Bath Houses

We visited "Bathhouse Row" today.  The hot springs of the national park flow out of the mountain and into the city of Hot Springs.  In the late 1800's and early 1900's bath houses were constructed.  They collected this water and offered therapeutic baths to their clientele.  The Bathhouse Row contains eight bathhouses aligned in a row: Buckstaff, Fordyce, Hale, Lamar, Maurice, Ozark, Quapaw, and Superior. These were independent, competing, commercial enterprises.  At present on Bathhouse Row only the Buckstaff and Quapaw are operating as bathhouses. The Fordyce is open as a visitors center and the facilities have been historically renovated to their original appearance.  I was surprised to learn that many famous people hung out at these hot springs, including the gangster Al Capone.  The Pittsburgh Pirates used to hold their spring training near the city of Hot Springs and used the baths.

The Lamar Bathhouse is used by the National Park as a gift shop and information center

The Buckstaff is operating as a traditional bathhouse. The staff provide a range of services from tradition thermal mineral baths and body massages to Swedish style full body massages. The bathing tubs are private and bathing suits are optional.

The Ozark is not being used

The Quapaw is an active bathhouse.  There are soaking pools, as well as traditional body massages and Swedish style full body massages.

This was in the  Fordyce bathhouse.  It was the most elaborate and was the most expensive of the bathhouses.  Presently you can tour the facility and see what it was like back in it's day of operation.  This was used as a "needle shower".

These were steam chambers that the clients sat in.

Pretty stained glass in the This was in the Fordyce bathhouse

This was in the massage room.  I have no idea what it does.

More stained glass in the This was in the Fordyce bathhouse.

Maurice Bathhouse is being remodeled and then will be leased out by the national Park

The Hale bathhouse is not open

The Superior Bathhouse is presently used as a cafe

RoxAnne standing by the Cascade Hot Springs.  It flowed down the hill into these pools.  The water was very hot to the touch.