The U.S. state of Indiana is a state that has many great treasures although the state itself is not a popular tourist state. It is the home of the Indianapolis 500, the most popular Formula One race in the United States of America with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a hallowed site in the sports world. With Indianapolis, the state capitol, as the most popular city in the state, the state has many great state towns. Among these small towns is the town of French Lick.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! A town named after the fact that the French know how to lick.”
Actually, that is not true. The town originated as a French trading post which happened to be near what is called a salt lick, a spot where animals can lick and get minerals for their body. One of the most popular sports in Indiana is basketball. It just happens to be that French Lick is the hometown of Larry Bird.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! I have heard of hummingbirds. I have heard of mockingbirds. I have never heard of a Larry Bird.”
Larry Bird is a real person who grew up in French Lick. (His home is not open to the public.) He played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics and won many championships for the team, and he made is way to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Although Larry Bird is the town’s main claim to fame, there is also another great reason to visit this town.
Welcome to the French Lick Scenic Railway. Yes, you can ride the train in the same town where Larry Bird spent his childhood. What began as a museum offered train rides from the old French Lick Train Station.
As you arrive, you noticed many vintage railroad cars. You walk around and see the various train cars, but you came to ride the train. You board the train in one of the vintage railroad cars, and you take a ride south of the town through the forest with scenery on each side of the train. It then returns to the train station.
The French Lick Scenic Railway, just like every train ride, is very unique. It has its unique features and sites along the way.
The French Lick Scenic Railway is located on Indiana Route 56 in French Lick, Indiana. Please note that due to the vintage railroad cars, the train is not wheelchair accessible. You can get more information about the French Lick Scenic Railway and get information on the train rides and read more into the history of the railroad at French Lick Scenic Railway | French Lick, IN.
The French Lick Scenic Railway cannot guarantee that you will see Larry Bird. They cannot guarantee that you will win a National Basketball Association Championship or get you into the Hall of Fame. What they can guarantee is a great and scenic train ride… and maybe see some other birds along the way.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 