West Baden Springs Hotel is voted the #1 hotel in Indiana.  It has a very rich history...built in 1850, it was a luxury health resort for the wealthiest people in America and across the globe. West Baden Resort was originally called Mile Lick Inn but the developer later changed the name of the town to West Baden and his hotel West Baden Springs, naming it after the famous mineral springs in Wiesbaden, Germany.

It was known in its glory years as the "Carlsbad of America," since supposedly guests could drink the waters and cure themselves of all sorts of diseases, just like the mineral springs in Carlsbad, Germany. At the turn of the century, this fabulous resort was often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World, the centerpiece of the hotel a freespanning domed atrium that was the largest in the world until the building of the Houston Astrodome in the late 1990s.

When the stock market crashed in 1929, the town of West Baden and the hotel itself became deserted practically overnight. The hotel was part of a ghost town and quickly began to fall into disrepair. In 1934 this magnificent property was sold to The Society of Jesus for $1 who used it as a seminary for 30 years. In 1967 it became the campus of Northwood College until 1983, when it became vacant once again and unoccupied for 13 years.

In 1991 a collapse of a major section of the building occurred, and in 1996 help finally stepped in.  Indiana Landmarks, a non-profit organization, partnered with philanthropists Bill and Gayle Cook saved the resort and, following a $600-million renovation, in 2006 West Baden Springs Hotel was returned to much of its former beauty.

When some of our children got together to give us a gift certificate to West Baden for Christmas last year, I was tickled to finally get to stay at this Indiana iconic landmark.

The view from our 4th floor balcony room...

I'm probably the one weirdo who takes photos of bathrooms, but I do love me an elegant loo!

The famous dome...

...which turns different colors at night!

The original owner's Rolls Royce...

The lobby....

The grounds are lovely as well, although the weather wasn't very lovely the two days we were there.

While there is a spa inside the hotel, the original springs are shut down.  

But the beautiful buildings, even though the floors have been cemented over and are empty, remain. We were told that each of these glazed bricks on the wall cost $1 each, a hugely extravagant amount back in the late 1800s.

Some areas were muddy and wet, so Kim showed off his balancing skills...

A really gorgeous place!

Somehow this just doesn't seem to fit into the Indiana skyline, but it's so elegant and beautiful.

Indiana's pride...

...West Baden Springs Hotel.