“They’re wanting the history and that’s what we’re trying to preserve, the historic aspect of bathing.”

“People coming here, they’re not wanting to go to a day spa,” said Buckstaff CEO Michael Branch. The Buckstaff Bathhouse, which has operated continuously since it opened in 1912, offers traditional baths similar to those that were taken at the height of the bathing industry in Hot Springs. There are two bathhouses where you can indulge in this age-old tradition and they offer two very different experiences. The development of modern medicine led to a decline in the bathing industry but plenty of people still tout the benefits of hydrotherapy and who can deny that a warm soak feels pretty great?Īfter a day of sightseeing or physical activity like hiking or mountain biking, there’s no better way to rest and relax than a world-famous mineral bath! Please allow an hour to 90 minutes for this spa treatment. Hot Springs flourished as a health resort from about 1880-1950, peaking in 1946 when over one million baths were taken. The best ways to enjoy the spas and baths of Hot Springs.įor centuries, Native Americans, early European explorers, and visitors from around the world have flocked to the natural hot springs here to bathe in the healing waters. Today, the rich history of the hot springs has been preserved, and the bathing rituals continue to be popular among travelers.

Casino resort spas near me