New tower operator sees potential of site
Hot Springs National Park’s newest addition to the business community will make its mark on Hot Springs Mountain Tower in the coming months.
Ortega National Parks LLC of Santa Fe, N.M., operates around 12 properties across the National Park Service, ranging from full service restaurants to hotels — more than just souvenir shops. It will operate the tower through a subsidiary, which was incorporated last May in Arkansas as HSMT LLC.
This marks the first time in the history of the tower that it has not been managed by the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission. The tower opened in 1983 after being constructed through a citywide bond issue, but because it was built on federal land atop Hot Springs Mountain, the federal government retained the title.
“My father-in-law, Armand Ortega, acquired the first park property more than 20 years ago, and my husband and I joined in and have brought in several more operations in just 10 years,” said
Emily Ortega, who works in the family business with her husband, Shane.
The two visited Hot Springs National Park in December 2014, and have been in love with the area ever since, she said.
“At that time, Josie (Fernandez, the park superintendent) toured us with our baby around the bath houses, and at that time we saw the tower property,” she said. “We’re excited about the potential there is to have a really nice retail shop.”
Before making a bid on a property, Ortega said, the company thoroughly researches the area, including local artisans and merchandise specific to the area to make for a unique shopping experience.
“Of course, we have the typical T-shirts and ball caps, but we try to find so much more than that,” she said. “Hot Springs has a lot of nice locally made soaps and art — things you can’t find in any other park — and that’s what we’re going to bring to our shop. We pride ourselves in great retail that supports locals.
“We also want it to feel unique to Hot Springs by tying in the bath houses to the tower and enhance the overall park experience.”
Through mosaic tile, original bath house pieces on loan from the Park Service and a big renovation in the upstairs observation area, Ortega said the tower will be an all-new space.
The Park Service on Dec. 31 agreed to extend the ad commission’s concessions contract to operate the tower “for a period not to exceed April 30, 2016, or until the effective date of a new contract, whichever occurs first.”
“We are still in the planning and transition phase, but hoping to be in soon,” she said. “We have been in contact with the current contract holder, and we are negotiating employment opportunities for those who would like to stay with the tower — some have expressed that they don’t want to stay. It’s a fairly small operation, but we hope to work with those who know the tower.”
In other park news, Friends of Hot Springs National Park will host a fundraiser today at 5:30 p.m. at the Ozark Bath House. The VIP gathering is the kickoff event for a capital campaign for the restoration of the Maurice Bath House.
Several artifacts from the Maurice will be on display, as well as a new mini-documentary on the history of the Maurice Bath House.