By Joy Neighbors
Thanks to
Lee Sinclair and his forward-looking ideas, West Baden Springs Hotel grew to
become a world-renowned resort at the turn of the last century. When Sinclair
died in 1916, his daughter Lillian continued the legacy of updating and
remodeling the hotel. When Ed Ballard took over ownership in the 1920s, West
Baden was known for its “moving” Sprudel water, baseball, and numerous luxurious
conveniences.
Here are seven more
historical points in honor of National Preservation Month.
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| West Baden Freestanding Dome |
1) The largest freestanding dome in the
world spanned the atrium at West Baden until the 1960s
when the Houston Astrodome took the glory.
2) West Baden
was known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” because of the dome.
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| Jesuits Cemetery |
3) The Jesuits bought the hotel from Ed
Ballad for a dollar in 1934. West Baden houses three
groups of Jesuits during the 30 years they kept the hotel: Priests, Brothers
and students.
4) There
is a cemetery on the property. Close to 40 Jesuits are interred in the small
graveyard located a few steps from the West Baden portico. Visitors are
welcome.
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| The Rookwood Fireplace in the Atrium |
5) For
several years, West Baden was a business and culinary school known as Northwood
Institute.
6) The atrium boasts a one-of-a-kind
fireplace crafted from Rookwood tile made in
Cincinnati and now valued in the millions.
7) West
Baden opened as a hotel again in 2007 – 75 years after the hotel closed its
doors on June1, 1932.
Learn more
about West Baden Springs Hotel; visit our web page and explore
all we have to offer.