Hoosier Hills and Hollers Tour
September 27, 2005
By Sheila Pinkerton

On a very Brit-like day, with overcast skies and a slight drizzle, members of the Wabash Valley British Sports Car Club (WVBSCC) out of Terre Haute, Indiana  left Spencer, Indiana on a trek through Southern Indiana’s hills and hollers.

Led by Dave Markland in his 1998 Jag VDP, the group headed out of Spencer in high spirits and anticipating the “mystery” tour.  Alice and Alan Lee were especially enjoying the weather, as they were leaving September 5 for merry ole England, and felt the days weather helped “put them in the mood” for their upcoming trip.

Heading East out of Spencer on Hwy. 46, the groups first stop was in Cincinnati, Indiana (known to the locals as “Little Cinci”).  Stopping at “Howard’s Citgo” we topped off with petrol, got snacks and did whatever one does as a normal “pit” stop.  Unfortunately, the donut shop had closed in the week since the recon group had last driven the route. That was discouraging, but a few members made up for it by purchasing and consuming ice cream (at 10:00 a.m.!)

Following Hwy. 54 out of “Little Cinci” Dave led this adventuresome group through parts of the Hoosier National Forest.  The roads were well maintained and a canopy of trees covered the road.  Howard and Ginny Baugues  remarked that it reminded them of Washington State and some of the roads they had driven there.   Alice enjoyed  the fact there were no stop lights, stop signs, or other traffic.  Riding the Ridge Road allowed for beautiful panoramic views of the misty valleys and shrouded hills.  On through Silverville and on to Williams. 

 In Williams we stopped at the William Covered Bridge, which is the longest double span covered bridge still open to traffic in  Indiana.  The bridge, spanning the White River, was built in 1884 with the Howe Truss design and is 376 feet in length, or 402 feet if you count the two 13 foot overhangs.  The portal clearance is 16 ft. wide by 12 ft. 6 inches high.  The Williams Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.  Since the turnaround on the other side was “tight” members took turns driving through and back.  This is a photo of  Barb and John Mensch in “Cecil”, their 1953 Sunbeam Talbot.


After Williams, it was a short trip into Shoals, Indiana and Velma’s Diner and lunch.  Shoals is a town that hasn’t changed much since 1950.  It is about 4 blocks long and not quite as wide.  However, they do offer a very original five and dime, complete with wooden floors and  “by the scoop” candy counter. Howard and Ginny got a chuckle out of the menu at the local diner, as fried baloney sandwiches were the special of the day.  Ah, well, ….small towns.

Leaving Shoals a little before 1 p.m. we all stopped and refueled at a new BP (what else?) on the edge of town before heading further South to West Baden.  Instead of taking Hwy. 150, which would have taken about 20 minutes, Dave again headed East and took everyone through another portion of the Hoosier National.  This time the road twisted and turned  up and down  the hills and  went through several little “burgs”, but allowed everyone a chance to test their driving skills.  Bob  Arnett remarked that it was like riding a roller coaster!

We arrived in West Baden Springs about 45 minutes later, just in time for the 2 p.m. tour of the historic hotel. The West Baden,  named after Weis Baden, Germany has had a long, diversified and colorful past.   It began life as a luxury resort/spa/casino in the mid-1800’s and over the years has been home to a Jesuit monastery, a college, and winter home to a circus!  It has apparently come full circle, as it will be opening again in 2006 as a casino/resort.


West Baden Springs was considered the crème-de-la-crème and attracted the wealthy, upper-crust health seekers and high rollers.  Not only did people come for the therapeutic effects of the springs of Pluto water; there was also black-tie gambling which attracted them.  Unlike Weis Baden, Germany, whose springs are warm, the springs in West Baden and French Lick are cold.

Dr. John Lane built the hotel in the community of Mile Lick in 1855, but he later changed the name to West Baden.  In 1888, a banker named Lee Sinclair from Salem, IN acquired controlling interest and owned the hotel completely within a few years

Members of the WVBSSC at WBS Hotel L to R:
Ginny & Howard Baugues 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500
Dave Kirkman’s 1980 MGV-V8
Barb & John Mensch’s 1953 SunBeam Talbot
Bob Arnett’s  Spitfire 1500
Alice & Allen Lee’s  1973 MGB
Dave Markland’s 1998 Jag VDP


Fountain at Formal Gardens At WBS Hotel

In 1901 the hotel burned to the ground.  Rebuilding began in 1902 and was completed that same year.  The hotel dome was the largest dome of its kind until the Astrodome was built.  After Mr. Sinclair died in 1916 his daughter and her husband took over the hotel and tiled the floor beneath the dome with mosaic tiles, taking over 1,000,000 tiles at a cost of a penny a piece.
Below: Dome at WBS Hotel

Above: Interior of WBS Hotel.
Note the floor.  The fireplace opening  is actually 6’ tall and about  10’ wide.
Ok, now that the history lesson is over……After our tour, photo ops and of course browsing in the gift shop, we all headed out for some well-deserved soft-serve ice cream.  After about 25 minutes, we ended up in BirdsEye, Indiana at the Dairy Barn.  People were warned to order the “baby” size cone, but they didn’t listen.  Many wish they had!  The “baby” cones at the Dairy Barn are approximately the size of a medium cone at any other DQ-type place.   Wish I’d have had the concession on Pepto-Bismol!  Anyway, after stuffing our faces with cones, shakes, flurries, sundaes, etc. everyone headed for home and happy memories. 

Anyone wishing to learn more about the Wabash Valley British Sports Car Club can check it out at WVBSCC.org.  Everyone is welcome to join us on a drive.