Exhibitor guide · French Lick, Indiana
French Lick Resort: the exhibitor's guide
A 200-foot free-span dome that was the largest in the world for six decades, a history of illegal casinos that drew Al Capone, and 169,000 square feet of indoor meeting space across two century-old hotels. What exhibitors need to know at southern Indiana's grand-hotel resort.
Why this page exists
French Lick Resort is really two connected grand hotels a mile apart: the French Lick Springs Hotel, rebuilt in 1902 by Indianapolis politician Thomas Taggart and once nicknamed "the Eighth Wonder of the World," and the West Baden Springs Hotel, whose 200-foot free-span steel-and-glass dome was the largest dome in the world from 1902 until the Houston Astrodome opened in 1965. Both hotels have a colorful past, including decades of illegal casino gambling that drew guests like Al Capone, boxers John L. Sullivan and James J. Corbett, and NY Governor Al Smith. Today the resort carries 169,000 sq ft of indoor meeting space combined, plus more than 3,000 outdoor acres. This guide covers the meeting space, what changes when your booth goes on hotel carpet, Indiana's labor rules, drayage, and getting to a resort well outside a major metro.
The building
The meeting space
| Space | What it is | Typical shows | Booth planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Lick Springs Hotel meeting center | 105,000 sq ft dedicated meeting space. | Association conferences, corporate meetings | Carpeted; confirm floor protection needs. |
| West Baden Springs Hotel Atrium | Under the 200-foot dome, up to 3,000 guests; 11 meeting spaces total. | Galas, general sessions, receptions | A landmark space; confirm rigging and load-in restrictions given the historic structure. |
| 169,000 sq ft resort-wide total | Combined indoor meeting space across both hotels. | Multi-day conferences using both properties | Confirm which hotel your show is based in before planning freight routing. |
Figures from French Lick Resort's published meeting and event overview.
Free tool
What changes when your booth goes on hotel carpet?
Every meeting space at French Lick Resort runs on hotel carpet, not a concrete exhibit floor. That changes a few things about how your booth gets built.
History
From Pluto Water to a 200-foot dome
Indianapolis politician Thomas Taggart and investors buy and completely reconstruct the French Lick Springs Hotel at a cost of more than $200,000, reopening it on September 15, 1902 to acclaim as "the Eighth Wonder of the World."
A mile away, the West Baden Springs Hotel opens with a 200-foot free-span steel-and-glass dome, the largest dome in the world until the Houston Astrodome surpasses it in 1965.
Both hotels sell "Pluto Water," a mineral water marketed under the slogan "If Nature Won't, Pluto Will," and operate illegal casinos that draw guests including Al Capone, boxers John L. Sullivan and James J. Corbett, and NY Governor Al Smith. Pluto Water production ends in 1971 after its naturally occurring lithium is classified as a controlled substance.
The labor map
Who sets up my booth?
Indiana has been a right-to-work state since 2012; confirm hand-carry and self-install allowances with the show's official decorator.
Right-to-work state; the show decorator sets the terms
Rules vary by show; Purple confirms current terms before your build.
Exhibitor-appointed contractors
Purple files as your EAC for French Lick Resort shows.
Free tool
French Lick Resort drayage estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 and 2027; your show's exhibitor kit has the tariff.
Logistics
Hotels, transit, crew logistics
- Airport: French Lick Municipal has a small runway; most exhibitors fly into Louisville, about 90 minutes away, or Indianapolis, about 2 hours away.
- On-site: guest rooms are part of the resort itself, across two hotels.
- By car: a rural southern Indiana location; plan extra time for freight routing.
- Crew: Purple coordinates Midwest crews for French Lick installs.
| Hotel | Distance | Why exhibitors pick it |
|---|---|---|
| French Lick Springs Hotel guest rooms | On-site | The resort's original 1902 hotel. |
| West Baden Springs Hotel guest rooms | On-site, 1 mile away | Rooms under or near the historic dome. |
Questions
French Lick Resort FAQ
Is this a carpet or concrete floor?
Carpet. Every meeting space at French Lick Resort runs on hotel carpet, which changes drayage, rigging and floor protection.
What's the story behind the West Baden Springs Hotel dome?
Built in 1902, its 200-foot free-span steel-and-glass dome was the largest dome in the world until the Houston Astrodome opened in 1965.
How much meeting space is there?
169,000 square feet of indoor meeting space combined across both hotels, with 105,000 square feet in the French Lick Springs Hotel's dedicated meeting center alone.
How much is drayage?
Purple's planning estimate is about $125 per hundredweight in 2026 and 2027, with a 200-pound minimum.
How much meeting space is on the French Lick Springs Hotel side?
105,000 square feet in a dedicated meeting center.
How much outdoor space does the resort have?
More than 3,000 acres.
Exhibiting at French Lick?
Send us the show and booth number. You get a carpet-conversion checklist, a drayage estimate, and a build timeline within two business days.
Venue guides
Every venue we have a guide for
Same standard, every hall: the building, the rules, the tools and the calendar.