Press Releases

Dubois County Turkeys Pardoned by the President of the United States

November 21, 2007 -- Jasper, IN – President George W. Bush pardoned two Dubois County turkeys Tuesday morning during the turkey pardon ceremony, held at the White House each year days prior to Thanksgiving. The traditional pardon was granted to the national Thanksgiving turkey named "May" and a backup turkey named "Flower".

"May" and "Flower" are both 21-weeks old and were raised at the Ten Star Ranch in Dubois, Indiana. The only exception to the manner in which they were raised is that they were given extra interaction with people to prepare for their White House appearance. They were selected from a flock of ten candidates and were nurtured under normal feeding conditions. "May" and "Flower" will head to Disney World in Orlando, Florida to serve as honorary grand marshals at the Disney Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This is the 60th year of the well-known pardon ceremony, which dates back to Harry Truman's days as President.

Read the President's full speech.

For additional information, please contact the Dubois County Visitors Center at 482-9115 or go to www.visitduboiscounty.com.

The Dubois County Tourism Commission was established in 1992 by a Dubois County ordinance with the purpose of promoting the growth and development of the convention, visitor, and tourism industry in the county and is the one community organization empowered to do so. The Commission established the operation of the Visitors Center in January 2006. Commission members meet regularly at 3:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the Visitors Center located at 2704 Newton Street in Jasper inside the Dubois County Museum building. These meetings are open to the public. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Travel Channel to Film Christmas Festival

SANTA CLAUS, IND. – National attention will soon focus on the festive little town of Santa Claus, Ind., as The Travel Channel comes to feature the town's Christmas in Santa Claus Festival.

Sharp Entertainment of New York, New York will be filming the town of Santa Claus Friday, Dec. 7 & Saturday, Dec. 8, for a show highlighting the world's most Christmassy places to air next holiday season on The Travel Channel. Sharp Entertainment is a Manhattan-based television production house that also produces the pop-culture television series VH1's The Fabulous Life series, which blends "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" with the "Forbes 400" list.

The Santa Claus Post Office, Santa Claus Museum, Santa's Candy Castle and Santa's Lodge are among the sites to be filmed.

"We know our small town is one of the most festive places on the planet to celebrate the Holidays," said Melissa Miller, executive director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau. "We're looking forward to sharing that with thousands of television viewers."

The Christmas in Santa Claus Festival will be held Saturday & Sunday Dec. 8-9. For a complete Christmas Festival schedule, visit www.LegendaryPlaces.org/Christmas or call 1-888-444-9252.

The Spencer County Visitors Bureau provides travel information to visitors and media about Spencer County, Indiana, the site of Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home, the world famous Santa Claus Post Office, and the world's first theme park, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.

French Lick Resort Casino Spotlighted on ABC News’ "Good Morning America"

Co-host Diane Sawyer shares her impressions from a recent family visit

FRENCH LICK, Ind. –On this morning’s edition of ABC News’ "Good Morning America" co-host Diane Sawyer cited the recent restoration of the French Lick Resort Casino as "truly dazzling." During the "What I Did This Summer" segment, the Kentucky native shared her impressions of French Lick and West Baden, following a recent visit.

While showing a photo of her mother in the famed West Baden Springs Hotel atrium, Sawyer told co-host Robin Roberts, news anchor Chris Cuomo and weather anchor Sam Champion, "It’s so amazing everyone in the country has to go see the hotel." Sawyer and her mother visited the resort with friends and relatives.

The morning news program airs live Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m., ET on the ABC Television Network.

The West Baden Springs Hotel is the crown jewel of the nearly $500 million resort restoration project which began in earnest in August 2005. The destination, referred to as French Lick Resort Casino, is the result of the largest historic restoration project in the history of Indiana and one of the largest private historic restoration projects in the US.

The 3000-acre resort also includes French Lick Springs Hotel, French Lick Casino, 45 planned holes of golf (27 are currently available), world-class spas and a host of amenities, including horseback riding, swimming, bowling and more.

Originally built in 1902, the hotel was quickly dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" for its implausible dome structure soaring 110 feet above the atrium floor. The dome was the largest free-span dome until the Astrodome was built in the 1960s. The National Historic Landmark quickly closed shortly after the Stock Market crash in 1929, then became a Jesuit Seminary and a private college before being abandoned in the early 1980s. In May 2007, the majestic beauty re-opened as a hotel, 75 years after it last served guests.

Located less than a mile from the French Lick Springs Hotel and French Lick Casino, the West Baden Springs Hotel features six circular stories containing 246 rooms, including eight specialty suites, three specialty suites and a lavish Presidential Suite, surrounding the atrium. The historic hotel also offers a two level natatorium, fine dining restaurant and five retail outlets. The unique natatorium/spa features a 12,000-square foot indoor pool and 8,000 square foot spa, including treatment rooms, relaxation rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Built as a health resort for the nation’s elite, the hotel’s register included notable names such as Vanderbilt, Rockefeller and Astor, who all came to "take the waters." The local mineral springs, bottled as Sprudel water, were believed to cure everything from malaria to arthritis.

Major league baseball teams, such as Cubs, White Sox and Reds, used to come to the area for Spring Training. "In fact, the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series is when they trained in the area," said Mark Bommarito, vice president of sales and marketing. "A noted sport historian has suggested that perhaps the local mineral water had something to do with the teams’ success."

West Baden hotel guests are able to take advantage of all of French Lick Resort Casino’s amenities, including the 42,000-square foot casino, horseback riding, tennis, bowling and more. For golf enthusiasts, the resort features the completely restored Donald Ross Course at French Lick, which hosted the 1924 PGA Championship where Walter Hagen was victorious, as well as the forthcoming 18-hole championship Pete Dye Course slated to open in 2008. The nine-hole Tom Bendelow Course at French Lick and sports center opened earlier this month.

To book your own getaway, please visit www.frenchlick.com or call 1-888-MyHideaway (888-694-4332).

French Lick Resort Casino is a nearly $500 million historic restoration and casino development project that includes the French Lick Springs Hotel, the new French Lick Casino and the West Baden Springs Hotel. This premier resort and casino destination features 689 guest rooms and suites; 42,000-square-foot, single-level casino; 45-holes of golf, including the fully restored 1917-designed Donald Ross Course at French Lick and the new, 18-hole Pete Dye Course at French Lick (opening 2008); two full-service spas with 36 treatment rooms combined totaling 41,000 square feet; and an array of dining and entertainment options.

EDITOR”S NOTE: Media clip available upon request

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