Dank Nation: Hot Springs Tourism

Central Avenue in Hot Springs, Arkansas houses the shops, restaurants and bath houses that comprise the "tourist traps." This little town started as a getaway for the gangsters of the prohibition era such as Lucky Luciano, Al Capone, Bugs Moran, and Frank Costello. After a day of beating people to a pulp, they would come into town and relax in the luxurious bath houses that line the quiet street. There is also a bar called "Capone's" that has apparently been there forever, fully loaded with secret tunnels that connected the bar to the brothels and back gambling bars.

Hot Springs was known as "The Spa City." This particular bath house is on the National Park registry and was free to tour.

Inside, the atmosphere is serene where the light shines through the stained glass windows.

However, there were many devices in dilapidated areas that reminded me of Resident Evil.

If you need a bunion removed, you just get scraped at the Chiropody!

Or, you could work on your gymnastics at the "Gym." Laura Croft would love it here.

Maybe, play a little piano for your sweetheart.

Seems like these houses were places to spend the day relaxing and taking a break from all the worries of the times. They had massage parlors and billiards too. I know after shooting someone with a Tommy Gun, I always like to shoot a little pool.

The next order of business after eating some fresh oysters was the alligator farm and the petting zoo.

These dudes were fierce.

Arctic Wolf chillin' in Arkansas.

This place was also a petting zoo and had some friendly creatures who loved the wheat bread we were given to feed them. These things were extremely tame, like pet dogs almost.

Although, I wouldn't want to step into a pen with them.

Arkansas is beautiful in the fall, and there are scenic drives abound. The foliage is spectacular with a grand spectrum of colors. The contrast with the Arkansas rock gives this part of the country a unique beauty that is hard to match.