(l) – (r) Jeff Reinbold (National Park Foundation), Bill Burrough (Hot Springs City Manager), Steve Arrison (visit Hot Springs), Congressman Bruce Westerman, Laura Miller (NPS Superintendent), Pat McCabe (Mayor and Hotel Hale business partner), Bert Frost (NPS regional director), Roxanne Butterfield (President, Friends of Hot Springs National Park). Submitted photo.
The National Park Service (NPS) celebrated the groundbreaking of the Maurice Bathhouse rehabilitation project at Hot Springs National Park, marking a major milestone in the preservation of one of the park’s most iconic historic structures. The project is made possible through an investment of $31.6 million from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund.
Built in 1912 and closed since 1974, the Maurice now stands at the threshold of a new chapter—thanks to years of planning, public investment, and community advocacy. The last of the historic Bathhouse Row buildings to undergo rehabilitation, the upcoming rehabilitation will focus on critical safety upgrades and restoration of key historic features, enhancing the building’s appeal to future leaseholders while reducing long-term maintenance costs.
In addition to the rehabilitation of the Maurice Bathhouse, critical repairs are also being made to the Buckstaff, Libbey, and Fordyce Bathhouses.
This groundbreaking is an essential step in advancing the park’s successful historic leasing program, which has transformed other bathhouses into vibrant visitor destinations—including a boutique hotel, a spa, a children’s museum, and a microbrewery that utilizes the park’s thermal spring water.
“This project is about more than bricks and mortar—it’s about preserving the stories, architecture, and spirit of Hot Springs for generations to come,” said Superintendent Laura Miller. “We’re grateful for the support of our partners and the public as we take this next step in revitalizing Bathhouse Row.”
GAOA’s Legacy Restoration Fund is part of a concerted effort to address extensive maintenance and repair needs in national parks. Supported by revenue from energy development, it provides the National Park Service with up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to make significant enhancements to ensure the preservation of national parks and provide current and future visitors with opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment.
For more information about the project and the national park, www.nps.gov/hosp and www.nps.gov.
“Friends of Hot Springs National Park asks you to support our part of the Maurice Bathhouse restoration, the stained-glass ceiling on the third floor Roycroft den,” commented Roxanne Butterfield, President of FHSNP. “Your donation will help us reach our $200,000 goal. The stained-glass ceiling has 15 5’x6’ sections! That’s 490 square feet of stained glass! Over 4,414 individual pieces!” Donations can be mailed to Friends of Hot Springs National Park, P.O. Box 178, Hot Springs, AR 71902. Or online at
FriendsOfHotSpringsNatonalPark.org. Contact Roxanne at 501-538-4575 for more info.
