West Baden Springs Hotel, West Baden, Indiana

This is something I have been meaning to post here since I returned from my visit to Indiana early in September. My father and I took a day trip to West Baden, Indiana (roughly due south of Bloomington and Indianapolis) to tour the West Baden Springs Hotel. Originally built in the early 1900s, the building fell on hard times and for a while was on the National Trust for Historic Preservation 11 most endangered structures list. (Click here to see their 2007 list.) It has now been turned into a resort spa hotel and is being fueled economically by the legalization of gambling in the local area. There was quite a crowd there when we were visiting.

The following pictures were ones that I took during the tour. The building is known for its large atrium area that was the largest clear span dome in the world prior to the construction of the Astrodome in the early 1960s. For an overview of the property and more historical information, you can click here.

I post this here because I think we need to remember in this City that a large part of humankind's achievement is marked by buildings. For some reason, many here see building as a bad thing. One of the primary characteristics of our species is that we are builders. It is part of what we do as homo sapiens. In fact, in the earlier history of Lake Worth we were known as the Wonder City! People would hold parties in new buildings celebrating their completion - a mark of local human achievement. Some buildings, like the West Baden Hotel become destinations in and of themselves due to their magnificence. Other buildings, like our original casino building on the beach combine building and environment that create a unique synergy. The building under construction now in Lake Worth called Vive Verde will be one of the most green structures attempted - complete with a working biolarium. So, let's not forget the power of buildings, what they tell us about ourselves and how we can combine space and the built environment for a uniquely human experience. Let's not deny this.

Enjoy.

This is a view as we were walking from the parking lot toward the building complex.
It gives you a sense of scale.

This is the exterior of the natatorium and spa building, seen upon the approach to the building.

This is a partial view of the domed atrium area. Guest rooms for the hotel (which just opened in July) surround the space. Interestingly, prices for the rooms are higher looking over the atrium than are the "country view" rooms which face outside.

Here you see a portion of the mosaic floor and some of the furnishings.
The hotel bar is seen in the background.

Some of the detailed patterns contained in the marble mosaic tile floor. There are over 12 million hand laid tiles. The center of the floor had to be completely rebuilt due to uplifting over time.
That area is now carpeted.

This is my father. We were waiting for the beginning of our tour. He's a healthy 82 year old!

This is a fireplace built into the side of the atrium area and dates from the late teens.
It contains a whimsical view of the property.

Some detail of the fireplace surround. Here you see a representation of the building in an idylic setting.

Look here! A gnome guarding one of the mineral (sulfur) springs that were thought to have magical healing powers and the original reason for the establishment of the hotel.

Some more detail of the atrium area and the hallway that leads to the mineral bath and spa area of the resort.

Now we're outside of the building, touring the grounds. These stairs were added later on in the buildings life, along with the porch that they lead to.

Part of the remaining sulfur spring area of the property and gardens.

Closer view of the fountain. You did smell the sulfur as you walked around. As for its curative powers, apparently it has a strong laxative effect. So it's good for one thing at least.

These are the tiles found in the lobby area - a different pattern than that found in the atrium. This part of the building is lit with incandescent lights - so much so it is reminiscent of a county fair. Since electricity and artificial lighting was a new technology at the time, the original owner chose to emphasize that fact with liberal use of bulbs. The hotel generated its own power then as well. Hmmmmm.