Arlington Hotel (Hot Springs National Park) facts for kids
| The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa | |
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
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| Location | Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 34°31′0″N 93°3′11″W / 34.51667°N 93.05306°W |
| Address | |
| Opening date | 1875 (original building), 1893 (second building), 1924 (current building) |
| No. of rooms | 484 |
| Footnotes | |
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Arlington Hotel
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Part of | Hot Springs Central Avenue Historic District (ID85001370) |
| Designated CP | June 25, 1985 |
The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa is a famous hotel located in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. It sits in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains. This hotel is known for its fancy design, which even inspired another hotel, the Baker Hotel in Texas. You can find it at the top end of "Bathhouse Row", a historic area.
Contents
A Look Back: The Arlington's Story
The Arlington Hotel has a long and interesting history. It wasn't always the building you see today!
The First Arlington Hotel
In 1875, the very first Arlington Hotel opened its doors. It was a luxury hotel, meaning it was very fancy and expensive. Three business people, including Samuel W. Fordyce, helped pay for it. This first building was used for almost 20 years. Then, it was taken down to make way for a new and even bigger hotel.
The Second Arlington Hotel
The second Arlington Hotel was built between 1892 and 1893. It was called the "New Arlington." This hotel was designed in a special style called Spanish Renaissance architecture. It had 300 rooms and was made of red brick, with cool towers on the corners. Sadly, this beautiful hotel burned down completely on April 5, 1923.
The Current Arlington Hotel
The third and current Arlington Hotel was designed in 1924. It stands at a special "Y" shaped intersection where Central Avenue and Fountain Street meet. This building is very large and has a Spanish-Colonial Revival style. Its size and location make it a very important landmark in Hot Springs. The spot where the first two hotels stood is now a park.
Famous Guests and Fun Facts
The Arlington Hotel has always been a popular place for important and famous people to stay.
- In the 1930s, a well-known figure named Al Capone often stayed at the hotel. He even rented out an entire floor for his group!
- Many U.S. presidents have visited, including Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, George H.W. Bush, and even Arkansas's own Bill Clinton.
- Sports legends like Babe Ruth have enjoyed their stay.
- Music and art stars like Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, and Yoko Ono have also relaxed at the hotel.
For many years, the hotel used windows and door vents to keep cool. But in 1955, a modern central heating and air conditioning system was put in. The hotel's main guest elevators were updated in 1969. However, one special old elevator, used for the bathhouse, still works by hand! It's lined with beautiful glass and shiny brass.
The Arlington Hotel has always been known for its luxury. In 1892, a guide book even called it "the most elegant and complete hotel in America." The hotel's Lobby Bar is so famous that it was listed as one of the best bars in America by Esquire Magazine.
Images for kids
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The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa today.
