Pluto Water, a best selling laxative of the first half of the 20th century, was bottled here. The resort closed for renovation in 2005. The French Lick Resort Casino was the focal point of most of the entertainment the hotel remained open well after the casinos were closed down and the heyday of the town was well past. In order to conserve rail transport during World War II, 1943 spring training was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. In the early 20th century it also featured casinos attracting celebrities such as boxer Joe Louis, composer Irving Berlin and gangster Al Capone.ĭue to wartime travel restrictions, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox held spring training in French Lick from 1943-1944 in 1945 the Cubs stayed in town while the White Sox moved to Terre Haute - utilizing Memorial Stadium. By the later half of the 19th century, French Lick was famous in the United States as a spa town. The sulfur springs were commercially exploited for medical benefits starting in 1840.
