French Lick

French Lick is a small community in Orange County that covers roughly 1.77 square miles and sits surrounded by the Hoosier National Forest. The town sits at about 500 feet (150 meters) elevation and combines historic resort properties with residential streets.

A French trading post formed here in 1811 near a salt deposit where animals licked minerals. By the late 1800s the settlement had grown into a known spa destination with mineral springs.

The name comes from French traders and a salt deposit where animals would lick minerals. Today the connection to that past appears in local signage and in the way mineral water remains part of the town identity.

The resort casino offers entertainment and spa facilities for visitors who want to stay a few days. The surrounding area works well for quiet walks through wooded hills and nearby golf courses.

During World War II both Chicago baseball teams trained here in spring because travel restrictions made trips to Florida impossible. That unusual period brought big league teams to the wooded hills of Indiana instead of the usual warm coastal sites.

Location: French Lick Township

Location: Orange County

Elevation above the sea: 152 m

GPS coordinates: 38.54694,-86.61889

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:49