102 Search Results for "fire"

• Our Budget Travel Trip to Irel

  • From: CliffK
  • Description:

     

    

    This trip actually began last June, when I was notified by email that I had won the Budget Travel Photo Contest with a photo I had taken in Costa Rica. My wife didn't even know I had submitted an entry, and she was in a meeting all afternoon, so I could not call her. We were meeting friends for dinner and had all of five minutes in the car together for me to inform her, "Um, honey, I have some news for you..." She screamed and quickly responded, "Well, I guess we know how we're going to use our furlough days this year!"

    After doing our research, we settled on a region (southwest Ireland) and a time frame (October, after the high season but before it gets too cold). I worked with Una at Sceptre Tours to iron out the details, and before we knew it we were on our way.

    We flew directly into Shannon, arriving at 7:00 a.m. on a Friday morning with a full day ahead of us. A friend had told us how beautiful it was to fly into Shannon where you could see all the green as you were landing. Well, at 7:00 a.m. on an October morning, the sun had yet to rise and it was still pitch black. Not to mind, we got our rental car and hit the ground running (that is, with a little adjustment for getting used to driving on the left side of the road). First stop: Galway. Although it was raining, we weren't going to let a little rain deter us from having fun. After stopping at the TI, we walked through Eyre Square (aka John F. Kennedy Park) and explored the old town center. We stepped inside the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, where I was impressed with the testament to the Widow Jane Eyre's generosity, commemorated on a plaque. We then walked, struggling to keep our umbrellas open against the wind and the rain, to the much more modern Galway Cathedral. This is a cathedral you want to visit during the day so you can better see and appreciate a more modern approach to stained glass artwork. Keep an eye out for the Irish Holy Family, where Mary is knitting and Jesus is offering tea to Joseph. Also look for the mosaic (hidden the day we were there behind a curtain, but that did not stop us) of John F. Kennedy.  Needing some lunch, we found our way to Busker Brownes, where my wife had Aubergine and Sweet Potato Gratin and I had delicious Irish Seafood Chowder, accompanied by tasty brown soda bread. We did not want to sit too long and let our jet lag overcome us, so we got back to our car and pushed on, driving northwest toward Letterfrack and the Kylemore Abbey. One of the best ways to combat jet lag is to spend time outdoors, and so our first activity at Kylemore was to tour the walled garden. Still nice in October, this must be even more beautiful in the middle of summer. The Abbey itself is lovely, though only a few rooms are open to tour. Also on the grounds is a small Neo-Gothic church, which is also worth a visit. Finishing at the Abbey, we still had a relatively short drive to Clifden and our first night accommodations at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel. We checked in, dropped our bags in our room, and then walked about a mile into town to find a light supper. Back at the hotel, we headed downstairs to a common room where we thought we could sit by a fire and write in our journals. Ha! The combination of the warmth of the fire and the full day of touring, on top of our jet lag, and we were both dozing after writing only a sentence or two. However, it was also very effective: we got to bed early, got a full night's sleep, and when we woke up in the morning, we were both effectively over our jet lag.

    Saturday morning we woke up to the first of our full Irish breakfasts: a lavish buffet spread of cereals, yogurt, fresh fruit, rolls, eggs, bacon, sausage, and the traditional Irish accompaniments of grilled tomatoes and black and white pudding. Although we had another full day ahead of us, we decided we did not have to be held hostage to our agenda and allowed ourselves to backtrack a bit, driving back towards Letterfrack and the Connemara National Park. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day to hike, so we took the trail to the top of Diamond Hill. This wasn't the Ireland I was expecting: instead of the lush greens one hears about, this area was still beautiful but much more in shades of brown. Partly this was due to the season, but also the geography, as the terrain is very wet and boggy. We made it to the top of the hill, and were rewarded with wonderful views both of the harbor and of Kylemore Abbey from above. Once back in the car, already past noon, we headed out towards our next destination: back past Galway and on to the Burren. The Burren is a region of massive outcroppings of rock that have been scoured by glaciers, rich in archaeological sites, the most famous of which is the Poulnabrone Dolmen. One look at this landscape and it is no wonder why there are so many stone fences and stone buildings in this country. It was getting late, and we had one more goal for this day: to get to the Cliffs of Moher. I had hoped we'd have a beautiful sunset looking out over the Atlantic from the cliffs, but although the sunset itself was obscured by fog, it was still light when we arrived and we enjoyed the day dwindling away to twilight while there. After another full day, we recognized the wisdom of our chioce to go in October: pleasant weather for hiking and no crowds to contend with. Saturday was the night of our castle stay, so we drove (now in the dark) back to Dromoland. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that they had upgraded us from a standard to a deluxe room. This is not your drafty medieval castle: the room was quite spacious and luxurious. Sunday morning I went for a run on the castle grounds, through a wooded area where I came upon (and frightened) many pheasant.

    Friday and Saturday were both extremely full days, but this was our first time in Ireland and we wanted to see everything. Recognizing the need to slow down a bit, we had planned to spend two nights at our next stop: Kinsale. Driving south past Cork on Sunday we got our first taste of the beautiful green countryside that Ireland is so famous for. As the sun breaks through the clouds, the lush green fields just pop out at you. Kinsale very much has a small-town feel, located on a beautiful, well-protected harbor, rich in history. It is one of Ireland's "Tidy Towns," a competition first launched by Bord Failte in an effort to improve the appearance of towns and villages throughout the country for the main tourist season. In addition to just wandering the streets and exploring the shops and restaurants, we took the "Historic Stroll in Old Kinsale." Our guide, Barry, was a wealth of information about the history of Kinsale, from the occupation by the Spanish Armada to thenearby sinking of the Lusitania, including stories as well of the real Robinson Crusoe. Fun side trips included Charles Fort across the harbor and the Cobh Heritage Center, about a 45-minute drive. Our mainstay through most of Ireland was basic pub food, which we enjoyed, but in Kinsale ("the Gourmet Capital of Ireland"), we had to try a nicer restaurant. We couldn't have been happier than with a visit to Jim Edwards, where we had a delicious meal of grilled salmon.

     

     

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  • 1 week ago
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• Koala

  • From: ozkoalalover
  • Description:

    Bonnie Fire one of the permanent residents at the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie! She was rescued after a bush fire and lived many years at the hospital. She could not be released back into the wild because her claws were too badly damaged.

    She passed away earlier this year...

  • 1 week ago
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• The Magic of Disney

  • From: want2teach11
  • Description:

    The Magic Kingdom castle on January 2, 2009 during the extravagant fireworks display!

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 27

• Clouds over the Mountains

  • From: rooneycat
  • Description:

    We weren't sure if there was a fire in the mountains or a storm rolling in.  We soon found out.  STORM!

  • 2 weeks ago
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• Panama, more than just a canal

  • From: barefootpanama
  • Description:

    Panama, more than just a canal             

         My most recent trip in Panama was one of the memorable trips I have ever taken.  We started with a well planned city tour on Sunday, first stop, the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal. We watched ships pass through the locks from the roof deck, had a chance to view a movie on the construction of both the old and new canal projects and spent some time in the new museum. After passing by the old military zone, now the ‘City of Knowledge’, we went to the Amador and an island owned by the Smithsonian.  There you can learn all about Panama; how the land was formed, animals past and present, the American military presence, the flora, and all while enjoying the ocean views and maybe even spot a sloth in the trees. After a delicious and fresh seafood meal for lunch with the best view of the city skyline, we went to Casco Viejo.  Beautiful cathedrals, colonial buildings, and cobblestone streets make this a perfect place to stroll away the rest of the day. Be sure to try flavored shaved ice in Plaza de Francia  and seafood lovers won’t want to miss the famous fish market.

         After a short flight Monday morning, we were in a different world, the Comarca de Kuna Yala! There are 365 islands (covered in coconut trees and many uninhabited) that make up the Archipielago de San Blas. The Kuna Indians govern the region with little interference from the national government and even used coconuts as currency until the late 1990’s.  We spent two days soaking up the culture while mingling with the Kuna, shopping for their famous molas and watching the traditional dance. We also soaked up the sun on the white sand beaches and while snorkeling in the turquoise Caribbean ocean.

         Back to the city to hop on our transport for the rest of the trip, we crossed the Bridge of the Americas on our way to El Valle.  After about 2 hours, we were amazed at the change of scenery and climate. Located at about 3000ft, in the crater of one of the largest, extinct volcano’s, El Valle’s cool climate is great for hiking, spotting wildlife, and shopping for handicrafts.  There is also a ‘mud bath’, square-trunked tree, and local zoo where you can see some colorful frogs and other exotic animals.

         The Pacific beaches of Panama are another one of the many reasons to visit this wonderful country. Surfing some of the best waves in Central America, scuba diving in the national park compared to the Galapogos, or relaxing by a camp fire on the beach while listening to the sea and counting stars… our guide knew all the best spots!

         I think the parts of Panama that surprised me the most were the mountains. We drove higher and higher into the bread basket of the country with farms clinging to these hills up to an elevation above 8000ft. The lodge we used had wonderful spa treatments, the freshest food, great view of Panama’s tallest mountain (Volcan Baru) and included a hike in the cloud forest. One day we hiked the famous Quetzal trail to Boquete and even were lucky enough to spot one of these elusive, emerald green quetzal birds.  Boquete is a little lower and is well known for its flowers and coffee plantations but also has zip lines, white water rafting and rock climbing for the more adventurous.

        Before crossing the continental divide, we stopped at some nice little hot springs and cooled off in the Chiriqui River.  The views were amazing as we approached Bocas Del Toro.  This is a perfect place to wind up the tour. We visited another national park, sailed with dolphins, snorkeled by the mangroves and enjoyed the Caribbean nightlife.  Unfortunately, we also had to catch our flight back to Panama City and no one wanted to leave. 

         Our guide left the island the night before so he was there when we landed.  We had plenty of time to test our siesta skills and freshen up before our last night’s dinner. The guide knew the perfect place with exceptional views of the skyline at night. Seeing that our flight wasn’t until late the next day, we decided to test out the cities legendary nightlife… we were not disappointed!

        It is easy to see why Panama is becoming such a popular place to travel.  Safe and inexpensive, friendly people and beautiful places, adventure and wildlife, culture and history all make this a place that everyone will enjoy. Thanks to Kevin, our guide with Panama Breezes (www.barefootpanama.com) we had a most memorable vacation and will talk about it for years to come.

     

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  • 2 weeks ago
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• Smoky Lake Superior Cabin

  • From: erictjohnson
  • Description:

    Porcupine Mountains State Park, Ontonagon, MI; taken during sunset, with fire going---great smoke interacting with the natural light.

  • 2 weeks ago
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• Lumpini Thai Boxing Stadium, B

  • From: bryanschatz
  • Description:

    /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The monsoon downpour ends just before we hop out of the cab. We pay our 85 baht, thank the driver and step onto a blackened cement sidewalk where the air is heavy, almost suffocating in its heat and humidity. We can already smell the stench of stale sweat and struggle, before we even reach the stadium. We walk past some dingy diseased dogs, food vendors, and Tuk Tuk drivers where we're stopped by the ticket touts near the entrance.
    
    We try to walk past because I want to buy the cheap tickets for the back of the stadium, where the energy is a blaze and the betting a fever. That is where I'll make my fortune. The touts try and convince you that the inexpensive seats are sold out and then you have to fork over the high-end Baht for ringside seats, and the chance of winning your cash back with some good old-fashioned gambling goes down the drain.
    
    "1500 Baht, Ringside." They say as we scramble through the crowd of street dogs and noodle stalls.
    
    "Nope, 500 Baht, standing, with the old men betting in the back," I respond.
    
    They try again so I say the same thing and they shrug and let us pass to the ticket booth. There's three signs. The first one is the worst, it reads: 2,000 Baht- Ringside. The next: 1,500 Baht- Standing. And the kicker: 200 Baht- Thai Only.
    
    Wait a second. What about the 500 Baht deal I was told about? With the gamblers? In the back? standing? A fortune...No?
    
    "No". They confirm at the counter. We turn around and there's the tout with a big happy grin on his face, a stack of tickets in hand. Dammit.
    
    1500 Baht later and we're sitting two rows back, the reedy Muay Thai music singing out its trance-nerve screech song on the other side of the ring while two fighters batter each other with their fists inside the ropes.
    
    Lumpini stadium is grit and sweat. Mixed with blood. Most of it old and dried on the canvas but with fresh sprinkles from tonight's fights. It's a mass of hardened stained cement, cigarette smoke, Chang beer, a piercingly loud audience, and of course, some brutal fights.
    
    The bell rings and the first fight ends in an unanimous decision; The guy with a crimson flood flowing from the cut above his eye looses. The crowd is wild.
    
    I can't believe we're finally here and I look over to see the same excitement on Brittany's face, except it isn't quite there, she looks sleepy, her eyes blink closed slowly.
    
    The music begins again and two new fighters visit all corners of the ring and start their Ram Muay. The first rounds in a Muay Thai fight are generally slow, each fighter sizing up the other before firing off their canons. Britt's eyes droop a bit. Some more blinks. A yawn.
    
    The later rounds set ablaze the entire stadium. Become more and more energized and furious as they throw knees and kicks, fire off straight rights, hooks and clench.
    
    The crowd responds in kind.
    
    I have never heard an audience so loud. With each knee, elbow, kick, and punch they respond with a chorus of "Hoo!" "Zyah!" and "Oh-Way!" Growing in volume as the fights intensify.
    
    The fighter in blue push-kicks his opponent in red in the face. "Zyah!" they all respond, then he gets popped with a left hook and a round kick. Zyah! Oh-Way! Everyone's screaming.
    
    Britt's head sags and then she shakes the sleep away and her eyes open for a second. Another yawn.
    
    Red controls the clench and is landing knees, one after another to Blue's ribs. A Knee. Hoo! Another Knee. Hoo!. Knee. Hoo! Knee. Hoo! Oh-Way! And the fighter in blue drops to the canvas. Here come Britt's eyes, opening briefly.
    
    After an eight count the fighters are back at it and Britt's head slumps forward, eyes sealed shut. Red comes in to take advantage, he clenches, throws more knees again and again and his opponent can't stop them. He gets thrown back hard and smashed in the chin by an elbow. This time he hits the floor even harder. And it's done. He's knocked out cold and carelessly thrown onto a rickety wooden backboard where his arms dangle over the sides limply. The crowd is berserk. They rush the fighter out of the stadium while the other's arms are raised high in victory. My palms are wet with adrenaline. We all have fire in our eyes. And Britt's asleep on my shoulder...
    
    It's a good thing I didn't get my cheap tickets with the old men betting in the back. For the fortune I sought to gain would have become a cash drought, Thai Baht evaporating from my pockets like dew drops in a parched desert. I kept a mental log throughout the night of who I would have put my money on and I would have kissed my cash goodbye every time.
    
    I left the stadium that night with a new-found appreciation for the Thai national sport, and an energy in my bones that I've not felt in years.

     

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  • 3 weeks ago
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• bryanschatz

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• LemonySnickers

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• The Temple Of Heaven

  • From: davidspiel
  • Description:

    The Temple of Heaven, situated in southeastern Beijing, is the largest extant sacrificial temple in China.Built in the Ming Dynasty, in the mid-eighteenth century, is one gorgeous building. China doesn’t have may original buildings due to war, fire, and the cultural revolution. Culture vultures should not expect to see that much art in China as most of it was taken out of the country by Chang Kai Shek and also destroyed during the cultural revolution. I would venture to guess there is more art in one square mile of Florence than in the entire country of China. This is why seeing a bona fide original building in China is so special. I always like to have people in the picture to give the buildings scale. The trick is not to have too many of them. This is no mean feat in The People’s Republic Of China. Whenever you turn around, count on seeing hundreds of people trying to do or see exactly what you are looking at.

     

  • 1 month ago
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• Beachfire

  • From: britnilea
  • Description:

    Close up of fire that we made on the beach in Rye, NH one night.

  • 1 month ago
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• Ring of Fire/Kerry dancing!

  • From: trvlmurofen
  • Description:

    In an Irsih pub in Killarney, the band struck up the song, Ring of Fire.  Just by chance, that was the song we were singing as we toured The Ring of Kerry so when we made it to the pub that night, and heard the song, it added a smile as did the Guinness to our moment of fun happiness in this Irish land of dancing, the Ring, Ring ,Ring....Ring of Fire, or Ring of Kerry!  It was a blast!  Ya have to be there to feel that joyous moment in time and if you can't go.....tap your toes to the song played here!   The young students all of 18 yras old were having the time of their lives!

  • 2 months ago
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• Irish Dancers

  • From: trvlmurofen
  • Description:

    So, in the same bar as the Ring of Fire dancers, was a back room where the older crowd was enjoying traditional dancing.  Wow, can they dance the Irish Jig!  Killarney, Ireland

  • 2 months ago
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• Queen of the Silver Camps

  • From: Buqo
  • Description:

     

    Tonopah Queen of the Silver Camps

    (click on the pictures for a larger view, more content and to rate my pictures please)
    

     

    I had a meeting last week in Tonopah, Nevada, located almost exactly half way between Las Vegas and Reno on U.S. Highway 95.  I pulled into town one hour before my meeting and since the sun was already getting low in the western sky, I decided to drive around this “city” of about 3,000 people and make a few pictures.  The word Tonopah means greasewood water in the language of the Western Shoshone who lived in the region for more than a millennium before its settlement by the white miners who came seeking gold, silver, and other riches.

    
    

    One of the highlights in town is the old Mizpah Hotel, which opened its doors for business in 1908.  Although it looks grand in this picture, it has been vacant for several years, and was just recently sold (again) at auction.  This five story building was at one time the finest hotel between Denver and San Francisco.  The new owners plan to reopen the historic 57-room hotel in 2010.  Across the street is another five story structure, now called the Belvada Hotel, which was originally a bank, offices, and apartments.

     

    On the main drag (Highway 95) the A-Bar-L Western Store continues to operate with the abandoned mines and tailing rising from their back door.  Much of Tonopah has been built on the tailings (waste rock) of the old mine workings.

     

    Down the street, you can find the same types of entertainment that the miners enjoyed more than a century ago.  On the north side of town is an old abandoned brothel that has sat vacant for more than a decade.

    

    Tonopah was built by mining and is still known as the Queen of the Silver Camps.  The town hosts the Tonopah Historic Mining Park which covers more than 100 acres and is dedicated to the acquisition, restoration, and display of mining artifacts.  It only costs $5 to take the walking tour ($4 if you spend the night in Tonopah), which is well worth it to learn about the hardships miners faced in the old west, and their ingenuity in extracting ore to meet the nations needs for silver and other metals.

     

    Mining has always been a dangerous profession, even for the toughest of men.  Stop by the U.S. Post Office and you can view the memorial to Big Bill Murphy and the tragedy of the Belmont Mine Fire in 1911.  Big Bill died as he tried to rescue more of his fellow miners after he returned into the mine one time too many.  A beautiful mural on a wall adjacent to the post office depicts the funeral procession for the victims of the fire.  Across the street and up the block is a memorial to Stealth aircraft that were first tested at the U.S. Air Force Tonopah Test Range, just northeast of town.

     

    As the shadows lengthened I stumbled across this piece of graffiti that carried a message I didn’t really expect to see in Tonopah.  Tonopah and Nye County are both pretty libertarian and voted solidly for Ron Paul in the last Republican primary.  While the message sounds libertarian, their signs are always in written in good old red, white, and blue block letters, not in the violet script in which this message was written.  It gave me pause so I decided to make a picture of it and share the thought.  Make of it what you will.

     

    If you are too tired to make it to Vegas or Reno, don’t try.  There are plenty of rooms in Tonopah but they fill up soon after the sun sets so don’t procrastinate.  My favorite is the Jim Butler Inn and Suites (see it at http://www.jimbutlerinn.com ).  Jim Butler made the silver strike that started mining in Tonopah and was one of the city founders.  Legend has it that the prospector’s burro wandered off, and Jim picked up a rock to throw at the ornery beast when he noticed that the rock felt too heavy for its size.  He took some samples for assay and the boom town of Tonopah soon resulted.  More than $150 million dollars of silver were produced from the camp between 1900 and 1940.

     

    Have you always wanted a lamp made out of moose antler or an elk antler chandelier?  Not to worry, you can get yours in Tonopah…see Jim Daine at http://www.jimdaine.com/ and place your order for one with rawhide shades.  As Jim says, they speak for themselves.

     

    If you do decide to spend the night in Tonopah, make sure you get outdoors to enjoy one of the most spectacular night time skies you will ever witness. In fact, Tonopah is rated the #1 destination in the United States for stargazing.  For more info visit:  http://www.tonopahstartrails.com/ .

     

    For more on Tonopah, its rich history, businesses, and attractions you can visit the town’s web page at http://www.tonopahnevada.com/about.html .  Stop by and enjoy!

     

     

     

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  • 2 months ago
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• Mine Tragedy

  • From: Buqo
  • Description:

    In 1911, fire broke out at the Belmont Mine in Tonopah, Nevada.  Seventeen men died including Big Bill Murphy who went back into the mine time after time to rescue as many of his friends as he could. This statute appears in from of the U.S. Post Office.  Next door is a mural that details the funeral procession for this tragic event.  Mining went on, as did the spirit of the miner.  Even today, the team name for the Tonopah High School sports teams is the Muckers.

  • 2 months ago
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• Awesome Alaska, Fire & Ice

  • From: JClardy
  • Description:

    From our Alaska Inside Passage cruise aboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines Pearl November 6-13th.

     

  • 2 months ago
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• Pele Goddess of Fire in Rock F

  • From: emgreco
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  • 2 months ago
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• Playing with Fire

  • From: deelangevin
  • Description:

    Almost every luau features a few fire dancers. This polynesian dancer on Oahu made playing with fire look easy!

  • 2 months ago
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• Fire used to heat balloon air

  • From: fnjp
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  • 2 months ago
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• West Baden Springs Resort

  • From: rdon47630
  • Description:

    Sometimes you come across something that just defies vocalization. In instances such as this only pictures will convey the absolute beauty of the moment. Such was the day we came upon West Baden Springs..Carlsbad of America. What history and monumental architectural beauty. First of all I would like to give you a little history of this awesome place.
    
    
    
    The West Baden Springs Hotel is a historic landmark hotel in the town of West Baden Springs in Orange County, Indiana, USA known for its vast domed atrium. It is currently part of the French Lick Resort Casino complex. Prior to the completion of the Assembly Hall at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1963, the building had the largest free-spanning dome in the United States and was the largest in the world from 1902 to 1913. It was listed on the National Register Of Historic Places in 1974, became a National Historic Landmark in 1987 and is a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
    
    In 1778, George Rogers Clark is thought to have discovered the area's mineral springs and salt licks. The region's reputation as a mineral springs resort area began with the building of the first French Lick Springs Hotel in 1832.In 1852, John Lane built a hotel on a site near the town of Mile Lick that he named the Mile Lick Inn. The town was renamed West Baden in 1855, so Lane changed the hotel name to the West Baden Inn. In 1887, the Monon railroad built an extension to take guests to the springs and the hotel. By the late 1800's, seven railroads brought guests from all over the country to the Springs Valley^[2] for relaxation and the alleged curative powers of the mineral water.

    A group that included Lee Wiley Sinclair from Salem, Indiana acquired controlling interest in the hotel in 1888. Sinclair soon became sole owner and transformed it into a sophisticated resort, including an opera house, a casino and a two-deck, covered, one-third-mile oval bicycle and pony track. A lighted baseball diamond in the center of the track became the spring training grounds for several major league teams including the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. Fire destroyed the entire hotel building in less than two hours in June, 1901; however, no guests were injured. Owner Lee Sinclair declared that the new hotel would be fireproof and would have the world's largest dome. Most professionals in the architectural community considered it impossible, but unknown West Virginia architect Harrison Albright completed the new West Baden Springs Hotel on time. The new structure opened in September 1902 and if the advertisements and artcles about the new hotel were true, the facility deserved being called the Eighth Wonder of the World. It was claimed that the resort's mineral baths and drinking waters could cure everything from sterility to senility. The hotel's amenities included two golf courses, billiards, bowling, baseball, swimming, horseback riding, bicycling and hiking on scenic trails, movies and nightly theatre. On-site personal services included a stock brokerage, banking and a barbershop. Birds flew freely in the 200-foot-diameter atrium, and an enormous fireplace burned 14-foot logs to take the chill off on cool evenings

    
    

    Notable guests

    Paul Dresser is rumored to have composed Indiana's state song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" at the hotel. Boxers John L. Sullivan and James J. Corbett trained there. Al Cpone was a frequent guest as was Diamond Jim Brady. Politicans included Mayor "Big Bill" Thompson of Chicago and New York Governor Alfred E. Smith. Professional baseball teams even held their spring training at the resort

    A massive renovation effort was begun in 1913, but Sinclair died in 1916. His daughter and her husband took over the hotel's operation and restoration. Overextended by the refurbishment, Lillian Sinclair sold the property to Ed Ballard for $1 million in 1923. Ballard, who began his career as a bowling alley worker in the hotel, made a fortune by operating a flourishing, albeit illegal gambling business in the Springs Valley. Ballard also owned several nationally recognized touring circuses. The rise of the automobile and resorts in Florida drew business away from the West Baden Springs Hotel, but Ballard aggressively promoted the hotel to conventioneers and trade exhibitions. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 spelled the end of the hotel. As word of the plummeting market spread, people gathered in the brokerage firm's offices at the hotel, which emptied of guests almost overnight. Ballard closed the hotel in June 1932 and sold it to the Jesuits for one dollar in 1934
    
    The Jesuits removed many of the building's elegant appointments when they transformed the hotel into a seminary. The four Moorish towers were dismantled when they fell into disrepair. Known as West Baden College, the seminary operated until June, 1964 when declining enrollment forced the Jesuits to close the facility. In 1966, the Jesuits sold the property to a Michigan couple who in turn donated it to Norwood Institute, a private college, which operated a business management school on the property until 1983 Vacant after 1983, the building slipped into extreme decay, resulting in the collapse of a good portion of the west wall in 1991. In 1992, the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed the hotel as one of America's most endangered places. Bill Cook, a Bloomington, Indiana, entrepreneur and billionaire, financed a partial restoration of the property by the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana which assumed ownership in 1996. It was marketed nationally for almost ten years without a buyer and over 400,000 visitors toured the hotel. In 2006, title was transferred to a subsidiary of Bill Cook's Cook Group to become a part of the French Lick Resort Casion development. In May 2007, the building began hosting guests as a hotel in 246 luxury rooms for the first time since 1932. (Source Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Baden_Springs_Hotel)
    
    There are 30 Jesuit graves in a small cemetary located adjacent to the hote still under the ownership and maintained by the Jesuite Order. The racehorse Peter the Great, owned by Ed Ballard and sired 600 offspring is also buried on the grounds.
    
    The resort once boasted a large covered multilevel track. The lower level was for exercising the horses and ponies, while the middle level was a bike and walking track. The upper level hosted a view of the full size baseball field located in the center of the track. This structure was destroyed in 1927 and was never rebuilt. It stood near and connected to the pavilion which is the only part of the structure left.
    
    I hope you enjoy this photographic tour as much as we did seeing it ourselves. This would be a great destination spot with plenty of things to do on site as well as in the immediate area.
    
    
    

    THE HOTEL
    

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    THE GARDENS
    

    
    

    THE CHAPEL
    

    
    
    
    

    THE PAVILION
    

    
    
    
    
    

    THE REAR OF THE HOTEL
    

    
    

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