Built in 1902, West Baden Springs Hotel was a magnificent site located in Orange County in Southern Indiana; a place where most people would least expect to find such a unique and massive structure.

Featuring a six-story domed atrium (the largest clear-span dome in the world until the Astrodome was built in 1963), 700 rooms, natural mineral springs used for bathing and drinking (it was advertised that drinking the water would cure a number of illnesses), the resort drew celebrities from all around the country. Well-known patrons to the hotel were "Diamond Jim" Brady, Al Capone, mayors from major cities, governors and even a presidential candidate.

Professional baseball teams such as the Chicago White Sox and Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds held spring training on the baseball field located on the 250 acres that made up the property. Guests could also enjoy golf, horseback riding, bowling, billiards, swimming, hiking, and nightly theater. Most everything a guest would need was on the grounds including a bank, shops and a barber.

The stock market crash in 1929 caused the hotel to fall on hard times. In 1934, the Jesuits took over the property and, over time, altered the structure, removing much of its original ornamental design. Later, the Northwood Institute, a hotel management and culinary arts school made the building its home until 1983. Over the next 13 years, the property was idle, allowing weather and time to take its toll on the place once known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

In 1996, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (HLFI) of Indianapolis, the largest nonprofit organization in the state, whose purpose is to preserve and protect historic buildings along with educating the public on the value of historic places, purchased the property in the hopes of preserving part of it and protecting it from more ruin. Cook Group decided to help HLFI by contributing to the cost of partial renovation of the historic hotel in the hopes that, together, they will attract a buyer who could put the landmark to use in some capacity, such as a hotel, corporate headquarters or even commercial/residential use.

CFC, Cook Group's real estate subsidiary, has contracted Pritchett Brothers Construction, Inc. to head the renovation process. The project is the largest CFC or Pritchett Brothers had taken on. Greg Blum, Cook Inc. engineer, architect George Ridgway of G.S. Ridgway & Associates, Inc. and Silver Creek Engineering Inc. all put in many long and thought-out hours on the renovation specifications needed to put the hotel back, as closely as possible, to its original state.

Robin Walls, CFC's horticultural specialist, spent many hours planning landscaping designs, planting flowers, shrubs and bulbs and removing brush from the property.

HLFI offers tours of the hotel and grounds year-round April through the first week in January. Tours occur on the hour Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm and Sunday, noon until 4 pm. Price of the standard one-hour tour is $10 for adults and there are reduced rates for children. Group tours (ten or more) are available (scheduled two weeks in advance). For more information, you can call the foundation at 812-936-4034 or 800-450-4534.