Today we did a lot of driving. We got to Hot Springs around 2:30. As we entered town I saw a restaurant that was in my 1,000 things to do or see in the USA before you die book. So, since I was driving, I turned around and we ate lunch at McClard's BBQ. McClard's has been operating in Hot Springs since 1928 and it is being run by their family's 4th generation. We then drove down to bath row where the National Park headquarters is located in the Fordyce Bathhouse. In its heyday, before the 1930's, it was the grandest on bath row. It was restored to it's former glory by the park service. We toured the building and were amazed by it's elegance. Marble tables and benches, tiled floors and stained glass windows could be found throughout. Some of the showers and steam saunas however looked a little scary. On the 3rd floor was the favorite for both Sharon and me, the gymnasium.
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| The owners of this restaurant actually began by running the town motel. One of their guests who had stayed for nearly a month and could not pay his bill gave them a BBQ recipe that he assured would more than pay for his lodging costs. 4 generations later, I'm sure they would agree! |
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| The menu gave a brief history of BBQ that said it originated from a French term,barbe a queue, meaning "from beard to tail". Since pigs don't have beards, the belief is that they were roasting goats! |
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| Whatever we were eating, everyone certainly seemed to enjoy it!! |
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| A ladies bedroom |
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| The beauty shop |
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| Indian clubs for workouts in the gymnasium |
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| Gymnasium |
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| Dumbbells and weights |
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| A lift bed to lower disabled into the therapy pool |
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| Stained glass skylights |
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| marble bench |
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| hydrotherapy room with steam cabinets |
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| Ladies parlor |
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| downtown Hot Springs |
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| Bathhouse Row |
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| more stained glass in the cooling room |
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| marble hot tub |
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What an interesting journey you are having; some lovely photos as well.
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