A Few Surprises for a 50th Anniversary Return to French Lick

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The honeymoon was purely a blur. Paul and Mary Reynolds can’t recall a lot from the summer of 1971 when they stayed at French Lick Springs Hotel as newlyweds. Could be because they cut their honeymoon short by a day or two to rush back to Kentucky for apartment and job hunting.

For their encore 50 years later, you better believe they slowed down and took the scenic route. Literally.

“On the drive here from the airport, we took some back roads and went the long way. We didn’t want to go the interstate,” Paul says. “We weren’t in a hurry.”

Ah, yes. The beauty of a change of pace that just seems to be part of the French Lick experience.

Paul and Mary wound up in Florida and hadn’t been back to French Lick since those honeymoon days, so Paul was excited as a little kid to start planning this surprise back in March. For the big 50th anniversary celebration the last weekend in August, they arrived to more surprises.

An upgrade to a corner suite, courtesy of their resort reservationist. A floral arrangement from kids and grandkids waiting in their room. Even a bottle of Champagne from the best man in their wedding with a note to check the fridge for another surprise. Chocolate covered strawberries for two.

(Side note: Did you know you can do the same for anyone celebrating a special occasion here, even if you’re not visiting yourself? Just call our hotel concierge, and they’ll help you surprise the guests of honor with a special gift or amenity in their room. Just call 812-936-5579 at West Baden Springs Hotel, or 812-936-9300 ext. 7016 at French Lick Springs Hotel.)

Paul and Mary’s encore visit to French Lick included an anniversary dinner at 1875: The Steakhouse, and being avid golfers, they got to watch and visit with many of the ladies who were competing in the Senior LPGA Championship during their stay.

And while some things get lost to time — such as the golf scorecard they kept from the Bendelow Course but since got misplaced — other details about the hotel are exactly how they remember. The yellow brick on the outside. The enormous pillars on the lobby inside. Paul and Mary don’t have any photos from their honeymoon to look back on, because “we didn’t have iPhones, and I doubt if we even owned a camera,” Mary jokes.

But after a whirlwind honeymoon to kick off 50+ years of marriage, you don’t necessarily need photos to revisit those honeymoon days.

“Just fond memories,” Paul says with a smile.