Holiday lights on Bathhouse Row lampposts vandalized
The National Park Service is investigating an act of vandalism that irreparably damaged the holiday lights on eight of 13 decorative lampposts in Hot Springs National Park in late November, Superintendent Laura Miller said Wednesday.
“I shook my head and I couldn’t believe it that people could be so nasty,” said Roxanne Butterfield, president of the Friends of Hot Springs National Park.
The vandalism was discovered and reported on Nov. 25.
“At this time, we do not have suspects identified. Those found to be responsible, however, could face fines and/or possible jail time,” Miller said.
“Fortunately the Friends of Hot Springs National Park, who provide the holiday decorations for the park, were able to purchase replacements for us,” she said.
Tricia Horn, HSNP management and program analyst, said that “someone came through and cut all the lights” on the lampposts, damaging the decorations beyond repair and necessitating the purchase of new lights. Horn said this is the first time this kind of vandalism has occurred in the park.
Horn said the vandalized decorations were located on the lampposts between the Administration Building at the south end of Bathhouse Row and the Fordyce Bath House, which serves as the park’s visitor center.
Butterfield said the bill to replace the lights
was less than $600. The vandalized lights were only a year old.
The Friends have helped decorate the park for years, Butterfield said, but in the past they have used regular, consumer-grade lights.
“Last year, we invested a lot of money (in new lights),” Butterfield said, that were commercial-grade outdoor lights. Butterfield said that Greg Mabry, owner of Kringles in the Park, helped the Friends order the lights last year. When the vandalism was reported, Butterfield said Mabry ordered more.
She said 24 light strands had to be ordered to replace the damaged ones. The new lights were up in under a week after the old ones were damaged.
During the holiday season, the Ozark Bath House is open on Saturdays and Sundays between noon and 4 p.m. The Ozark houses 10 Christmas trees covered in student-made ornaments. This is another project of the Friends of Hot Springs.
Butterfield said donations will be collected at the Ozark which will go towards projects such as buying the lights on Bathhouse Row.