Hot Springs National Park
Sun rise over the Arkansas River.
South this morning on one of Arkansas’ designated scenic roads. This one really was. Narrow, twisty, two-lane through some very pretty country. Even had more color than we had seen before.
Scenic road sneaks in from the north to the town of Hot Springs. Named for the hot springs located there. LONG history of use and development of the springs over years. National Park established to protect the actual springs from damaging development. The park encompasses a row of bath houses, the springs, and the hill behind which has an observation tower at the peak.
Looking along Bath House Row
The visitor center is in one of the old bath houses and the whole building is a display of the layout of the bath houses. For their time these places would easily rival any resort/spa you could find today. They were pretty comprehensive and spiffy. Baths, saunas, massage, hydrotherapy, exercise machines, gym, lounges, beauty salon, sun decks, and more all in one building and all first class.
Skylight in men's bath/pool room
Gym on top floor
Natural spring not covered by building :)
Fountain in front of a bath house fed by hot spring. The misty look is actually steam. Water comes out of ground @ 145 degrees.
Back east again to Clarendon, AR. We got a taste of very small town Arkansas. In finding and hooking up in the city RV campground we met a city councilman/levy district chairman/former mayor/etc. who guided us to the park. We also met the chief of police who turned on the electricity for us. We also spoke to the current mayor on the phone (called him at work – he runs the town’s liquor store). We met the councilman’s sister and mother. His mother spent her junior high school years in Marysville, CA. Small world and this part of it is a different experience for us.
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