In 1869, Dr. D. J. Rodgers, a well-respected geologist, made the first thorough analysis of the highly coveted mineral water. The dark water and pungent odor’ reminded him of the mythological river of Styx, which flowed underground offering the earth's richest minerals. Rodgers named the well and its curious water, Pluto, after the Roman god of the underground. Pluto was associated with the riches springing forth from the earth and prosperous good fortune. He named a second well Proserpine after the beloved mate of Pluto. The third well was named for the resort owner, Mr. Bowles.

1869 also saw the completion of the Transcontinental Railway. From that point on, travel and commerce in America changed forever. The French Lick Springs Hotel benefited greatly from the influx of tourists by rail. In 1888 the hotel signed a contract with the Louisville, New Albany, and Chicago railroad-"The Monon", granting them a right of way to the hotel grounds. A depot was later established connecting French Lick to Chicago, and ultimately, to the world. That depot is now the site of the Indiana Railway Museum in French Lick. The train station is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this year.

Early hotel brochures listed a wide array of maladies and illnesses that could be cured by the magical waters. Alcoholism, asthma, bladder disease, blood disease, Bright's disease, constipation, obesity, paralysis, dysentery, eczema, eye disease, rheumatism, female problems, gout, gastritis, gall stones, headaches, hives, indigestion, influenza, insomnia, skin disease, sprains, sterility, jaundice, kidney disease, liver disease, malaria, and venereal disease were just some of the illnesses that could be cured by "taking the waters."

The French Lick Hotel was extensively remodeled under the ownership of Wells and Andrews. The hotel became even more popular and was widely advertised as the ultimate hotel destination of the midwest. After a decade of successful operation, Wells and Andrews sold the hotel to a Louisville syndicate. The new owners continued to make improvements and upgrades to the property. The most important improvements to the hotel were made between 1888 and 1890 when the additions of the heating and water systems and the electrical wiring of the hotel grounds allowed the hotel to operate year round. By adding new dining facilities, a new power plant, a new water plant (which also supplied the town with water), as well as amenities like a house doctor (Dr. Ryan), a photographer, a house band, and more staff to attend to the personal needs of the guests, French Lick was considered the world's first completely modernized hotel. The price of rooms soared from an average of $2.00 to nearly $4.00 a night!

In 1897, a terrible fire burned the main building of the French Lick Springs, known as the "Windsor House", including the kitchen, and the dining room. There was also extensive damage to the employee living quarters. Still remaining, however, were the springs, Bowles, Proserpine, and Pluto. The Hotel Clifton, which housed a casino on the second floor managed by Ed Ballard, and the Hotel Pavilion al;