My Town - JD's Virtual Tours, Part 4

On our last Hot Springs, AR tour, we visited Bathhouse Row and took a tour of Fordyce Bathhouse.
Now, we are going to step outside for a walking tour.
First, I'd like to share a bit about the hot springs themselves.
Hot Springs, AR has 47 thermal (hot) springs and two cold springs. The hot springs average about 143 degrees F, and nearly a million gallons of spring waters discharge each day.
Follow me alongside Fordyce Bathhouse, and we will be facing this structure which has a small fountain at the base and stairways on either side.



As we approach, you'll see a spring to our left called Open Spring. Go ahead and feel the water. It is 134 degrees. A rare blue-green organism which looks like algae survives in the hot waters. It has only been found in five other places in the world.



Now, let's imagine ourselves going back in time when Bathhouse Row was in its heyday. We are dressed to impress!! Just look at how pretty Rachel looks in her fancy dress! Nora is wearing the latest hat style, and Naomi is opening her handmade lace umbrella which she ordered from Paris, France. You men sure look mighty handsome in those suits and hats!!
We make our way up those stairs, and we find ourselves on what is called The Grand Promenade.



We strut our stuff and have polite conversation as we preen and prance along the promenade. Kenju, you really should have worn more sensible shoes.



This area has been greatly enhanced and now features trails and walkways that take visitors all over Hot Springs Mountain. We choose to walk parallel to Central Ave. and Bathhouse Row. I fear we would sweat WAY too much in our fine attire if we were to go galavanting about on all those trails.



We are coming to a more wooded area.



There's water flowing down the side of this hill. I wonder where it leads?



Look down there. It's a small park across from Arlington Hotel- the very hotel where Al Capone used to stay. We make our way down and put our hands in the hot spring water. During the winter, steam rises from the water. Let's all stick our hands in at the same time and see who can keep their hand in the hot water the longest.
Ready... GO!!



Of course, Cliff won the Hand-in-the-Hot-Water Contest. His hands are calloused from farm work.
You'll notice water stations where people fill jugs with spring water. The water has a high mineral content, and is perfectly safe to drink.



Some weeks ago, my MIL sent me some photos that she received from her cousin of their family vacationing in Hot Springs. In the first photo taken around the late 1920's, the sign says "Happy Hollow." Happy Hollow is the name of one of the cold springs in Hot Springs. Happy Hollow was also the name of an amusement park in Hot Springs from the late 1800's - 1940's. The photo below was taken at Happy Hollow where vacationers came to play games, enjoy the petting zoo, and to have fun photos taken with various backgrounds. Most of the backgrounds were meant to be humorous, and this one was meant to mock the hillbilly lifestyle by calling the shack behind them, "Our Summer Home."



This photo was taken some time later in front of the same backdrop, when my MIL's father was in his twenties. That is her dad, uncle, and a friend at Happy Hollow amusement park.



I just love these old photos! I am submitting them to an historical site found here where there are many other photos that were taken at Happy Hollow amusement park.

We've done quite a lot of walking in our fancy clothes. It's time to rest.
I hope you enjoyed the walking tour.