The History of Hot Springs Village

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE is nestled in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains on 26,000 gate-guarded acres, being the largest gated community and having one of the lowest crime rates in America.

Twenty minutes from historic downtown Hot Springs with its many bath houses dating from the late 1800s, the “Village” has 20 miles of structured hiking trails; 171 holes of golf for players of all levels spread over 9 beautifully maintained championship golf courses.

The Coronado Complex has an 18,000 square foot Community Center containing a full fitness center and spa, a 3 lane indoor walking track and Olympic-size pool that overlooks beautiful Lake Coronado. The Coronado Tennis Center has 10 clay & 3 hard surface courts with teaching professionals on staff. Bocce Ball and Lawn Bowling are also available. The DeSoto Recreation area has its tennis 3 tennis courts, three swimming pools and many family activities.

Fishing the 5 largest lakes in the Village is reported to be excellent (12 lakes in all). As well, there is huge Lake Ouachita with its rentable House Boats, Muskie and Bass fishing, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding and many other activities all located within the Ouachita National Park only a few miles distant from the Village. This year marks the National Park’s 175th anniversary as one of America’s first national parks. Picturesque Lake Hamilton is a favorite of boaters, water skiers and other water sports activists, while nearby Lake Catherine (1940 acres) has camp grounds, a marina and hiking trails.

The beautiful and modern Ponce de Leon Center is made up of the Ouachita Activities Building having 4,500 square feet of meeting space which can be partitioned for a variety of purposes; the Casa de Carta (“House of Cards:), a 5,700 square foot facility used by the Village Card Club and the Woodlands Auditorium with its 650 seat performing arts center.

Visitors to the Village find casual and fine dining with over 200 clubs and organizations, picnic pavilions and beaches; over 460 miles of paved roads, an RV Park all only 50 minutes from Little Rock. While shared by both Garland and Saline Counties, Hot Springs Village has its own police force, four fire stations and full water, sewer and sanitation services. The Village is virtually self-contained.

At one time, the City of Hot Springs, about 12 miles distant, was known as the “Valley of Vapors,” serving as a neutral healing ground for the various warring local Indian tribes, derives its name from the tranquil, thermal “healing” waters located along the forested southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain. Each day 850,000 gallons of 143 degree Fahrenheit water gushes from 47 springs. The pure thermal water is used for bathing, massage, healing and drinking which one may do via the public hot springs in the downtown Bathhouse Row area.