Quapaw Baths, LLC hopes to start work in mid-August of this year on the 85 year-old Quapaw Bath House, which it plans to reopen in 2008 as a public spa.
"We'll be taking out the tiled cubicles and tubs that made up the old bathing experience, in anticipation of cutting out the floor and building our big pools, waterfalls, and fountains, " stated Anthony Taylor, one of the principals in the development company.
The plans for the spa are still essentially the same as it originally was laid out. The amenities will include large capacity public hot water pools, with fountains and whirlpools, a semi-private tub area, steam cave sauna with cool plunge pool, day spa with massage and beauty treatments, a catering kitchen and reception room for private functions, and a "Kid's Club".
The Quapaw will be a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified, "green building" project, stated Taylor.
One of the main goals of the project will be to make the bath house "tourist or visitor friendly". Part of the logic behind having "community" pools is to allow the casual visitor or resident who has not taken advantage of Hot Springs National Park's thermal water to actually experience it.
There will be private treatment rooms, as well, with private tubs, and of course, the full line of spa treatments utilizing the hot water. The gift shop will feature beauty products, local art, and Arkansas products. A meeting room will be available for rent for private parties, wedding showers, and the like.
The pricing for the basic baths to soak in the pools, will be about $15 per person. Private rooms would have different pricing, as will the regular spa treatments on the second floor, which will run the whole gamut of treatments. Even if you don't have a bathing suit, they will sell disposable suits, so that someone could literally walk in off the street and do the spa experience.
