7-1-09 Wednesday (Whore Houses & Bath Houses)

We got up early, and even got out of the coach at a reasonable hour.  About an hours drive to the city of Hot Springs was worth it.  We’ve passed many hot spring towns in our travels.  This one we decided to see because it’s a National Park.  It’s an interesting merge of government and the people.  The Parks Service owns all the bath houses.  2 of which are open and operated privately under lease.  The visitor center and museum is within the Fordyce Bathhouse.  There are 8 bathhouses in a row that make up “Bathhouse Row”.  Some are empty and available for lease.  Across the street are gift shops and restaurants. 

Using our 2 for 1 entertainment.com coupon, we found a little cafe called “Exchange Street Cafe”.  The menu was salad, appetizers, hot dogs or burgers.  Very limited menu.  The food was good.  The atmosphere was strange.  The building was strange.  Looking around, one gets the sense that it is an old building and has been hodge-podged into this upstairs cafe.  We asked what it used to be, the server asked the cook, and the response was “a whore house”.  Hmmmmmm.  Funny actually.

After lunch we went back to the visitor center and toured the old bathhouse.  The equipment and furnishings were interesting.    While reading the various display boards and the informational videos, it’s amazing at all the ailments they thought could be cured by hot springs soaks or douches.  No, I’m not making that up.  Other areas housed old therapy equipment like exercise machines that varied from doing the work for you to being antique models of what we use nowadays. 

We stopped into one of the leased bathhouses, The Buckstaff, to inquire about their rates.  They were very busy and had a line. Their package services seemed reasonable.  We then walked to the Quapaw Baths and while they had no line, they were $15 per person just to soak for the day.  We may go back and utilize a day spa type package.

Above/Below: These 2 baths are the only ones open.

 

Below: Photos from the museum/tour.

 

Above: Wrap around “needle shower”. 

 

Above/Below: The men’s side was nicer.

 

Above: Beautiful ceiling in the top floor parlor.  A nice place for guests to socialize after the baths.

 

Above: So many amenities back then.

 

It was time to go home, walk the dog, and eat dinner.  But then … Coldstone.  Yes, and it was another disappointing over mix-in visit.  Too much candy in it.  Shockingly, Jim didn’t finish his.  Meanwhile, I licked my bowl.  OK, not really, but only because someone may have seen me do it.

But then … we walked went to the Big Dam Bridge (<—different link) again and we walked all the way to the other side and then back!  We walked 1.6 miles total.  I hated all the bugs at the “street” lights.  Speaking of lights, last night the accent lights were blue.  Tonight they blinked red, white and blue.  Very cool, very pretty.

On the way out of the park, we spotted a turtle trying to cross the road.  Jim got out and rescued it.  He put it back into the marshy area.

And finally, here’s a photo of Dasher cuddling with Clea.