West Baden Springs, Again: A Birthday of Stillness
We returned to West Baden Springs Hotel for my husband’s birthday—our second visit. This time we spent three nights and never left the property. It turned out to be the ideal vacation: one where we simply and truly relaxed.
We stayed in the movie room again. Evenings found us in the atrium, watching the lights in the dome shift colors while we sank into those lounge chairs. They are the most comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat in and absolutely perfect for reading. I want one for my home library!
During the day we wandered the gardens and the park area where the baseball field and pickleball courts sit. Patrick, who loves growing trees, had a blast hunting for fallen acorns so he can start more oak trees for our property. I settled onto the benches with a book and the sounds of nature. It stayed peaceful until a pair of squirrels chasing each other caught my eye, and a gorgeous woodpecker worked away on a nearby branch. One afternoon I moved to the veranda instead. The weather was perfect—slightly cool air with the sun providing all the warmth we needed.
One evening I couldn’t resist reading beside the indoor pool. Maybe it’s from watching So Cold the River since our last trip, but that area felt kind of creepy this time around. It seemed darker and more ominous than I remembered. It could also just be Halloween season. There are so many desirable places to read here that I couldn’t fit them all in!
They finished renovations on the historic bowling and billiard hall in the gardens. Sprudel’s Pizzeria is inside, and we ate lunch there—the pizza was delicious. Dinners were at Ballard’s In The Atrium again because it fits our casual style and the food is fabulous. The staff we encountered were consistently friendly, helpful, and informative.
I love the history of this place. I recently read the two books I bought on our last visit—West Baden Springs: Legacy of Dreams by Chris Bundy and Risen from the Ashes by Patrick O’Brian. It was fun walking around and matching what I’d learned to the old photos scattered throughout the property.
And we indulged in ice cream from Xanadu’s every single night. So good!
Photos mostly by my husband, Patrick. You can see more of his work and hobbies at lostthepath.com.
It was a lovely, low-key way to celebrate. This place has a way of feeling restorative no matter the season, and we’re already looking forward to the next time we get to settle into those chairs and watch the dome lights change. If you’re curious about our first stay (which included Wilstem Wildlife Park), you can read that adventure post here.
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