A Century of Community: Celebrating 100 Years of the LaFontaine Center
A century after it first opened its doors, the LaFontaine Center in downtown Huntington stands as both a monument to our community’s history and a symbol of what’s possible when people come together to preserve the past.
On Saturday, October 26, from 2–4 p.m., the LaFontaine Center will celebrate its 100th anniversary with an open house, cupcakes and refreshments, and a screening of the 2017 documentary Hotel LaFontaine: A Look Back, which will be available for purchase.
From Luxury Hotel to Community Landmark
When the Hotel LaFontaine opened in 1925, it was the vision of James Frederick Bippus, a local businessman who wanted to give something extraordinary back to the Huntington community. The hotel quickly became known across the Midwest for its elegant rooms, fine dining, and striking Egyptian-themed indoor swimming pool — the largest ever built in a commercial hotel at the time.
The pool even attracted Olympic champion Johnny Weissmuller, who would later find fame as Tarzan. During the hotel’s grand opening celebrations, Weissmuller helped dedicate the pool, and for a time, the LaFontaine became a destination for travelers, dignitaries, and celebrities alike.
But like many grand hotels of the era, the LaFontaine’s fortunes changed with the Great Depression and the decline of passenger rail travel. The building passed through several owners and eventually closed in 1974, its once-grand halls left vacant and deteriorating.
A Community-Driven Revival
By the early 1980s, the LaFontaine’s future seemed uncertain — many believed demolition was inevitable. But Huntington residents had other ideas. A determined coalition of local advocates, including Huntington Alert, the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, and countless volunteers, banded together to save the landmark.
Artists and craftspeople painstakingly recreated murals, tiles, and furnishings, and after six years of restoration, the building was rededicated in 1987. The project was recognized nationally — in 1991, the LaFontaine Center received a National Trust for Historic Preservation Honor Award, shared alongside the Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation.
A Living Legacy
Today, the LaFontaine Center continues to serve Huntington as a retirement community, managed by the Retirement Housing Foundation, while its grand ballroom and public spaces host weddings, parties, and community gatherings.
“This was the place to be,” says Rose Meldrum, LaFontaine Center board president and former property manager. “So many famous people came here to eat, to bowl, to swim in the pool — and there are still bits and pieces of that history all around the building. I’m thrilled to celebrate this place with the community.”
For local historian Jean Gurnand, the building represents more than brick and mortar — it’s a piece of Huntington’s soul. “James Bippus put his whole heart into it,” she said. “He loved this community deeply, and it shows in what he built.”
Celebrate 100 Years
The centennial celebration offers a chance to honor that legacy, look toward the future, and step inside a place that has witnessed a century of Huntington’s history. As Will Hahn, co-author of A Dream Realized: LaFontaine Center History, 1981–1987, shared, “It’s basically just to welcome the community. Let people know there’s still a little availability, and this is a great opportunity to take a look at apartments and help us celebrate the building’s history.”
📍 LaFontaine Center
208 W. State Street, Huntington, IN
📅 Saturday, October 26 | 2–4 p.m.
🎥 Screening of Hotel LaFontaine: A Look Back
🧁 Open house, cupcakes, and refreshments
🌐 LaFontaineCenter.org | (260) 356-9099
Join the celebration and be part of this remarkable milestone in Huntington’s story.
Find more local history, events, and things to do at 👉 www.visithuntington.org
