Date: May 29, 2025 | Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton | Photography: Bailey Dougan |
Storied structures, healing waters, and a natural setting continue to make Spa City one of the state’s top destinations
Opened to the public on New Years Eve in 1924, The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa has been an icon of downtown Hot Springs for just over a century. In celebration of the centennial, the historic structure recently underwent a thoughtful restoration and renovation. Alan Sims, general manager of The Arlington since 2017, describes work on the building’s exterior as particularly extensive. “We chipped away seven layers of stucco and uncovered some incredibly detailed craftsmanship at the top of the hotel that we’ve highlighted now,” he says. Inside, plumbing and electrical updates behind the walls ensure modern-day comfort for guests while the historical charm of architectural molding alongside antique mirrors and chandeliers remains. We spoke with Alan about The Arlington’s 100th anniversary, his favorite bits of Hot Springs history, and what makes Spa City so special.
Q: What was Hot Springs like 100 years ago when The Arlington opened?
A: When The Arlington opened it was the finest hotel west of the Mississippi River, known for its elegance and charm. You would find major league baseball players, movie stars, and presidents all staying here. It was a place for both the famous and the infamous. President [Franklin D.] Roosevelt stayed here one Fourth of July; there are photos of the thousands of people who were drawn here as he’s speaking on the veranda at the hotel. Babe Ruth, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and Yogi Berra also visited the hotel. The first nine years of major league baseball spring training were in Hot Springs, and the players would come here and sit in the baths to get rid of the toxins they’d picked up during the off season. There are just so many interesting stories like that. One of my favorites was that Babe Ruth actually negotiated a contract in Hot Springs at one of the bathhouses. They wanted to offer $45,000 a year, and he wanted $52,000. He wanted to be the first pro player to be paid $1,000 a week, and ended up getting it.
Q: What makes staying at The Arlington special?
A: Our bathhouse has been operating for 100 years, and it is probably the most traditional experience on Bathhouse Row. It’s truly something that will take you back in time. Our dining room is massive and beautiful, and we have an incredible executive chef. We’re known for our Friday night seafood buffet, and our Sunday brunch is a staple. Every Friday and Saturday night we have live entertainment on stage in the Lobby Bar. If you like to people watch, it’s the perfect place for a wonderful evening. Then there’s the veranda. Since the day the hotel opened, it’s been a gathering place where people felt comfortable and relaxed and could enjoy the day. That has not changed. On the evenings when the weather is nice, the veranda is the place to sit and just soak in Hot Springs.
Q: What are some must-dos in Hot Springs?
A: I always recommend catching The Gangster Museum of America, especially if you only have a day or two. It takes 45 minutes to tour, and you will walk out of there with an incredible understanding of what has made Hot Springs what it is. From the seventh floor of The Arlington, there’s a trail that connects to Hot Springs National Park, taking you all the way up to the observation tower. The Buckstaff and Quapaw are still operational bathhouses, and Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the only brewery on national park grounds and the only beer in the world made with thermal mineral water. Right across the street, the Ohio Club is the oldest bar in the state of Arkansas. There are great restaurants up and down Bathhouse Row; that’s the great thing about The Arlington. You can park your car here for the weekend and walk everywhere.
Read on for more of our favorite ways to discover Hot Springs.
Alan Sims, general manager of The Arlington
Shrimp cocktail at Taco Mama
The light-filled café at Red Light Roastery
Tour Crystal Ridge Distillery’s century-old building and taste test their moonshine, vodka, and bourbon.
The Arlington’s hotel lobby
SHOP
Be sure to check out the area’s numerous outlets for antique wares, including Black Tie Antique Mall (870.692.9767) on Malvern Avenue. Browse vintage clothing, retro furniture, china, collectibles, and more in the store’s maze of booths. Step inside The Savory Pantry (savorypantry.com) for teas, dips, snacks, cocktail mixes, and kitchen wares that make perfect gifts. For fashionable women’s clothing and accessories, visit Oak Boutique (oakboutiquehs.com) to try on trending looks for everyday life and special occasions alike.
DINE
Chef and owner Diana Bratton has built Taco Mama (tacomama.net) into a beloved staple of the city for Mexican menu favorites. Get your fix at the Malvern Avenue location or over in Sidetown inside the Surfas Culinary District store. For refined dinner and drinks, don’t miss the intimate speakeasy feel at DONS Southern Social (seeyouatdons.com). Chef Joshua Garland’s menu is ever-evolving, and reservations are recommended. Grab a cup of coffee (and a bag of roasted beans) at the recently renovated Red Light Roastery Coffee House (redlightroastery.com) while you fuel up for your next stop.
VISIT
Located inside Ozark Bathhouse, Mystic Ozark (mysticozark.com) opened in May as a museum where myth and mystery meet science. Learn about Hot Springs National Park’s legendary geothermal waters through immersive, hands-on experiences suited for the whole family. The annual Stueart Pennington’s World Championship Running of the Tubs, a beloved Hot Springs tradition where competitors race themed bathtubs on wheels, takes place June 7. Stake out your spot on Bathhouse Row to witness the good-spirited competition up close.
STAY
Enjoy it all—access to gourmet restaurants (including the exquisite OAK room & bar), luxury spa services at Astral Spa, and the convenience of the casino—when
you book a room at Oaklawn (oaklawn.com). While some rooms at The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa (arlingtonhotel.com) are still undergoing restoration, hundreds are already updated and ready for service inside the character-rich structure.
Tacos from Taco Mama
The Grand Promenade in downtown Hot Springs
DONS Southern Social
