Views and Gangster History in Hot Springs, AR

We had a relaxing morning at camp today before heading into Hot Springs National Park in the afternoon to see the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. A local mill owner constructed the original tower of wood in 1877 in order to offer visitors a view of the surrounding region. The tower has been torn down and replaced a couple of times since then. The current tower on the summit of Hot Springs Mountain opened in June 1983. It is 216 feet tall and thankfully, for Wyatt’s sake, has an elevator to the top observatory deck. Wyatt saw the long flight of stairs going up to the top and nearly fainted! 

We enjoyed the beautiful view from the observatory deck and read the interesting history of this National Park and the city. This area used to be a hotbed for organized crime. From the late 1800’s through the mid 1900’s Hot Springs was a popular hangout for gangsters. The secluded location made for the perfect hideout. Finally, in the 1960’s a crackdown on “the largest illegal gambling operation in the USA” brought Hot Springs’s gangster activity to an end. Now tourists can tour the Gangster Museum to catch a glimpse of the city’s notorious past.

We picked up our National Park souvenirs and headed back to camp for a relaxing evening.  Maggie and Remi played at the dog park and the kids played at the playground. It was nice to have two slower paced days here at Hot Springs, Arkansas. Next week we’ll have several short travel days but only one-night stays. A two night stay is great because it allows us to catch our breath and catch up on school work and campsite chores like laundry.  

Goodnight again from Arkansas!