![]() Though illegal, and a felony under Arkansas law, the betting was no secret to the majority of local authorities. Hot Springs offered Las Vegas-style amenities before there was a Las Vegas. The two families constantly fought over the city’s gaming rights – a competition that eventually led to the famous Hot Springs Gunfight in 1899.ĭuring this realm of local rule, hotel rooms, saloons, and back alleys were the hotspots for cards and craps and casino-type gaming of all kinds. At that time, two families controlled these activities: the Flynns and the Dorans. Al Capone (right) visiting the Happy HollowĪs early as the mid- to late-1800s, Hot Springs had been involved in illegal gambling. In order to understand how and why they chose this site, it’s necessary to reflect on the corruption that had been going on here for decades. The safe, secluded scenic location of Hot Springs made it the ideal hideout. But from the late-1800s through the mid-1900s, especially in the 1930s, Hot Springs was a popular hangout for Al Capone, Frank Costello, Bugs Moran, Lucky Luciano, and other infamous mobsters. Visiting Hot Springs, Arkansas, today, it’s hard to imagine the city as a hotbed for organized crime, such as gambling, prostitution and bootlegging. The Site of Infamy – A Haven in the Gangster Era How to plan a vacation around the cool history of Hot Springs: The beautifully restored Fordyce Bathhouse now serves as a visitor center. The water is even available at public fountains. The hot springs are also pumped into several downtown hotels and spas. Today, you can still soak in the thermal waters on historic Bathhouse Row. Bathhouse Row and the Grand Promenade were designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1987. When Congress established the National Park Service, Hot Springs Reservation became Hot Springs National Park in 1921. In just a decade, the area changed from a rough frontier town to an elegant spa city centered on a row of attractive Victorian-style bathhouses, the last ones completed in 1888. The following year, Oaklawn Park opened, and it was soon the only racing venue in the city. Thoroughbred racing began in Hot Springs with the construction of Essex Park in 1904. Between 18, eight bathhouses were built on what’s known today as Bathhouse Row. It was the first hospital of its kind in the nation. In 1887, the Army and Navy Hospital, the first combined general hospital treating patients from both the U.S. The Arlington Hotel was completed in 1875, and was the largest hotel in the state at that time. He had all of the state records relocated to Hot Springs, and from May 6 through July 14 of that year, Hot Springs served as the state capital. In 1862, during the Civil War, Arkansas Governor Henry Massie Rector feared that Little Rock might be captured by Union troops. Hot Springs Reservation was essentially America’s first national park, predating Yellowstone National Park by 40 years. The hot springs were such a coveted natural wonder that in 1832, President Andrew Jackson designated Hot Springs as the first federal reservation. In fact, famous explorer Hernando de Soto was the first European to visit Hot Springs in 1541. Spanish and French settlers claimed the area in the mid-1500s. Native Americans called this area “the Valley of the Vapors,” and it was said to have been a neutral territory where all tribes could enjoy its healing waters in peace. It’s hard to tell exactly how long people have been visiting the springs. Flowing out of the ground at an average temperature of 143 ☏, the hot springs produce almost one million gallons of water each day. Hot Springs, Arkansas, gets its name from the naturally thermal spring waters found here.
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