Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park

After leaving Bill Clinton's birthplace home, I drove back to Hot Springs and was hopeful to get a soak at one of the mineral bathhouses on Bathhouse Row.  Hot Springs National Park is a unique national park because it's not your typical park.  Back in the late 1700s and early 1800s American Indiana knew of the healing properties of the hot springs.  The average temperate at hot springs is 143 degrees!  People drink the water from both the hot and cold springs and the hot and cold springs have different chemical components.  Scientists believe the hot springs to be about 4,000 years old!  The park collects 700,000 gallons of water a day for use in the public drinking fountains and bathhouses!  Astounding!!  There are 47 hot springs coming down the mountain, too!  Long ago, Hot Springs was once called Hot Springs Reservation, but after the national parks were established it was changed to Hot Springs National Park and the water is now monitored by the park service.

The first thing I saw after parking were two gentlemen filling up as many jugs they could at the hot Hot Spring water.  It's free for the taking and there are 7 filling areas around Bathhouse Row.  The water has fabulous minerals in it and you are highly encouraged to drink the elixir.  I actually bought two glass jugs and filled up at the end of the day, myself!  I figured when the water was gone, I could use the jugs to juice my orange juice in.  After I got home, my jugs were still piping hot and didn't cool down til about 10 p.m.

Between 1911-1923, eight bathhouses were built.  Here's a map so you can see where each one is.

The national park gift shop is located in the Lamar Bathhouse next to the Park Administration Building.  It houses all sorts of bath and beauty items and includes a big claw foot tub in the center where you can climb in for a cute photo op.

Next door, the Buckstaff Bathhouse has operated continuously since 1912 and is still done with the same way today as it was in 1912.

The Ozark Bathhouse is next to the Buckstaff and now home to a new Ozark Bathhouse Cultural Center consisting as an art museum.

Next to that is the Quapaw Bathhouse.  This bathhouse is probably the most well known and has been renovated into a modern day spa.

The Fordyce Bathhouse is now that national park visitor center and museum of the bathing industry. 

Two building after that, the Maurice and Hale Bathhouses are no longer operating.  And at the far end of Bathhouse Row is the Superior is now a brewery called the Superior Bathhouse Brewery.

So, which bathhouse did I choose to get pampered at?  The Buckstaff Bathhouse.  Why?  I wanted to get an old-school style bath the way they would have done it in 1912.  There is NO air conditioning in the bathhouse - a drawback for sure - but they had a bunch of fans and an old-time elevator that still worked.  There was a spring special running so I took advantage of that for $79 and added on a facial, as well.

The first thing I had done was my facial.  I added that on and was happy I did.  They took me upstairs to the third floor where I waited for my attendant.  I enjoyed the cool floors and they had a grand piano up there!  It probably hasn't been played for ages, but it was a fun mix of old and elegant.  There was even an old rowing machine that looked like it weighed 75 pounds easy!  I peered out the window below and loved the charm of the old building 101 years old!

My facial room after I was done...

After the facial, I went back downstairs where they escorted me up to the second floor.  Here I couldn't get any photos for privacy reasons as there isn't much privacy on this level.  I was escorted to a locker where I disrobed.  When done, they told me to face the locker and put my arms out where they parted the curtain and wrapped a huge sheet around me.  I knew then, privacy was out the window.  We walked first to the bathing area where I climbed into a large claw-foot tub.  They placed an old board behind my back so that I could fit into the tub properly and I soaked for 30 minutes in 104 degree bath.  To make a whirlpool effect, they placed an old large kitchen mixer into the tub and the water swirled around me.  Ahhh.  I drank 2 cups of hot spa water they gave me while there.

Here's what the $79 treatment consisted of:

Then I went to lay down on a table that was filled of 143 degree steaming towels and they wrapped them all around me and gave me ice cold water to drink in small cups.  I was there about 10 minutes.  Following this treatment, I was put in the Steam Cabinet (head out) for 5 minutes and then directed to a Sitz tub for my lower back and butt area.  Following this, I went to the shower where I had 140 degree water needle jets showering me all over.  Once this was complete I had a so-so 20 minute Swedish Massage.  I wasn't impressed with the massage - she did a half job and I thought she was very lazy.  The bathing treatment alone was worth the $79 special price.

Once I was re-dressed, I went to the Paraffin area where I had my hands placed in wax for about 10 minutes in lavender wax.  I  had the choice of plain, peach or lavender and chose lavender.  I was the last person of the day, so I did get a few photos of the gorgeous floor at the Buckstaff.  I thought it could be a beautiful design in a quilt.

Now, a note about Bathhouse Row.  The streets are exceedingly narrow and parking is at a premium.  There is a free parking lot up the hill.  I parked a half block up from the Park Admin Building on Reserve Street so that was convenient for me.  On Fountain Street (top of map) you can drive to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower but be aware than only vehicles less than 30 feet can drive there.   The park consists also of a driving trail, walking trails both down by the bathhouses and up on the mountain.  There is also a campground - Gulpha Gorge as well as a picnic area.

If you get the change to go to Hot Springs, plan on spending about 2 days...Bathhouse Row has a bunch of cute shops and there are plenty of walking trails to be had.  It's a fun place.  I'd suggest coming in Feb-April when the temps are cooler.