Ouachita River, Hot Springs

Smithsonian MagazineSep 2

Before Vegas Became Vegas, Hot Springs Was America's Sin City. Now the Arkansas Spa Town Embraces Its Colorful and Seedy History

A life-size statue of Al Capone greets downtown visitors, and you can stay in his hotel suite. The town where gangsters once vacationed with movie stars and athletes is still open for a getaway

Capone kept a fishing cabin on it

12 things in this story

Hot Springs National ParkNature reservehistoric bathhouses enclosed within it
Al CaponeSightstatue outside a downtown bar with cigar
Gangster Museum of AmericaMuseumfounder and director Robert K. Raines
Arlington Resort Hotel & SpaHotelCapone rented entire fourth floor
Happy Hollow Amusement ParkSightCapone rode donkeys here
Ouachita RiverSightCapone kept a fishing cabin on it
Southern ClubSightpremier gambling venue Capone frequented
Ohio ClubRestaurantCapone, Siegel, Luciano, Ruth frequented
Oaklawn racetrackSightdraw in Capone's day, now has casino
Buckstaff BathhouseSight
MauriceSight
Elsewhere
Cotton ClubBarNew York, United StatesMadden owned this famous Harlem club

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Ouachita River

In the coverage1 story

Before Vegas Became Vegas, Hot Springs Was America's Sin City. Now the Arkansas Spa Town Embraces Its Colorful and Seedy History