West Baden Springs Hotel
By Mary C Hill — August 28, 2021
American Indians first discovered the sulfur enriched mineral waters coming up from under the ground in West Baden. They found the waters to have a medicinal purpose. It’s because of the waters that a hotel was later built to accommodate visitors.
In 1987, a wealthy businessman named Sinclair Lee Wiley bought the hotel, making changes that led it to become internationally known. The hotel boasted a swimming pool, bicycle track, and 500 guest rooms.
In 1901, a fire started in the kitchen, burning the hotel to the ground. Wiley rebuilt the hotel using fireproof materials. The hotel reopened a year to the date later as the eighth wonder of the world. The rich and famous flocked to the hotel and its mineral springs.
In 1911, Wiley passed on the hotel management to his son-in-law, who made extensive renovations. Marble now covered the first floor of brick walls. An intricate mosaic covered the atrium’s cement floor. And marble benches and statues of muses completed the motif.
A few years later, the hotel faced growing financial problems, and in 1918 it was leased to the United States Army as a hospital for injured soldiers.
In 1992, Ed Bollard bought the hotel, and in 1934 after having closed the hotel due to the Great Depression, he donated it to the Jesuit Priesthood. It then became a seminary and later Northwood Institute.
During the 1980s, the hotel started to deteriorate and was vacated in 1983. In 1996, the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana partnered with the Cook Company to restore the hotel to its former grandeur. The $30 million historic restoration project took from 1996 to 1998. It has now been called the “save of the century.” The Four-Star hotel continues to welcome visitors from around the world.
American Indians first discovered the sulfur enriched mineral waters coming up from under the ground in West Baden. They found the waters to have a medicinal purpose. It’s because of the waters that a hotel was later built to accommodate visitors.
In 1987, a wealthy businessman named Sinclair Lee Wiley bought the hotel, making changes that led it to become internationally known. The hotel boasted a swimming pool, bicycle track, and 500 guest rooms.
In 1901, a fire started in the kitchen, burning the hotel to the ground. Wiley rebuilt the hotel using fireproof materials. The hotel reopened a year to the date later as the eighth wonder of the world. The rich and famous flocked to the hotel and its mineral springs.
In 1911, Wiley passed on the hotel management to his son-in-law, who made extensive renovations. Marble now covered the first floor of brick walls. An intricate mosaic covered the atrium’s cement floor. And marble benches and statues of muses completed the motif.
A few years later, the hotel faced growing financial problems, and in 1918 it was leased to the United States Army as a hospital for injured soldiers.
In 1992, Ed Bollard bought the hotel, and in 1934 after having closed the hotel due to the Great Depression, he donated it to the Jesuit Priesthood. It then became a seminary and later Northwood Institute.
During the 1980s, the hotel started to deteriorate and was vacated in 1983. In 1996, the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana partnered with the Cook Company to restore the hotel to its former grandeur. The $30 million historic restoration project took from 1996 to 1998. It has now been called the “save of the century.” The Four-Star hotel continues to welcome visitors from around the world.