I have a weakness for the grand hotels of the early 1900s. A couple of years ago I wrote about the renovations of the French Lick Resort's makeover but the renovations also extended to the West Baden Springs Hotel in French Lick, Indiana which was reopened in 2007 after a $500 million renovation. The most impressive feature of this resort is a huge six-story domed atrium. The atrium is a setting of classic elegance offering small seating areas, live performances of soft music and shops around the perimeter. The West Baden area was once a vacation destination for those coming to take the waters at the local springs. The first hotel was opened in the 1850s but burned down in 1901 and was replaced by today's grand incarnation. After the stock market crash in 1929, the hotel slowly lost its guests and closed in 1932. It was bought in 2005 and when it reopened last year it was the first time in 75 years that it had been in use as a hotel.

The hotel includes a spa, indoor pool and 246 guest rooms and suites. The hotel shares amenities with the French Lick Resort offering access to golf courses, riding stables and historic tours. Overnight golf packages with unlimited golf at the Donald Ross Course, The Valley Links and driving range usage start at $375.

[via The Columbus Dispatch]

Today's home introduced me to the small lakeside community of Long Beach, Indiana. The town is a popular vacation spot for those looking for a quick getaway from Chicago, which is an hour away. Today's home is one of the most lavish in the area. It sits right on the water with lake and Chicago skyline views and has 280 ft. of private beach. The four-bedroom home was built back in 1927 with a Mediterranean style that seems more suited for a warm weather location. The home has a great outdoor terrace, wine room, a gym that looks to be tucked into a porch-like space and has had its classic style updated with granite countertops in kitchens and baths and those glass box showers that are currently so popular. The home has retained its beautiful beamed ceilings and original fireplaces. It is listed at $6.24 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Woo hoo! Alright, here is the scoop. No calories, no carbs, yet still delicious. Last Saturday in Indiana, Chateau Thomas Winery revealed their new wine called Slender -- quite the fitting name! Although its a standard wine in most ways it is sweetened with erythritol, which is somewhat like Splenda in that it brings flavor without costly calories. Although it only retails for $10, which is obviously not top-shelf enough to compete with our usual wine highlights, a wine that brings enjoyment without the pounds is certainly worth celebrating.

[via IndyStar]

Too often I see houses without enough furniture in them. They are staged for their listing photo shoot or are newer homes. That isn't the case with today's home in Indianapolis it seems very, very well lived in. This four-bedroom home was built in the 1950s and is absolutely stuffed with furniture and wall decorations. Never have over 10,000 square feet seemed quite so crowded. The walls are covered in crucifixes, mirrors and paintings, each window is wreathed in fabric and there are spare tables, overstuffed couches and puffy chairs taking up every conceivable space. The home sits on over seven acres and is listed for $5.5 million. After the jump, worst position for a flatscreen TV ever.

I love it when an older resort gets a face lift and appeals to a whole new generation of travelers. The French Lick Resort and Spa has been renovated in the past year to coincide with the opening of the property's new casino. The original resort was built in the 1840s and then rebuilt in grand style in the late 1890s. Now the 443-room resort includes a larger revamped spa that still includes the mineral-rich "Pluto Water" that lured guests to the hotel one hundred years ago. The 84,000 square-foot nautically themed casino has a large gaming room with 26-foot ceilings.

The hotel is still being worked on but is open to guests. For those who really want to step back in time the hotel is holding a 1920s-themed New Year's Eve celebration. For $695 you can stay at the hotel, attend the Roaring Twenties party with a five course dinner and an open bar and enjoy breakfast the next morning.

[via The Daily World]

The good thing about buying a Ferrari that used to belong to NBA star Shaquille O'Neal is that he always puts his own custom touches in. Case in point, this 1998 Ferrari F-1355 convertible. The sound system, seats and wheels have all been customized for Shaq and the car has a modified gas tank. The car is up for auction at the 15th annual Auburn Spring MotorFair this weekend through Kruse International. A sweet ride but in my opinion silver is not a good look for Ferraris.

[via Fort Wayne Journal Gazette]

Car clubs are everywhere lately. The latest place? Evansville, Indiana. The LuxShare Auto Club is a new club which will use a points system, selling shares which will cost  $7,250 to $9,000 per year. The club is located at the Buxton Motorsports Plaza. Their first purchase was the new Porsche Cayman S and they have their eye on adding a Ferrari, a Rolls Royce and a Bentley to the stable. There will even be a pickup truck for weekend chores. They are looking to have only around 50 members with one vehicle for every three or four people. 

[via The Gleaner]