TS Today - Creating a Vision for the Future of Vacation Ownership Issue #96 Nov/Dec, 2007 | Page 16

TimeSharing Today Page 16 Nov/Dec, 2007 French Lick Springs Villas, French Lick, IN: Two Reports By Wm. V. Burgess, Westminster, CO We had heard of French Lick as an old-fashioned, late 19th century or early 20th century resort that had faded into memory then was brought back into popular mention as the Southern Indiana hometown of NBA superstar Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. Larry Bird is still very much an icon around French Lick. His old home near the railroad track still stands (complete with basketball backboard fastened above the garage door), he is depicted in a mural on one of the downtown buildings, and his new home just outside of town is a popular photo stop for travelers. As we discovered, however, when we checked into our RCI exchange unit at French Lick Springs Villas, there is lots more going on, both inside and outside the main part of town. The condominiums are located on a hilltop just behind the world-famous French Lick Resort Hotel and near the town center. The Villas complex is in two sections, one built in the early 1980’s and the newer section completed in the mid-1990’s. All are two-bedroom units that can accommodate up to eight persons each. Our master bedroom had a king-sized bed, a 19" TV, and separate bathroom shared with occupants of the second bedroom. The second bedroom had two twin beds, a mirrored dresser, and no TV. There were two sleeper sofas, one in the downstairs living room and the other in the upstairs loft area. The living room was spacious. The furniture and the carpet looked new. There was a fireplace (free wood in fall and winter!), a 30" TV with cable channels, a full size sleeper sofa, coffee table, an easy chair, and a love seat with double ottoman. A separate dining area next to the living room seats up to six persons. Three more could be seated at the breakfast bar between the dining area and the kitchen. Our unit had a full kitchen with a fourburner range, oven, microwave oven, dish- washer, garbage disposal, full size refrigerator/freezer, and a countertop built-in grill. Table service for eight was provided along with a toaster, blender, coffee maker (coffee filters, too!), electric can opener, and all pots, pans, baking sheets, mixing bowls, utensils, detergent, and paper towels. A washer and dryer were housed in a downstairs closet. A second downstairs closet held the vacuum sweeper, brooms, mops, etc. The ne plus ultra for the unit was a sauna and a Jacuzzi tub in the downstairs bathroom. Upstairs between the two bedrooms was another full bath with shower, tub, and vanity but no hair dryer (we put that item on our suggestion list). Also, in the upstairs loft area was full size sleeper sofa, reading lamp, and a card/ game table with four chairs. Off the game area was an upstairs deck perfectly screened from the neighboring unit and covering an identically sized deck below just outside the main floor dining area. The Villas staff was very hospitable www.tstoday.com for back issues, message boards, Resale Value Tracker and much more