Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights & Activities
A promenade runs through the park around the hillside behind Bathhouse Row, where
some springs survive intact, and a network of trails covers Hot Springs' mountains. Only
two of the historic bathhouses are in operation.
Gangster Museum of America MUSEUM
( www.tgmoa.com ; 510 Central Ave; adult/child $12/free; 10am-5pm Sun-Thu, to 6pm Fri & Sat)
Learn about the sinful glory days of prohibition when this small town in the middle of
nowhere turned into a pinpoint of lavish wealth thanks to Chicago bootleggers like Ca-
pone, and his NYC counterparts. Highlights include original slots and a tommy gun.
Hot Springs Museum of Contemporary Art ART
( 501-608-9966; www.museumofcontemporaryart.org ; 425 Central Ave; adult/child $5/free;
9am-4pm Tue-Sat, noon-3pm Sun) The historic Ozark bathhouse is now home to 11,000 sq ft
of gallery space housing rotating exhibits. Given Hot Springs' arts reputation, it is worth
a look.
NPS Visitor Center MUSEUM
( 501-620-6715; www.nps.gov/hosp ; 369 Central Ave; 9am-5pm) On Bathhouse Row, tra-
ditionally set up in the 1915 Fordyce bathhouse, the NPS visitor center and museum have
exhibits about the park's history first as a Native American free-trade zone, and later as a
turn-of-the-19th-century European spa. At research time, however, the Fordyce was un-
der renovation and a temporary center was set up in the Lamar bathhouse down the
street.
Hot Springs Mountain Tower OUTDOORS
(401 Hot Springs Mountain Rd; adult/child $7/4; 9am-5pm Nov-Feb, to 6pm Mar-May 15 & Labor
Day-Oct, to 9pm May 16-Labor Day) On top of Hot Springs Mountain, the 216ft tower has
spectacular views of the surrounding mountains covered with dogwood, hickory, oak and
pine - lovely in the spring and fall.
Buckstaff Bathhouse SPA
( 501-623-2308; www.buckstaffbaths.com ; 509 Central Ave; thermal bath $30, with 20min mas-
sage $60; 7-11:45am & 1:30-3pm Mon-Sat) Spa service Hot Springs style was never a
'foofy' experience. Buckstaff's no-nonsense staff whip you through the baths, treatments
and massages, just as in the 1930s. And it is wonderful.
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