Jack Tar Hotel and Bathhouse, International style hotel and bathhouse in Hot Springs, Arkansas
The Jack Tar Hotel and Bathhouse is a five-story hotel and bathing facility featuring a buff brick exterior with steel and masonry construction in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The structure includes cantilevered balconies and a rectangular staircase projection that extends from the main facade.
The building was constructed in 1950 by developer Vance Bryan and designed by architect Irven McDaniel. It was part of a wave of tourism development in Hot Springs National Park during the post-war era.
The building reflects the traditional spa culture of Hot Springs through its separate bathing areas designed for men and women on different floors. This arrangement shows how important privacy and gender separation were to the bathing experience at the time.
The building now operates as a senior living facility and is not open for regular public tours. It remains connected to the surrounding community through an elevated pedestrian bridge that crosses Oriole Street.
The ground floor was entirely dedicated to mechanical and building systems, while the second and third levels each contained twenty hotel rooms with private kitchenettes. This layout reflected a forward-thinking design that allowed guests to stay for extended periods in comfort.
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