Back in March, I shared a post about the historic hotels of Camp Chesterfield. Then in April, I wrote about the powerful winds that ripped through the grounds, destroying the vintage neon sign on the camp’s Western Hotel. In the wake of the storm, Camp Chesterfield reached out to its community and asked for help to recover and rebuild. Just a few days ago, they announced some wonderful news: the iconic sign has been fully restored and is glowing once again.
Founded in 18921, Camp Chesterfield is a spiritualist camp, a home for those who believe that a person’s awareness continues after death and can be contacted by the living2. After World War II, a renewed wave of interest in spiritualism brought a substantial amount of new visitors to Camp Chesterfield. With them came a pressing need for more lodging. In 1945, camp officials unveiled ambitious plans for a new $75,000 hotel: the Grand. Designed in a L-shape, the brick-and-cement structure would boast seventy rooms with both its wings featuring a commanding 175-foot frontage3.
The final result turned out differently. Completed in 1947, the new building -named the Western Hotel- featured just thirty-two sleeping rooms, along with baths and a spacious dining hall. Though smaller than envisioned, it was still seen as a valuable addition to the community. Members of the Anderson Chamber of Commerce attended a celebratory dinner that praised the hotel as a countywide improvement that expanded local lodging options4.
Today, the Western Hotel stands tall as a striking example of mid-century American roadside architecture5. Built from concrete with a brick veneer, the building rests on a sturdy block foundation. The Western’s distinctive features include its flat roof, wraparound porch, and that fantastic vintage sign. When powerful winds tore through on April 3rd and sent the sign crashing down, the community didn’t miss a beat. A few days ago, the camp credited Kim Wolsiffer and the Sign Company for its beautiful restoration and reinstallation above the Western6.
The return of the Western Hotel’s neon sign speaks to the resilience of a community that refuses to let its history fade, even in the face of sudden loss. For nearly eighty years, the Western has welcomed visitors seeking comfort, connection, and perhaps the presence of something just beyond the veil. Now, with its sign once again glowing over the porch, it continues to stand as a beacon of the spirit(s?) that built and sustain(s?) Camp Chesterfield.
Sources Cited
1 National Register of Historic Places, Chesterfield Spiritualist Camp District, Chesterfield, Madison County, Indiana. National Register #02000192.
2 Melton, J.G. (2001). Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology. Vol 2. Gale Group [Farmington Hills]. Book.
3 New Chesterfield Hotel (1947, October 18). The Anderson Daily Bulletin. p. 13.
4 (See footnote 1).
5 (See footnote 1).
6 Camp Chesterfield. Camp Chesterfield (2025, July 25). Lookie Here!! – The Sign is BACK & looking brand new! A massive THANK YOU to everyone for your generous donations that [Status]. Facebook.
