Hot Springs, Arkansas is seeped not only in body-soothing mineral water but in history, too. The National Park Service has tours in and along Bathhouse Row for those who want to take a deep dive into the town’s bathing tradition, which dates to the 19th century.
Visitors can still experience the time-honored bathhouse treatments at the Roman Gothic style Buckstaff Bathhouse, which opened its doors in 1912. Nearby, the Quapaw Baths & Spa offers four large-capacity, gender-mixed, bathing-suit-mandatory thermal water soaking pools.
Beginning in the Belle Epoque, both nobles and commoners were attracted to Hot Springs’ the magical waters and surrounding beauty. In the 1920s and well into the mid-20th century, a who’s who of the gangster world joined the list of visitors, from Al Capone and Bugs Moran to Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano. Their stories are told at the Gangster Museum of America through displays that transport visitors back to a time when mineral water, gambling, bootlegging, and brothels coexisted. The museum also recalls the history of baseball spring training, which started with the Chicago White Stockings in 1886 and lasted into the 1940s.
While professional baseball may be gone, horseracing is in full gallop at the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resortfrom December to May. Visitors can watch from indoor or outdoor grandstands or from a sprawling grassy infield. World-class restaurants are onsite to celebrate winning tickets or to commiserate over bets lost by a nose.
Hot Springs’ outdoor adventures range from kayaking, canoeing, and hiking to boating, fishing, and mining. Ouachita Kayak Tours is one option for exploring Arkansas’ largest lake, Lake Ouachita, which features more than 200 islands and nearly 700 miles of shoreline.
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Botanists and horticulturists—or people who just enjoy a garden stroll—will enjoy exploring the 210-acre Garvan Woodland Gardens, in the picturesque Ouachita Mountains. The botanical garden, a gift from local industrialist and philanthropist Verna Cook Garvan, aims to highlight and sustain gardens, landscapes, and structures of exceptional design. Several of the structures in the garden were designed by renowned architect E. Fay Jones in the tradition of Jones’s mentor, Frank Lloyd Wright.
Avant Mining, the world’s largest quartz crystal mining company, is among the companies offering digging opportunities for those who want to mine their own crystals with pick axe in hand. Permits for adults are $25, with reduced prices for seniors and children. Private pocket digs are also available, starting at $1,000 per group.
While days in Hot Springs and its environs are usually spent detoxing at the bathhouses and/or experiencing the great outdoors, visitors have the option to retox at restaurants and bars, many with rich histories.
The Crystal Ridge Distillery builds on the town’s tradition of distilling moonshine by updating with modern technology to produce premium spirits with a smooth, rich flavor. Crystal Ridge now occupies the historic F.C. Stearns Warehouse. Another successful conversion is the Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Distillery. After lying vacant for 30 years, the Superior Bathhouse on Bathhouse Row was reimagined as a restaurant. It’s the world’s first brewery to incorporate thermal spring water as a main ingredient.
Find an onsite brewery and kitchen at the family-owned SQZBX Brewery & Pizza Joint. The beers are brewed in the classic Reinheitsgebot tradition, while the pizzas start with hand-tossed, house-made dough.
For an upscale historic dining experience, Vault at 723 is located in a former bank building that dates to the 1890s. The original bank vault was preserved and now hosts private dinners.
Looking for a historic dining experience that drips with barbecue sauce or maple syrup? You can find it at McClard’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant, which dates to 1928 and counts former President Bill Clinton among its fans.Stubby’s Bar-B-Que, a Hot Springs tradition since 1952, when founder (and namesake) Richard Stubblefield Sr. first fired up his barbecue. The Pancake Shop, which opened its doors for breakfast in 1940, is a great way to start the day, while The Ohio Club is a popular way to extend th evening. It was a favorite watering hole for a seemingly endless list of celebrities that included names from Babe Ruth to Mae West.
After a long day of bathing, exploring, and imbibing, a comfortable pillow is always welcome. Accommodations range from the trendy Waters Hotel on Central Avenue and The Reserve at Hot Springs in a converted mansion to Lookout Point Lakeside Inn on Lake Hamilton and historic Best Court Cottages, which opened its room (and garage doors) in 1933.
While Hot Springs is a year-round destination, April 8, 2024 will be particularly eventful. On that day, a total solar eclipse will cross North America. Hot Springs National Park sits in the path of totality during this spectacular cosmic event.
