Tuesday, May 10, 2022
We left Memphis relatively early, crossed the muddy Mississippi River and were soon in Arkansas. After a little over three hours of driving, we rolled into Lake Catherine State Park near Hot Springs.
Hot Springs is a special town for us. We met here working at Weyerhaeuser Company’s Southern Forestry Research Center. After we started dating, Jane moved to Springdale to pursue a M.S. degree in Horticultural Science at the University of Arkansas. After she finished her degree, she moved back to Hot Springs, we got married and enjoyed our first home (condo) together with two cats (Pishak & Fiona) and a view of Lake Hamilton. We have fond memories of this area including the friendly people, restaurants, natural amenities and tourist attractions including a thorough-bred horse race track, Oaklawn Park. We moved from Hot Springs about 28 years ago and neither of us has returned since … until today.
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| Our Favorite Mexican Restaurant |
After setting up the RV, we left in search of lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Good thing we had a GPS because a new expressway had been constructed and all the commerce along Central Ave (Hwy 7), a major artery in Hot Springs, had changed. But La Hacienda was still there and the building looked the same except for the paint. We enjoyed our meal then set off to rediscover Hot Springs including finding the places in which each of us had resided.
With effort we found our first home (condo) together on Pretti Point. We reminisced about our good times there and remembered spending many hours on the deck watching the activities on Lake Hamilton. Next, we found Jane’s small house in Haskerville, my condo on Higgins Ferry Road and the house Jane first boarded in with Florence. With all the change around us, it was comforting and orientating to find our previous homesteads.
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| Rear of our First Home (condo) facing Lake Hamilton |
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| Side of our First Condo |
We then proceeded to the downtown welcome center and learned of a new (to us) free deck where we parked the car. Downtown Hot Springs is part of a
the National Park system. A creek runs below the Main Street and multiple thermal springs bubble out of Hot Springs Mountain on the east side. Historic bathhouses line that side of the street and the Fordyce Bathouse serves as the National Park Service visitor center. We got our passport stamped there and toured the bathouse.
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| The Fordyce Bathhouse |
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| Upstairs Meeting Room in the Fordyce Bathhouse |
Next we casually walked north on the familiar Central Ave changing to the shady side and turning south just past the Arlington Hotel. Eventually we went into the Mountain Valley Water building. We had learned at Graceland that this was a favorite Elvis beverage and a bottle of it that was found on a table by his death bed was on display. For many years, I had a MVW carboy that I used for brewing beer. Strolling further south down Central Ave we encountered the new Waters Hotel in the old (1913) Thomspson building. Jane convinced me to visit the rooftop bar. The elevator was not working on the first floor so we climbed five flights of stairs admiring the interior decor only to discover that there were no stairs to the rooftop (sixth floor). Fortunately, the elevator there was working and we emerged to a beautiful view of downtown and enjoyed a couple of beers.
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| Mound of Mountain ValleyWater Bottles – One of Elvis’ Favorites |
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| Rooftop View of Hot Springs |
Enroute back to the campground, we went to the top of West Mountain for more views of downtown and drove by the Garland County Courthouse were Jane and I were married (1993) by Judge Bud Williams. Back at the campsite, we enjoyed the quiet and relaxing views of Lake Catherine. We also made contaxt with Steve, our friend and former Weyco boss, who invited us for dinner tomorrow evening.
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| Garland County Courthouse where Our Blissful Marriage was Conceived |
The pictures and post brought back memories. Zorro enjoyed hearing about your trip to Graceland but jumped off my lap and left the room when you made reference to your other cats in this post! Loved seeing all the pictures. You two look very relaxed!
Thanks, Little Sis. We're relaxed and enjoying Hot Springs. – John