Little - Keep Trees

Hot Springs National Park
Visit Hot Springs National Park and immerse
yourself in excitement and legendary luxuries in this
historic spa town — from Bathhouse Row to a theme
and water park, woodland gardens and five great lakes.
Stroll through the downtown district to experience
Antique/Boutique Walk the third Friday evening of each
month to find one-of-a-kind treasures, antiques, fine art,
clothing, jewelry, specialty foods and unique gifts for
the home and garden.
Magic Springs Water and Theme Park is two parks
combined into one. Families get more than 80
attractions and the largest water park in the state. The
only theme park located in a national park, Magic
Springs offers thrill-seekers the X-Coaster, Plummet
Summit, the Gauntlet, Crystal Lagoon, seven slides,
Crystal Falls Wave Pool, Kodiak Canyon Lazy River and
Bear Cub Bend for smaller children — all at one
location. Each summer features a concert series of
headliners that is not to be missed.
Encompassing less than nine square miles, Hot
Springs National Park is by far the smallest full-fledged
park in the national park system, but it can be described
as one of the oldest. The land was set aside by Congress
in 1832 as the Hot Springs Reservation. The reservation
was further designated a public park in 1880. The
national park itself contains parts of downtown Hot
Springs, Ark., easily accessible a few miles west of I-30
in the southwestern part of the state, making it one of the
easiest parks to visit in the nation. More than 1.2 million
visitors come to the park each year.
Photo: Hot Springs, Bath House Row.
Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
Hiking trails, campgrounds and hotel/motel lodging
to fit every budget are available either in the park, the
town or the surrounding area. You’ll have to pay extra,
though, to kick back in the soothing hot waters flowing
from the Ouachita Mountains. Of the original street of
bathhouses known as Bathhouse Row, only one, the
Buckstaff, still operates as a bathhouse. Another,
Fordyce Bathhouse, is the park’s visitor center. Now a
National Historic Landmark for their Gilded Age
architecture, the rest of the buildings along the Row are
in various stages of interior reconstruction. Other more
modern facilities are available to serve visitors.
Hot Springs National Park is about 90 minutes from
Little Rock AFB by vehicle and most of the drive is on
I-30 West. Take exit 111. Reservations are a good idea
on weekends and during the summer travel season.
LITTLE ROCK 2013 AFB GUIDE Local Area Outside the Gate 57
Photo: Hot Springs National Park.
Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism