Hot Springs National Park

March 20/2013 Sunny, cool about 64 at night 39

On top of Zig Zag Mountain

This Bath House is run by the National Park.

It was a beautiful spring day in Arkansas but a bit on the cool side for going out and putting a long ride on the motorcycle so we decided to head downtown Hot Springs and see the much acclaimed reasons to visit since the early 1800's.   Hot Springs National Park was founded back then and is the only one to be fully inside an urban center and it is the smallest.   There are two scenic rides up the mountains in the National Park - East and West.

Only 1 lane traffic, 1 way - lots of hairpin turns

The federally-protected, natural thermal waters are also used for thermal bathing at several downtown hotels and a hospital. The water is available free for drinking at several fountains in the downtown area. It is also available free throughout the city in the homes of the residents. In the 1900's it was a baseball spring training area and there is much about Babe Ruth hanging out at the Oaklawn Thoroughbred Racing Track and the local row of Bath Houses on main street to soothe his athletic body.

The Arlington Hotel is in the Center, this view is from the West Mountain lookout.

This was also a favorite retreat of the gangsters and Al Capone who use to rent the whole floor of the largest hotel downtown.  Gambling was in Hot Springs till 1967 when it was permanently closed down.