Sixteen Things to Know About the Kentucky Derby
Top Photo Op and Selfie Spots in Hot Springs for Your Oaklawn Visit
Events / Travel
The new American Pharoah statue at Oaklawn Park, unveiled at the 2018 meeting, is a prime spot to stop for a photo or a selfie. (Eclipse Sportswire)
Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. draws racing fans from all over the nation who come to witness world-class racing and enjoy a quaint resort town.
Such a trip deserves proper documentation. Here are five selfie spots and photo ops to check out during your visit!
The American Pharoah statue
Unveiled the day before the opening of the 2018 meet, this life-sized bronze statue by artist James Peniston greets fans at the redesigned entrance to Oaklawn’s grandstand.
The statue commemorates American Pharoah’s 3-year-old season, which began with a victory in Oaklawn’s 2015 Rebel Stakes. Pharoah returned four weeks later to capture the Arkansas Derby, and then he became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. The late Charles Cella, president of Oaklawn from 1968 to 2017, commissioned the statue. His vision for the track was for the very best 3-year-olds to come through Hot Springs on their way to the Triple Crown races. American Pharoah is proof that he succeeded.
The Al Capone statue at The Ohio Club
Before Robert Kennedy called Hot Springs “the largest illegal gambling operation in America” and worked to shut down this aspect of the town’s business, mobsters considered Hot Springs neutral territory.
Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, Frank Costello, Bugs Moran, and Lucky Luciano spent considerable time downtown, and The Ohio Club, the oldest bar in Arkansas, played watering hole to these guests.
Today, most evenings this statue of Al Capone welcomes patrons to The Ohio Club, where live music plays seven nights a week and history abounds.
The Arlington Hotel
An anchor of historic downtown, the Grande Dame of Central Avenue has welcomed guests since 1875. The facade, the veranda, and the art deco lobby, with its murals, marble, and iron, are essential to the Hot Springs experience.
The Hot Springs
The Hot Springs really are hot, coming out of the earth at 143 degrees. They are popular for drinking and bathing and are even used for brewing beer at Superior Bathhouse Brewery. Visitors can touch, bottle the water, or take pictures at several stations in historic downtown.
Bathhouse Row
Bathhouse Row was built above the hot springs and harnessed what was believed to be the healing powers of the springs. Since physicians no longer prescribe “taking the waters,” the eight iconic structures have evolved into establishments such as an art gallery, a boutique hotel, and the aforementioned brewery. One bathhouse offers the traditional bathing experience that was offered years ago, and one offers modern spa services.
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