Later, as the hotels struggled, closed and re-opened in various forms, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created Patoka Lake and dam on the Patoka River, about 12 miles northeast of Jasper in Dubois County.

The lake serves many purposes including flood control, recreation, water supplier to the surrounding communities and wildlife refuge.

The 8,800-acre lake and the surrounding 16,920-acre reserve were first opened to the public on August 20, 1980, and quickly became popular for hunting and fishing to biking and camping.

Now, with the opening of a casino at French Lick and renovation of both the West Baden and French Lick properties, Orange County feels it offers the best of ...

FRENCH LICK, Ind. – The “Legends of Music Concert Series” at French Lick Resort Casino continues this weekend with John Michael Montgomery performing in the 1,600-seat Windsor Ballroom at French Lick Springs Hotel on Saturday, July 5, 2008, 7:00 PM.

With a Grammy nomination and several honors under his belt, including 1995 Billboard Top Country Artist, John Michael Montgomery is easily one of the best male country vocalists of the past two decades. Since the 1992 release of Life’s a Dance, the brother of Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery has released 11 more albums and a greatest hits package. In the lasts few months, he has released a new single, “Mad Cow Disease.” Among his other contributions to country music are “I Swear,” “Be My Baby Tonight,” I Can Love You Like That,” “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident,)” “Rope the Moon” and the 2004 hit “Letters from Home.” Tickets are $30 for French Lick Rewards members, $35 for non-members. To purchase tickets. Tickets for all shows are available at ...

Photo: http://johnmichael.musiccitynetworks.com John Michael Montgomery

LAKE MARY, Fla. -- During the early 1900s, French Lick Resort Casino was a place where the rich and famous came to party, relax, get healthy and be seen - one of the most popular and exciting resorts in the United States.

Now, many decades later, the glitter is back to this Indiana resort that is making a huge comeback. Nestled within the Hoosier National Forest in Southern Indiana, French Lick Resort boasts a long history as an elite Midwestern getaway. After emerging from an unprecedented $500 million restoration and renovation, the resort is now a captivating retreat for business and relaxation once again. The resort includes both French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs hotels, restored to their original grandeur - and beyond. Amidst the resort's historic setting, guests find contemporary luxuries, including decadently appointed rooms.

And in May of 2009, members of the International Network of Golf will get a first-hand, up close and personal look. The 19th Annual ING Spring Conference is set for May 17-21, 2009 at French Lick Resort Casino and its incredible array of properties and amenities. Mark Bommarito, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, made the announcement at the 18th ING Spring Conference at the Atlantic City Sheraton.

FRENCH LICK — “Individuals with moderate to strong swimming skills and a desire to work in a tropical resort atmosphere” hasn’t exactly been the most common job posting in southern Indiana.

But, this fall, Big Splash Adventure will be hiring lifeguards to protect the safety of the facility’s guests while participating in the water park’s attractions. Big Splash Adventure, a tropically themed indoor water park, is located at the new Valley of the Springs Resort in French Lick.

Matt Daniels, director of aquatic operations, estimates that about 75 lifeguards will be needed to staff the facility. He said, “We will have both full-time and part-time positions available and will be recruiting adults to fill the Monday through Friday daytime positions. The age requirement is 15 years or older. Therefore we will be recruiting high school and college students from around the Springs Valley area.”

In order to work for Big Splash Adventure, Lifeguards must complete a 30-hour American Red Cross certification course. The resort will offer lifeguard certification classes in the late summer and early fall in preparation for its fall opening.

In order to help individuals prepare to meet the pre-requisites for the certification course, Big Splash Adventure staff is working in conjunction with Springs Valley school officials to arrange for special open swim nights on ...

Patoka Lake east of Jasper, Ind., is getting the jump on the Fourth of July with Thunder Over Patoka, including fireworks, decorations by houseboat owners, concessions and patriotic music.

Fireworks will be shot from the beach at Newton-Stewart State Recreational Area at 10 p.m. EDT Saturday. Last year more than 20,000 people attended.

Admission is $5 per vehicle. Music will be provided at 8:30 p.. by a local community band.

Call (812) 678-3313 for more details or go to www.patokalakeindiana.com

Home to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home, and the world's only Santa Claus Post Office, Spencer County is ranked seventh in tourism spending per capita, out of Indiana's 92 counties. That is higher than its neighboring counties including Dubois, Perry, and Warrick, the study showed.

The results of Spencer County's first Tourism Economic Impact Study were explained Thursday, June 26, at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. This study was conducted during the past year as a joint project of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau and The University of Southern Indiana’s Center for Applied Research and College of Business.

A total of 14 percent of all sales and 32 percent of all employment in Spencer County, Ind., are a direct result of visitor spending, according to the study.

Visitors to Spencer County had a sales impact of $161.7 million and were responsible for more than 3,300 jobs during 2007, according to the study.

"I hope the results of this study will serve as a useful tool to help local and state government officials understand the role of our tourism industry here," said Melissa Miller, Executive Director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau. "It also will help us to attract new tourism-related businesses to Spencer County."

Visitors surveyed said more restaurants and additional lodging options would improve their ...

“We are,” French Lick Airport Manager Brian Payne said, “going to remove some trees at the approach of runway 26.” He said the action is an initial step toward moving to a more sophisticated runway approach system. The new Wide Area Augmentation System will replace the Instrument Landing System, which Payne said the Federal Aviation is phasing out. The older system is more expensive to operate, he said.

He also said the FAA and the federal Department of Transportation are developing the WAS program for use in precision flight approaches.

“It is a safer system,” Payne said, explaining that it allows for a Global Positioning System “type of approach.”

He added, “It’s a fairly long-term project. We are actually kind of hoping to get it done within the next three years.”

A news release from U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, D-Seymour, said of the grant’s uses, “The parallel taxiway extension will alleviate the need for aircraft to back taxi on the runway. And, the tree removal is necessary to enhance the safety of aircraft operations.”

Hill’s announcement about the Salem Airport Grant reads, “The money will be used to update the airport master plan study, rehabilitate the apron and acquire land for development at Salem Municipal Airport. The apron was last repaired 18 years ago and rehabilitation is needed to restore its structural integrity. The land acquisition is needed for future airport development.”

Salem Board of Aviation President Bill Barnett said the ...