Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
This national park is different from many of our national parks because it is actually imbedded in the city of Hot Springs. Not that Hot Springs is a megametropolis, more like Burlington with a population of 33,000. It also includes the more typical protected landscapes, rocky hillsides, gulches, interesting geology and wildlife, but much is in the city itself.
I wasn't sure what to expect at this park. What would the hot springs be like? Would they be a large outdoor pool, a series of pools, indoor pools, a spa? Formally, one went to these hot springs in a series of "bathhouses". As we explored the displays that were set up throughout one of the historic bath houses (that also served as the park‘s visitors center) it became clear that this hadn't been a fashion spa. It more closely resembled the birthplace of the discipline of physical therapy. Not only were there the “baths” (pools filled with naturally heated mineral water), there were treatment rooms (pics to follow), gymnasiums (with equipment that is just a few generations older than what I've seen in many PT clinics today), and a series of “promenades” (walks) rated in increasing difficulty, (A, B and C) that were all used as part of the “treatment plan” which typically ran for 4-8 weeks. This "treatment plan" was really a medical treatment plan. And just to mention, these promenades were really groundbreaking. At this time, people did NOT exercise for health, in fact they “rested” for health. The hot springs came out from a mountainside so the bathhouses were all nestled up in a row right against the base of the mountain (really more like a large hill). The most basic promenade (an A) included climbing stairs to reach a level corresponding to the roofs of the bathhouses and then following a mostly level picturesque brick path past the bandstand to the end of the bathhouse row and back down. As a guest’s treatment continued, more promenades were added, (those rated B and then C), that went further up the side of the mountain. These promenades gradually became more strenuous, thereby increasing the "guest's" endurance and fitness levels. In the early 1900s this was the most visited health and wellness resort in the United States and it was deemed to have curative properties, “where crutches are thrown away due to the healing thermal waters". I can't help but think it was also due to the forward thinking regiment of fresh air, healthy food and exercise!
On to pics!
These berries were in our campground. I'm not sure if you've noticed, and I try to control myself on the blog, but I happen to have a fascination for berries, especially taking pictures of berries ...
Bathhouse Row
While similar in size and built with similar materials, the bathhouses represents different architectural styles.
The Quapaw Baths
Spanish colonial revival style
The Ozark Bathhouse
Also built in the Spanish colonial revival style. It a was a bathhouse for the middle economic class of bathers, so there were few frills on the inside, just 27 tubs. All the frills were outside. It closed in 1977.
The Buckstaff Bathhouse
Classically designed representing buildings from the Edwardian era
The Fordyce Bathhouse
Renaissance Revival with both Spanish and Italian influences.
The Fordyce also serves as the visitor's center and museum so I was able to take a few indoor pics as well.
The Fordyce features some beautiful stained glass. These panels were in the women's cool down room.
A therapy shower (looks a little scary to me 😬)
Of course, if we're talking scary, consider these "therapy boxes(?)" ... everything goes inside except the "guest's" head
The stained glass ceiling in the men's lounge
Sorry this is such a bad pic, but the lights were low, no flash allowed, it was hard … however, beneath this gorgeous ceiling was a statue of de Soto being given water by an indigenous maiden, likely representing the fountain of youth, and benches, chairs and private cubicles. The men had quite a swanky set-up.
One of the spots where the spring water flows down the rock pooling in collecting basins below. When the water first comes out of the rock, it is 143°F, but on a late Nov afternoon it cooled fairly quickly and I could almost submerge my hand into the water at the far end from where it entered the pools, almost.
And here's a national park first and only. Hot Springs has their own brewery! It's located in one of the old bathhouses, Superior bathhouse to be exact. Well naturally we HAD to check that out. How could we claim due diligence in our national park reviews if we hadn't? And my review? …well…I've certainly had better beer, but I've had worse, too. I don't expect to be back in the area, but if I ever am, I'd go again. It was fun.
Apparently, Hot Springs has had their brush with some of the more notorious criminal element (ahem) I mean, less than law abiding folks as well. We ate dinner one night at the Ohio Club, just across the street from the bathhouses
with a famous bar (that actually has bullet holes in it)
and a well known patron, Al (to his friends, Capone to his enemies and the police) shooting the breeze with Martin! 🤭
A little park, pretty with lights.
We did one other crazy thing while we were in Hot Springs…we traded in our Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was starting to make some noises (as Martin likes to say, expensive sounding noises…) for a red truck!
So, we said goodbye jeep.🙋
We're now the owner's of a Toyota Tundra … and of course, we have our Prius, you know, to balance out the whole carbon footprint thing 🙄
And hello truck 😁
Next stop??? We are making a bunch of one and two nighters as we shoot across to and up the East Coast and I think I'm just going to combine them all into one blog. I may have to split it up. You'll just have to wait and see. 😁
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