Bathhouse Row

In the historic part of Hot Springs, is a magnolia tree lined street with a row of large bathhouses on one side. They remind me of large Victorian hotels, each one with different architecture. The landscape and buildings have changed over the years, but today there are eight bathhouses which have been restored. Six are used as businesses or for National Park use, and only two offer spa services.

The morning of my visit, the sun was in the wrong place to take good photos. But I did the best I could. I got most of my information from the National Park website, and you could read more about it here.

Superior Baths
The original building was built in 1916, but it has been renovated by different owners over the years. With almost 8,000 sq. ft., it is the smallest of the houses and offered the lowest rates but made claims of providing superior spa treatments.  The bathhouse closed in 1983. Today the building is a local brewery, the only brewery in a national park, and makes beer from the thermal spring water.

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Hale
Several houses have used the name Hale over the years, but the present bathhouse is the oldest visible structure, being built in 1892. It has over 9,500 sq. ft. Hot water comes straight into the basement of the building. The Hale closed as a bathhouse in 1978, but is for lease today. One article I read suggested a boutique hotel was planned.

*****

The Maurice
The original building opened in 1912, and had 23,000 sq. ft. over three stories. The bathhouse offered a range of services and had the only indoor swimming pool. It closed in 1974. It has recently been renovated and now has 18,000 sq. ft. of leasable space.

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Fordyce Bath House
The Fordyce was built in 1915 and is the largest with 28,000 sq. ft., and grandest of all the buildings. It closed as a spa in 1962 but was restored and reopened in 1989 as the visitor center and museum for the National Park. I'm planning to write a separate post about my visit there.

*****

Quapaw Baths
The Quapaw is the longest building along the row, incorporating two previous bathhouses, and built in 1922. It closed in 1984 and had been vacant until 2008 when it reopened as a family-oriented spa. It's one of two that operate today as a spa.

*****

Ozark
The Ozark Bathhouse was built in 1922 and catered to a mid-range bather unwilling to pay for frills. It had 14,000 sq. ft. and provided 27 tubs for bathers. It closed as a spa in 1977,  but currently houses the National Park Cultural Center that displays artwork and exhibitions.

*****

Buckstaff Baths
The Buckstaff has been in continuous operation as a spa since it's opening in 1912. It is the best preserved of all the bathhouses. It is the second largest at 27,000 sq. ft. and has the potential of servicing 1,000 bathers per day.

*****

Lamar
The last, or first depending on which way you start your walk, is the Lamar bathhouse. It opened in 1923, and was unique in that it offered a range of tub lengths for people of various heights. It closed in 1985, but today is the National Park store and has offices for park employees.