At your service: an update of new hotels and amenities.

• Author: McKimmie, Kathy
• Position: HOTELS & RESORTS

Southern Indiana, After years of debate over granting gaming rights in Orange County to make restoration of the historic French Lick Springs Hotel financially viable, French Lick Resort Casino opened November 3. Gambling may be the hook, but the reel will be a host of luxurious amenities.

"It's going well," says Scott Spurlock, French Lick Resort Casino general manager. "Our 1,400 employees are extremely dedicated to making sure our guests have a memorable experience." Importantly, they are listening to guest comments to learn whether things are going well or could go better, he says. For example, signage was a concern for some guests because the vastness of the hotel and casino can make the property difficult to navigate. The staff put up temporary signs while awaiting delivery of the permanent ones. Other guests have spoken up about the need for more seating, so Spurlock says "we bought every park bench in the region"--to be replaced later to fit the decor.

They're also taking the positive comments as affirmation for all the hard work and preparation, he says, like, "The beds are wonderful," "The food is great," "The 1875 Restaurant served the best steak I ever had" and "Thanks for restoring this grand hotel."

Developed by Cook Group of Bloomington and Lauth Group of Indianapolis, French Lick Resort Casino is a $382 million historic restoration and casino development project that includes French Lick Springs Hotel, French Lick Casino and the West Baden Springs Hotel, less than two miles north of French Lick and scheduled to open in the spring. West Baden Springs Hotel has been dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and features what was once the world's largest free-span dome.

In toto, the French Lick Resort Casino project includes 693 guest rooms and suites, an 84,000-square-foot casino, 45 holes of golf, two full-service spas with a combined 36 treatment rooms, the healing power of the famous Pluto mineral springs baths and an array of dining and entertainment options. A new Conference and Event Center includes ballrooms at 13,000 and 6,700 square feet with boardrooms, conference rooms and breakout rooms.

The first of its three golf courses opened in September, the fully restored Donald Ross Course at French Lick, formerly known as the Hill Course, designed by the noted Scotsman in 1917. A newly designed 18-hole championship Pete Dye Course at French Lick is slated to open in spring 2008, and a nine-hole Tom Bendelow Course at French...