Downtown Hot Springs in the Fall

Fall is my favorite time of the year here, and downtown Hot Springs is like no other city.

Not only does the main street lie between two hills that have been protected federal land since the early 1800’s, the slope of Hot Springs Mountain is dotted with springs that steam gently in the early morning chill.

The east side of Central Avenue is lined with the historic and ornate bathhouses. These buildings are all part of the National Park and though many are leased, all are protected. Here is the dome of the Quapaw Bathhouse against the colorful backdrop of West Mountain.

Even the commercial west side of the street is lovely and shaded.

Downtown is well kept. This place where a building was torn down long ago is now a pocket park.

One of my favorite buildings is the historic Arlington Hotel.

This 100 year old building has been undergoing renovations and it shows. The outside decor is now pristine.

Across Fountain Street from the hotel is Arlington Lawn and the Hot Water Cascade, part of the National Park.

I took all of these pictures yesterday morning when Matey and I did one of my favorite walks; north along Central Avenue and Fountain Street to here, the northern end of the Grand Promenade.

Then back along the promenade,

which gets wider and more ornate as it passes behind Bathhouse Row.

Where else do the storm sewers steam?

These are some of the spring boxes. Most of the springs are now piped down to the bathhouses. Park personnel test the water for rate of flow, pH and temperature through these boxes. If needed, the pipes can be shut off further up the mountain. During the current Federal shutdown only the most critical are checked.

The promenade also gives some nice views of West Mountain. Central Avenue and all its buildings are tucked down below.

Here you can see two of the bathhouses, some of the stores and West Mountain. The building on the left is the National Park Visitors Center which is a museum. Unfortunately it is closed now, but normally there are free tours.

Even the walkway is beautiful in the early morning sun.

Matey and I have it all to ourselves.

At the south end you come down to Reserve Street which has several of the fountains in the downtown area. Some are small and ornate.

This steaming fountain is in front of the park office.

And this is one of several fill stations where people can bring their containers and get all the water they want. This station is for hot mineral water, but my favorite is on Fountain Street where you can get great tasting cold spring water. Jamie’s clinic fills their office water bottles there.