Good-bye, Arkansas!

We left our beautiful campground this morning and visited historic Hot Springs. Denny toured the town while I indulged in an old fashioned hot spring bath treatment. Buckstaff is the only continuously operating bathhouse in Hot Springs. It is like walking back into the 1940s.  First, you are treated to a 20 minute soak in a hot mineral water whirlpool. The tub room has all marble walls which are 10' high and the large old rolled edge tubs are raised on marble slabs. After stewing in the tub and having the attendant scrub your back with your personal loofa, the attendant takes you to a padded table and totally wraps you in steaming towels, except for one cold one on the forehead. You stay there until all the towels approach room temperature. Next up, a steam cabinet for about 5 minutes and then a 5 minute sitz bath (Really!) Then a lukewarm needle shower to wash off the sweat. Last, a lovely 20 minute massage. All this pampering for only $71! They try to keep you covered with a sheet at most times but I can't lie, there are glimpses of nudity! Luckily, males are in a different part of the building.
I left feeling like a limp,wet noodle and we drove on toward Texas.

Buckstaff bathhouse

 This is in the museum, not the actual bath house, but similar.

 Needle shower

Bathhouse menu

Open hot spring






This is a lovely place to visit and there are tons of bathhouses (most are modern) and spas. My grandmother used to spend the winter here getting mineral spring treatments for her legs. We looked for the hotel she stayed in but it has been torn down :(