Today was a short travel day, as we stopped in Hot
Springs to tour the National Park and the bathhouses. I admit to not knowing
any of the history of the town and the federal involvement from the very beginning.
I found the way this city developed to be rather unique. A long version can be read here. The short version is that the Federal
Government got involved early to protect the springs by claiming the area and
created the Hot Springs Reservation in
1832. It remains under federal control
today as a National Park.
We toured the Visitor Center, which was the Fordyce bathhouse
and is in the middle of bathhouse row. There
are 23 restored rooms as they would have been during the heyday period. It was
a very interesting tour.
There is at least one bathhouse that still provides
spa services. Others are now used for different purposes.
If you are not interested in having a spa day or
more, the city is filled with the usual tourist stuff. If that does not appeal
to you, it will take less than a day to see the sights,
We stopped for the night at Lake Chicot State
Park, near Lake Village, AR. The lake is
the largest Oxbow lake in North America.
We had a full hookup site on the water.
The park is very quiet as the season ends on July 4th, as it is too hot
this time of year. I understand that, on
our arrival the temperature was 97.
6 comments:
Wow! I didn't know a thing about the bath houses. It's very interesting for sure. I'd love to visit that area.
What an interesting blog!!! I never knew about this so thanks for the history lesson!! It's definitely on our "to see" list.
Your site is awesome!!!
We visited hot springs and thought the visitor center was one of the best ever. Your pictures capture all there is there perfectly. It’s an amazing education. I knew nothing about fancy hot spring spas but now I wish I’d just forked out the money for a once in a life time spa day. But who is your new beau? Does Chuck know about him? 97 degrees – whew – OH MY! Your sunsets on the lake are beautiful. Interesting that the park closes on July 4th. Maybe that’s what all parks in the south should do.
Very cool post, especially for someone who's never been to the Hot Springs and barely knows a thing about it. A good place to stop, perhaps in fall, when 97 is reversed to 79, eh?
You hit the jackpot with the view. Hot Springs looks like a very interesting place ... and that NPS VC is unique. Love the stained glass ceiling.
What? No pictures of you soaking in a hot tub? Missed opportunity... :c)
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