We headed out after a breakfast of French Toast and Bacon. (Thanks grandpa, and grandma) Our destination - Wilstem ranch. Our activity - ATV side by side tours! After being helmeted up we headed out to our mules. Andy drove Kathy, Mikayla and Zack. Grandpa drove grandma, Nick and Aimee. Our tour was led by Beau. He explained that we should follow him and we shouldn't get stuck. It had rained the day before - lets go see how muddy we can get. As we headed out of the parking lot - grandma was holding on for dear life - and the hyenas in Andy's vehicle started laughing hysterically. We drove through the woods, through fields, over bridges, under tunnels, up hills, down hills, around trees, through mud. Mud was flying everywhere. It is reported that Grandma said if she got a drop of mud on her she was going to kill someone. Halfway through we stopped and got a history lesson from Beau.
Wilstem Guest Ranch can trace its beginnings back to 1915 when the property was purchased by Ed Ballard, a noted local entrepreneur who developed the area as a hideaway for wealthy and famous people, including Al Capone. Always a horse lover, Ballard owned a string of blooded show horses he annually entered in horse shows around the country, winning many prizes along the way. Ballard owned a large interest in the West Baden Springs Hotel, and he bought out circuses throughout the country, eventually forming the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, larger even than the Barnum or Ringling Brothers circuses. Ballard established a winter quarters for his circus in nearby West Baden Springs.
Ballard sold his circus and hotel interests just before the Great Depression but he kept the Wilstem Ranch property as a hunting ground and private playground. President Franklin D. Roosevelt enjoyed hunting pheasant and quail through the large stands of walnut trees on the property; actors Henry Fonda and Tom Mix were regular visitors as was the famous Chicago gangster Al Capone, who married one of his wives in front of the fireplace in the historic lodge. While visiting the area F.D.R. announced his candidacy for president at the nearby French Lick Hotel. Legendary heavyweight world boxing champ Joe Lewis trained on the Wilstem grounds, in the forest, and in the ranch’s historic Red Barn.
Ed Ballard died in 1936 and the property stayed in his family until 1950 when it was purchased by John Cabot, the owner of the nearby French Lick Resort. Cabot died in the late 1950s and the property was sold, named Wilstem Farm, and used as a hunting grounds.
In the late 1980s, the property got a new lease on life when it was purchased by Jerry Fuhs, a Southern Indiana entrepreneur. All of the farm’s original buildings were restored, including the 10 bedroom lodge, built of solid walnut logs cut on the property. Riding and hiking trails were cleared and restored, ponds were stocked with fish, and modern guest quarters were added.
For nearly 100 years, the fate of Wilstem Guest Ranch and the historic towns of French Lick and West Baden have been closely intertwined. While the Wilstem restoration has been ongoing since the late 1980s, the phenomenal renaissance of French Lick and West Baden over the past 10 years has strengthened the bond between these three historic places. Visionary entrepreneurship and a love for historic preservation have again made all three some of the most popular vacation destinations in the Midwest.
We continued our track through the woods amidst the sounds of screaming and laughing. Next after cleaning up we headed up to Amish Country to enjoy shopping, bakery and dining. Finally, Andy, Kathy, Nick, Mikayla, Zack and Aimee headed out for some more fun. Destination go karts. Finally back to the hotel to the gold course - for FOOT GOLF! SOOOOOOOOO much fun - if you have the opportunity you have to play. It is played on a golf course - with every player having a soccer ball. It was the perfect end of the day for Mikayla and Zack, but Nick and Aimee took to the bowling alley - while Kathy and Andy enjoyed the casino.
Whew! What a day! We all slept really well!
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