Hot Springs’ bathhouse set for next chapter

HOT SPRINGS — Just short of four years since receiving their letter of intent from the National Park Service, Pat and Ellen McCabe closed on their loan last week and will begin renovation this week on the Hale Bathhouse.

“June 26, 2014, was the day the letter of intent was issued by the park service, so almost four years to the day,” Pat McCabe, mayor of Hot Springs, said Monday. “Our next step is to have our contractor come in and start a modest amount of demolition and restoration. That will start this week.

“We anticipate being able to be ready to go around December of this year. We won’t be doing much around the holiday time, but by the time we hire and train staff, we’ll be ready to go by the race meet.”

The McCabes signed a lease with the park service in August of 2017 to reopen the bathhouse as a boutique hotel. According to Tricia Horn, program manager for Hot Springs National Park, the lease was signed with the understanding that the McCabes would have the finances to complete the project.

“They told us that they were going to get their financing, that it was good,” Horn said. “They didn’t have it yet, but they could show us in good faith so we went ahead and signed the lease with them for the building that way they could go ahead and have their construction people come in, HVAC people, and start doing their schematics.”

The project will cost around $1.25 million, according to Pat McCabe.

The excitement of being able to get to work is overwhelming for Ellen McCabe, who during a walk through the building shared her inspiration for the rooms, dining areas, entrance and other features. Modern and mid-century modern designs will contrast against the historic building, she said.