The French Lick Resort blog posted "Tales Out of School from West Baden's College Days" this week with a brief historical sketch and comments of several alumni from Northwood Institute. Northwood Institute operated at the site from 1968-1983. The institution was founded in Alma, MI in 1959 and the West Baden, IN site "...offered two-year and four-year degrees in business, performing arts and vocational studies. Northwood was renowned for some of its specialty programs like automotive marketing, fashion merchandising, and hotel and restaurant management."
After closing in Indiana, academic programs continued under a new name of Northwood University in Michigan, Florida, and Texas.
The resort property used by Northwood Institute was known for its mineral springs and was initially developed as the West Baden Springs Hotel. The hotel flourished but ultimately closed during the 1930s. A Jesuit Seminary then used the property after purchasing if for $1 following the stock market crash and failure of the resort. The Jesuits operated West Baden College from 1934-1964 in affiliation with Loyola University in Chicago. Closure occurred due to declining enrollment and expensive maintenance of the aging facility.
A timeline for history of the resort property can be reviewed on the Historic Hotels of America website.
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