Scribble World Travel Blog

Hot Springs Mountain Observation Tower

The 216 foot high observation tower atop Hot Springs Mountain, AR is hard to miss.  From the top, you can see for miles around, taking in the beauty of the Ouachita Mountains and Diamond Lakes.  After our $1 off coupons from the visitor’s center, admission into the observation tower and museum was $5/person.  An elevator ride, with a window for the back wall, up to the top makes for a nice ride.  The top is all open air, and there’s quite a breeze on a windy day.  The museum is just one floor below, and all encased with glass, so you’ve got a real nice view there too, as you walk around learning about the hot springs that gave the town it’s name.  Sadly, most of the hot springs have since caved in or been capped to prevent contamination, so there aren’t too many options at this time for would-be hot spring bathers.

Down below, however, there is a very nice park with lots of stairs and walking trails, and there are still natural hot springs there, but they are quite hot and more for aesthetics rather than bathing.  Although I was told you could dip your feet in the pool at the bottom….but it’s in the middle of a park square, so we opted for the bathhouse.