café Sinclair, they took an historic trolley tour of the resort and the town of French Lick.
Lunch was at Hagen’s Clubhouse Restaurant, overlooking the Donald Ross Course. The restaurant is named for Walter Hagen, who won the PGA Championship at this course in 1924.
Later, Jon and Marc boarded the historic French Lick Scenic Railway for an excursion, then followed that up with an experience for which the resort is justifiably renowned: Spa time. The erstwhile 9-to-5ers got to experience that in a truly “hands-on” way, with Swedish massages at the Spa at West Baden, one of two full-service spas on the property.
Then, they trotted off to cocktails and dinner at Pete Dye Mansion. It’s a unique spot boasting incredible views that’s situated on the grounds of the Pete Dye Course.
The next days were a whirlwind of activity for our dudes-on-the-loose. There was a day trip to Dubois County and Patoka Lake, plus a tour of the Sisters of St. Benedict Monastery of Immaculate Conception. (Yes, we do need to hear more from them about that monastery.)
Lunch at The Schnitzelbank was followed by tours and tastings at Old Homestead Distilling and Patoka Lake Winery, then a sunset dinner cruise on Patoka Lake.
Jon tried archery and sporting clays at the resort’s 75-acre sporting ranges, while Marc signed up for an Indiana Historic Landmarks Tour of West Baden Springs. Finally, these meat aficionados tucked into lunch at MooMoo Steakhouse in downtown French Lick and enjoyed dinner at French Lick Resort’s 1875 Steakhouse, an elegant spot with an open kitchen that dishes choice cuts of premium aged beef. Yes, they lapped it all up—the good life at French Lick. You can too. frenchlick.com; visitindiana.com
