Hot Springs National Park awards new concession contract for Buckstaff Bathhouse

News Release Date: September 22, 2026

Hot Springs National Park today announced a new 10-year concession contract that will expand visitor access to traditional bathing services at Buckstaff Bathhouse, including longer operating hours and advance reservations.

Historic Baths, LLC was selected to operate the bathhouse through a competitive selection process. The new contract expands operating hours to better serve visitors. Bathing services will be available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and visitors will be able to make reservations in advance while walk-in appointments will continue to be accommodated. The park does not expect any interruption in visitor services during the transition.

"This new contract continues the long tradition of bathing at Buckstaff Bathhouse while looking ahead to the next chapter of this iconic place," said Laura Miller, Hot Springs National Park superintendent. "For more than a century, the Buckstaff Bath House Company has provided visitors with dedicated service and helped shape the bathhouse experience at Hot Springs, and we are grateful for their longstanding commitment. Expanded hours and advance reservations will give visitors more opportunities to experience a tradition that has made Hot Springs a special destination for generations, while supporting the continued preservation and maintenance of this historic bathhouse for the future."

Located on Bathhouse Row, the Buckstaff Bathhouse is one of the best preserved of all the bathhouses in Hot Springs National Park. Opened in 1912, it is the only Bathhouse Row bathhouse that has continuously operated as a bathhouse since it first welcomed visitors. Today, it is an historic setting where visitors can experience the traditional bathing treatments that made Hot Springs famous.

The National Park Service thanks Buckstaff Bath House Company for more than a century of service to Hot Springs National Park and its visitors and for its longstanding stewardship of this historic bathhouse.

The National Park Service contracts with concessioners to enhance the visitor experience by providing services that federal agencies typically do not offer while still advancing the agency's mission. Concession operations also often support employment opportunities in the gateway communities. The new contract is expected to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

For more information on the history of the Buckstaff Bathhouse, visit Buckstaff Bathhouse - Hot Springs National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

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About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America's most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.

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