The area has rich mineral sources ('The Lick').Īccording to the 2010 census, French Lick has a total area of 1.77 square miles (4.58 km 2), all land. Photo from Small Town Indiana photo survey.

French Lick is also the hometown of former Sacramento Kings head coach Jerry Reynolds, who currently works as the team's color commentator on its television broadcasts and is the Kings' director of player personnel. In his later basketball career, one of Bird's nicknames was 'the Hick from French Lick'. Bird started for French Lick/West Baden's high school team, Springs Valley High School, where he left as the school's all-time scoring leader. The town is famous as the hometown of NBA great Larry Bird. Roosevelt announced his intention to run for president at a National Governors' Convention held at the French Lick Springs Hotel. It was also home to a large 7-Up bottling facility, which ceased operations in the mid-20th century.įranklin D. Pluto Water, a best selling laxative of the first half of the 20th century, was bottled here.

The resort closed for renovation in 2005. The French Lick Resort Casino was the focal point of most of the entertainment the hotel remained open well after the casinos were closed down and the heyday of the town was well past. In order to conserve rail transport during World War II, 1943 spring training was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. In the early 20th century it also featured casinos attracting celebrities such as boxer Joe Louis, composer Irving Berlin and gangster Al Capone.ĭue to wartime travel restrictions, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox held spring training in French Lick from 1943-1944 in 1945 the Cubs stayed in town while the White Sox moved to Terre Haute - utilizing Memorial Stadium. By the later half of the 19th century, French Lick was famous in the United States as a spa town. The sulfur springs were commercially exploited for medical benefits starting in 1840.

French lick casino to terre haute