Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park 2024 [A First Time Visitors Ultimate Guide]

What To Know Before Visiting Bath House Row Hot Springs

Have you considered a trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas? A visit to Hot Springs National Park and Bathhouse Row is a getaway like no other. Use this guide to Bathhouse Row Hot Springs, Arkansas, to learn everything you need for the ideal getaway.

A stop at Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas was not on our list of places to stop when we traveled from Wisconsin to Texas, but this was our honeymoon trip, and we had extra time.

We decided to take a detour 20 minutes before the exit to Hot Springs. That is one of the advantages of road trips. When you feel like a detour, they are right around the corner.

Our stop at Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs was one of the most romantic and exciting detours we have taken, and we look forward to many more.

Bathhouse Row is a collection of eight bathhouses that date back to the early 1900s. A visit to Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park should be on your bucket list.

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In this post, we will introduce you to all eight of the famous bathhouses in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We will also give you a peek at what to expect when you visit and offer some suggestions that we think will help make your getaway perfect.

Why Visit Bathhouse Row

After the decline of bathhouse popularity, Hot Springs, Arkansas, is again becoming a favorite tourist destination, with Hot Springs National Park located right in the middle of the city. Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park draws many people to the Hot Springs downtown.

When driving into town on the main street, one side of the street is considered Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the other side is Hot Springs National Park.

Hot Springs, Arkansas, is most commonly known for its collection of bathhouses. These bathhouses, built in the 1800s and early 1900s, comprise what is known as Bathhouse Row. Each of the bathhouses is built over a natural hot spring. The water was siphoned into the bathhouses, where visitors could enjoy a soak in the hot mineral water.

The History of Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park

No one knows when the first Americans came to Hot Springs. Native Americans referred to Hot Springs as the “Valley of Vapers.” It was a place where tribes could put their differences aside and enjoy the healing powers of the hot springs.

Guided by Native Americans in 1541, Hernando de Soto was believed to be the first European explorer to enjoy the thermal springs. In 1804 a scouting party was sent out by Thomas Jefferson to explore the area.

In 1832, 40 years before Yellowstone became a National Park, the United States Congress declared Hot Springs a Reservation, a place to be preserved for future recreation. Then, in 1921, the same area became a National Park.

Yellowstone National Park has always been called the first national park, but many consider Hot Springs National Park the oldest. If you go by the original date on which Congress declared Hot Springs a protected reservation, it would make Hot Springs the oldest National Park and the most unique of all the National Parks.

Hot Springs National Park was the first to receive its America the Beautiful quarter coin.

With the hot springs’ popularity in the 1800s, canvas huts were built for bathing areas. As the canvases deteriorated, wood structures were built. Those also began to deteriorate, and in the early 1900s, as the popularity of Bathhouse Row Hot Springs continued to grow, permanent, very modern, and lavish structures were built to take their place.

Bathhouse Row Hot Springs, Then and Now

The healing powers of the thermal springs had people visiting the baths as early as the 1800s.

Notorious gangsters such as Al Capone have visited the area frequently. Although gangsters and gambling are part of Hot Spring’s history, there were no major crimes in the area during that time.

Could it be that just like the springs were a peaceful place for various native American tribes to gather, the area also became a place where crime took a break?

Hot Springs was The American Spa, often called “Spa City.” During the early ’20s, ’30s, and early ’40s, the slogan for Hot Springs was “We Bathe the World.” By 1946, the bathing industry had peaked, and Hot Springs bathhouses had given over one million baths.

Hot Springs National Park is the second smallest of all the National Parks. Surprisingly St. Louis Gateway Arch is the smallest National Park.

Today, Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park is a warm and wonderful place to stroll and enjoy the beautiful architecture of the bathhouse buildings. Walking and enjoying the fresh air was invigorating, as if the minerals were in the air from the water and had healing powers themselves.

The eight bathhouse buildings that still stand today were constructed between 1892 and 1923. Each building still stands as proud and beautiful as it did the day it opened its doors. In the early 1900s, each of the eight bathhouses was operational and offered visitors a chance to enjoy the healing powers of the mineral water.

Today, there are no soaking opportunities available outdoors. With a water temperature of 140 degrees, it would be an unpleasant experience. In town, there are two areas where small springs can be seen and even felt if you are adventurous.

Behind the bathhouses is a small spring where you can dip your hands if you dare.

Two bathhouses still offer visitors a chance to relax in a spa-like setting and enjoy the hot thermal water. Thermal spring water is still piped directly into the remaining two bathhouses, the same as in the early 1900s.

The two remaining bathhouses still operational today, The Buckstaff and The Quapaw, offer very different bathing and spa experiences.

Bathhouse Row, Bathhouses

Below is a list of the eight bathhouses that still stand proud in Hot Springs National Park. They are all located in a row right down the center of town. We enjoyed wandering through all of them.

Even bathhouses that are no longer operational give you a feel for what they would have been like in their glory days. We would love to hear which one you think would have been your favorite.

Buckstaff Bathhouse

Getting There: Google Maps to Buckstaff Bathhouse

The Buckstaff Bathhouse opened its doors in 1912. It is the only bathhouse on Bathhouse Row in continuous operation since it opened its doors.

The Buckstaff is over 27,000 square feet and has three floors accessible by stairway or its original elevator. Since opening its doors, it has undergone many changes and is considered the best-preserved bathhouse.

The Buckstaff was one of two bathhouses to offer a large hydrotherapeutic department that used water in varying amounts, pressure, and temperature to relieve pain.

Today, The Buckstaff offers its customers a traditional bathhouse experience. The very same bathing experience you would have received in the early 1900s. They use all the original bathtubs and equipment, making the overall experience extremely interesting. This kind of bathhouse experience may not be for everyone.

The Buckstaff also offers massages, manicures, pedicures, and facials to enhance your experience further. They also provide private tubs and separate facilities for men and women.

Over the years, the Buckstaff Bathhouse has hosted many prominent baseball players. The health benefits of the thermal water were the reason baseball came to Hot Springs. The players tended to drink a lot and believed that the hot bath regiment could boil out the impurities in their system.

Currently the Buckstaff is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment.

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Quapaw Bathhouse

Getting There: Google Maps to Quapaw Bathhouse

The Quapaw Bathhouse originally opened its doors in 1922. It replaced two previous bathhouses when it was built, making Quapaw the longest building on Bathhouse Row. The Quapaw was named after the American Indian tribe that once inhabited the land in the area.

A unique feature of the Quapaw is its natural hot spring in the basement that you can see. Most of the hot springs are hidden out of public view. If you visit the Quapaw and use the steam cave, you can still see the spring through a window.

The Quapaw’s doors closed in 1984 and reopened in 2008, ready to give visitors a more modern bathhouse experience.

The Quapaw offers private baths, four public pools, and modern spa services with amenities like massage therapy, esthetician services, thermal baths in public pools, or private baths.

The Quapaw experience requires you to have bathing suits and flip-flops. For a small fee, you can spend time in one or all four of their thermal pools. Each pool is set at a different temperature. The hottest is 104, and the others are 102, 98, and 95.

Once paying the small fee you can enjoy the pools as long as you want. Reservations are not accepted for the pool area. It is strictly on a first-come basis. It is an experience that is well worth the wait.

The Quapaw is perfect for a romantic spa day with that special someone. Take a private bath followed by a head-to-toe massage. This romantic time together will be worth every penny.

Ladies, after your romantic time, stop by the blowout bar, and they will have you looking fantastic for the rest of your date.

Currently the Quapaw Bathhouse is open Wednesday the Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. And closed on Tuesdays and holidays.

Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum

Getting There: Google Maps to Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum

The Fordyce Bathhouse opened in 1915 and was the largest bathhouse on Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park. The Fordyce was a bathhouse for the wealthy and upper class. It was the most elaborate and most expensive bathhouse on bathhouse row.

The interior of the Fordyce Bathhouse featured amazing stained glass windows, ceramic tile flooring, and interior fountains, including one fountain featuring De Soto.

The Fordyce has three floors, a basement, and two courtyards. The third floor features a gymnasium.

A 1915 review listed Fordyce as the best bathhouse on Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park.

When the popularity of bathhouses started to decline, The Fordyce was the first bathhouse on Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park to close its doors.

In 1989, the Fordyce Bathhouse was extensively restored and serves as a historically furnished museum and functions as the park’s visitor center. You can take a self-guided tour through the Fordyce Bathhouse and see what it was like as a working bathhouse.

Currently the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Closed on holidays.

Superior Bathhouse

Getting There: Google Maps to Superior Bathhouse Brewery

Superior Bathhouse was the smallest of all the bathhouses on Bathhouse Row. It opened its doors in 1916 and only offered basic hydrotherapy and massage services. Superior Bathhouse was also known for having the lowest rates. It closed its doors as a bathhouse in 1983.

Today, the Superior Bathhouse is known for something very different. It is home to Superior Bathhouse Brewery, the only brewery located in a United States National Park. It is also the only brewery to brew its beer and root beer using thermal spring water as its main ingredient.

Superior Bathhouse Brewery is a full-service, family-friendly restaurant and beer tasting room.

A stop on Bathhouse Row would not be complete without a visit to try “Hot Springs On Tap.” It was our favorite stop of the day.

Currently Superior Bathhouse Brewery is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Maurice Bathhouse

Getting There: Google Maps to Maurice Bathhouse

Maurice Bathhouse opened its doors in 1911. Their Victorian style set the standard for all the other bathhouses. They offered a complete range of services. It was the only bathhouse providing polio and other muscle ailments services.

The three-story bathhouse with sea creature-laden stained glass ceiling in the bath hall included a gymnasium, a rooftop garden, and a once very popular amenity, a sizeable therapeutic pool. The Maurice Bathhouse was the only bathhouse on Bathhouse Row with a pool.

In the last 10 to 15 years, Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park has regained its popularity. Many of the bathhouses that had been closed are finding new life. The Maurice closed its doors in 1974 and is the last bathhouse still waiting for a new owner to bring life back to this magnificent building.

Ozark Bathhouse

Getting There: Google Maps to Ozark Bathhouse

The Ozark Bathhouse opened its doors just on the heels of the Quapaw. The appearance of the Ozark was more lavish on the outside than on the inside. With only 27 tubs, the Ozark catered to the middle-class bather who wasn’t looking for or could not pay for extra frills.

The Ozark Bathhouse closed its doors in 1977 and reopened as the Ozark Bathhouse Cultural Center in 2014.

This historic bathhouse is being utilized as a venue for park events and programs which includes community programs and can be used for private events for a fee.

Today, it displays the artwork for the park’s Artist in Residence program. The culture center is open from noon to 5 pm Friday to Sunday with free admission.

Hale Bathhouse

Getting There: Google Maps to Hale Bathhouse ~ Hotel Hale

Hale Bathhouse is the oldest standing bathhouse. A unique feature of this bathhouse was that it was connected to a thermal cave carved out of the mountain and used as a “hot room.”

Although it is currently not operating as a bathhouse, Hale Bathhouse has been converted into Hotel Hale. Guests staying the night in the historic rooms of the hotel can experience the thermal mineral water baths in each hotel room.

The Hale House is a boutique hotel, restaurant, and bar featuring a mix of modern and mid-century modern styling.

You can book your own stay at Hotel Hale and enjoy the mineral waters of the hot springs in the privacy of your own room.

Lamar Bathhouse AKA Bathhouse Row Emporium

Getting There: Google Maps To Lamar Bathhouse – Bathhouse Row Emporium

The Lamar Bathhouse opened its doors in 1923, replacing a previous wooden structure. One of the unique features of the Lamar Bathhouse was that it offered bathtubs of various lengths for people of different heights. It also provided a small coed gym and a separate area for women.

The Lamar closed its doors in 1985 during the decline of bathhouse popularity.

Today the Lamar is home to Bathhouse Row Emporium, the National Park Store at Hot Springs National Park. A park visitor can shop a selection of quality educational products and books to enhance your National Park experience.

Bathhouse Row Emporium also has many original bathhouse fixtures on display.

Bathhouse Row Emporium is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Closd hoildays

Tips For Visiting Bathhouse Row

• Many of the things on Bathhouse Row are closed on Tuesdays. It is still pleasant to visit the open places, but you will miss some things if you only go on a Tuesday.
• Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit and flip-flops. If you are visiting a bathhouse for services, you will be required to have these items
• Up your water intake before going to the bathhouse and stay hydrated while bathing
• If you are pregnant, you may not be allowed to bath
• No cell phones or watches are allowed

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Bathhouse Row Prices

The prices for the bathhouse will vary depending on the services you choose and the length of time for the service. These were the prices when we visited and may have changed. Please call to confirm.

Quapaw Bathhouse Prices Jan. 2024

Public Thermal Pool ~ $25 plus tax per person, swimsuits, and flip-flops are required.
Private Baths ~ $35 – $60 depending on your bath type. Private baths can be used single or as a couple. Clothing is optional in private baths.
Steam Cave Add on ~ $15 per person, swimsuits are required
Blow Out Service ~ $50-$80 depending on the services you choose

TheQuapaw also offers various spa services and specials: Swedish massages, hot stone, clay body wraps, foot scrubs, facials, and other body treatments, all at varying prices.

Inside the Quapaw public pool area is a cafe where you can grab a relaxing bite to eat.

Buckstaff Bathhouse Price

Whirlpool Mineral Bath ~ $40, 20-minute whirlpool tub bath, sitz bath, vapor cabinet, and needle shower
Swedish Massage ~ $45, 20-minute full-body open-hand Swedish-style massage
Traditional Bathing Package ~ $89, whirlpool mineral bath, loofa mitt, and a 20-minute full-body massage
Deluxe Bathing Package ~ $100, whirlpool mineral bath, paraffin treatment for hand, and a 20-minute full-body massage

Bath add-ons, for an extra cost, include choosing Loofah Mitt, Buckstaff Logo Loofah Mitt, or paraffin treatment for hands.

The Buckstaff also offers various spa services, manicures, pedicures, half facials, and full facials at varying prices.

Which Bathhouse is Best?

With each bathhouse offering close to the same services, but each in very different ways, only you can decide which bathhouse experience is right for you. We recommend you stay longer and enjoy both.

What to expect at each Bathhouse

Quapaw Bathhouse Experience

The Quapaw is a modern bathhouse experience in a historical bathhouse. They offer two modern-day bathhouse experiences. You have the choice of public or private.

The public pool experience is a great way to enjoy the benefits of mineral waters without a high price tag. They do not take reservations for the public pool. It is strictly on a first-come basis.

When you arrive at the Quapaw, you check in and have your name added to the list. Bathers are spaced so that the pools are not overcrowded, allowing bathers time to enjoy the pools fully.

You may have a bit of a wait, but don’t leave. If your name comes up and you are not there, they skip you, and you will have to re-add yourself to the bottom of the list.

To enjoy the public pool, you will need a swimsuit and flip-flops. Once you have paid and are checked in, they escort you to the locker room and give you a locker key and a wristband. Grab some iced tea or mineral water and head into the locker room to change.

You must thoroughly shower before entering any pool and wash off all your make-up and deodorant.

Four different thermal water pools are set at different temperatures. To help with your circulation, the idea is to spend time in one of the heated pools and then in one of the cooler ones. Go back and forth doing this during your time in the pools.

In addition to your pool time, you can add time in the steam cave. The cave is built over a hot spring, and the steam from the spring fills the cave with mineral-rich steam.

The private bath experience can be booked and fills up fast. So don’t wait until the last minute to get private bath time. Private baths can be booked as a single or as a couple. There are many romantic couples packages online. Look through and find the one that fits your desires. Couples’ bath time at the Quapaw is perfect for romantic time together.

Buckstaff Bathhouse Experience

The Buckstaff offers a bathing experience identical to what it would have been like in the early 1900s. The same bath fixtures, tubs, and such are still used today. For a truly unique experience, this is something you should try.

When you arrive at the Buckstaff for your appointment, you must book your spot beforehand. The men and women are separated and taken to the appropriate locker rooms. You will undress completely and wrap in a towel only. Once you are ready, your bath attendant will meet you and take you to the whirlpool for your first treatment.

The whirlpool room has many whirlpools all in the same room. The tubs are the original cast iron tubs from the early 1900s. Each tub is separated by a curtain, giving you a little privacy from the other bathers.

After soaking in the tubs, your bath attendant will return and use a loofa to rub your skin to increase circulation. Following your bath, your attendant will take you for a hot towel treatment, where your attendant will wrap your body with hot towels and your forehead with a cool towel.

You will be taken for a sitz bath following your hot towel treatment. A sitz bath is where you will sit with just your bum in a small low tub of hot mineral water. Sitting with just your bum in hot water relaxes your hips and lower back.

Following the sitz bath, you will then go to the steam box. The steam box is precisely what it sounds like: a metal box that you sit in with just your head sticking out. Your bath attendant will wrap a towel around your neck to trap the steam in the box. Be prepared to sweat like crazy.

Your final bath experience is the needle shower. It sounds painful but is rather relaxing and invigorating. The water from the shower heads comes at you from all directions. Once you have showered, you are taken to a cooling room to lower your body temperature. After hanging out for 15 to 20 minutes, you can return to the locker room and dress.

Your bath attendant is with you throughout your entire bath time, and all the bathing stations are in one large room. You are naked the whole time with just a towel. This may be a very uncomfortable experience if you are modest or shy.

Each bath experience is very different. Only you can decide which bathhouse is right for you. How about trying them both?

Why is the Hot Springs Water so Hot?

Hot Springs are still being studied, but geologists believe that the springs result from a combination of specific rock types. The porous folds and faults in the rocks help create a path for the rainwater to travel deep below the earth’s surface, slowly heating it as it goes along. Eventually, the water hits a fault line and moves back to the surface. It is believed the entire process takes about 4000 years.

As the water moves, the heat dissolves the minerals from the rocks. When the water reaches the surface, it is piping hot at 143 degrees and contains various dissolved minerals. This 4000-year process gives bathers the mineral-filled, healing water many come to Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park to enjoy today.

Hot Springs National Park’s spring water is excellent for soaking and is also completely safe to drink. Visitors of the park and Hot Springs area residents fill their bottles, jugs, and mugs to take the water home. There are also drinking fountains scattered throughout the park.

Is the water so hot you can steep your tea in it? Yes, it is! While filling our jugs to take with us, we were told of a lady who visits the fountain every morning with her mug and tea bag, brewing her tea with the hot water right from the fountain.

The Best Time To Visit Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park

We recommend visiting Hot Springs National Park when the weather is not extremely hot; spring or fall would be the best. February thru May or October thru December. We visited in October, and the weather was perfect. The Summer may be jam-packed with all the summer vacation crowds, so we suggest avoiding the summer months unless you enjoy battling the crowds.

Hotels Near Bathhouse Row

If spending the night in a historic bathhouse is on your bucket list, you can make a reservation through Booking .com

Our first choice for a place to stay would be either the Hotel Hale, How exciting to be able to stay in what was once a historic bathhouse or room 443 of the Arlington. This is the room Al Capone stayed in when he was in Hot Springs. There are so many excellent choices near Bathhouse Row you won’t have a hard time finding what you are looking for.

Booking.com

The Wrap Up – Bathhouse Row Hot Springs, Arkansas

Bathhouse Row Hot Springs Nation Park is an exciting place to visit. As a couple it opportunity for romance and pampering plus an chance to dive into the history of Bathhouse Row.

Bathhouse Row is just the tip of what Hot Springs National Park offers its visitors. Hot Springs National Park will keep calling you back with three lakes, a booming downtown, Gulpha Gorge Campground, and over 26 miles of walking and bike paths, you will want to come back time and time again.

Have you had a chance to visit Bathhouse Row Hot Springs National Park? We would love to know what you enjoyed most, what we missed, or maybe what you need to go back and do. Yes, I am looking for an excuse to revisit them.

Is a Visit to Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park on your bucket list? Save this post on Pinterest so you’ll have all the bathhouse information.