Buckstaff Bathhouse

Buckstaff Bathhouse has operated on Hot Springs' Bathhouse Row since 1912, and the building still runs on the same marble tubs and vintage fixtures it opened with. The core offering is the traditional bathing ritual: a whirlpool mineral bath drawn from the park's thermal springs, a steam cabinet, a sitz bath, and a finish of hot towel packs. Cooling needle showers, a longtime feature, are slated to return as part of ongoing renovations that also include a new roof and the addition of central air conditioning.

No reservation is required — baths and the five available treatments, including the signature Swedish massage, are handled on a walk-in basis. The process is clothing-optional in the traditional sense, meaning no bathing suit is worn during the bath itself, but staff keep guests covered with sheets and towels between steps, and reviewers consistently mention this is handled with discretion.

Hours are split into a morning and early-afternoon block most days — 8:00 to 11:45 and 1:15 to 3:00 — with Sunday limited to the morning session only. At a moderate price tier, it sits as an accessible entry point for trying the century-old Hot Springs bathing tradition rather than a modern spa experience with extras like lounges or pools beyond the bath itself.

Guests describe the visit as guided step by step by staff, from the mineral soak through the steam box and lower back soak to the final hot-and-cold towel wrap. It's a specific, ritualized format rather than a self-directed spa day, which is part of what distinguishes it from newer wellness facilities in town.