Every Arkansan was a little heartbroken when the Hot Springs' Majestic Hotel stayed abandoned, then burnt and was completely demolished. We're excited to share with you today a bit of good news, as the iconic landmark will live on through a new business. Let's look at what we know so far.
Please note, Majestic Bakery & Cafe has permanently closed.
The Majestic originally opened as The Avenue Hotel in 1882, with the final name change in '88. It was one of the first brick buildings in Hot Springs, featuring 150 rooms, 50 of those with private baths. The Majestic was popular with tourists and had no shortage of celebrity visitors either. It was the home to the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring baseball training in the early 1900s and Babe Ruth reportedly considered The Majestic hotel his favorite place to stay. It was also frequented by notorious gangster, Bugs Moran, arch rival to Al Capone.
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Unfortunately, due to different circumstances and outside forces, The Majestic began to decline. After ups and downs of renovations, new owners, and changing cityscape, the hotel closed in 2006.
After the hotel's closure, the once prominent city treasure became nothing more than a dilapidated building filled with memories and unsought potential.
After its closure in 2006, the building was donated to Ark of Arkansas. The non-profit wanted to turn the hotel into affordable housing. Then, after the fire, Garrison Properties took control in 2012. They were going to turn what was left of the building into retail space and apartments, which also never came to fruition. In 2016 the city completely demolished The Majestic and left nothing but an empty lot with broken bricks.
Wally Mueller and Brenda Brandenbury are opening a bakery and cafe on Park Avenue, near the graveyard that is The Majestic. Both have close ties to the hotel; Brandenbury even used to help her father carry his drums in before his sets at the hotel.
The Majestic Bakery & Cafe will be a sweet way to pay respects to the fallen hotel.
After renovations, stepping into the shop will transport you to the 40s and 50s. The cafe will also be filled with Majestic memorabilia, which the two have been collecting for a while.
The Majestic Bakery & Cafe is also making headway by being Hot Springs' first gluten-free shop.
Everything will be gluten-free and with some lactose- and sugar-free options, too. Baker Wally Mueller has already been perfecting delicious treats (like this gluten-free raspberry tart) within these dietary restraints.
Although everyone would have loved to have seen The Majestic preserved in its full form on the National Register of Historic Places, honoring its memory and preserving pieces is an excellent way to keep The Majestic alive.
We're looking forward to the Majestic Bakery & Cafe grand opening on Feb. 27th, 2018. It will be the anniversary date of the fire that destroyed the original building.
If you'd like to learn more about the new owners and their plans, watch this:
From our hearts and the heart of our kitchen comes the delicious and healthy selections that will make Majestic Bakery & Cafe your place to be. This is our story. (Video by Michael Schwarz)
To learn more about the Majestic's history and abandoned photo tour, visit AbandondedAR's site. We look forward to sharing our experience and photos as soon as the cafe opens, so stay tuned!
From the Ozarks to the Lower Delta, you could spend your entire life exploring Arkansas’ many beautiful destinations, but where should you start? Picking a hotel is always tricky, no one wants to be locked into a place that doesn’t fit their needs. Whether you prefer a hotel with an on-site restaurant, one within walking distance of the nightlife scene, or a hotel with an outdoor swimming pool with a hot tub, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the top resorts and best hotels in Arkansas that are perfect home bases for you to return to after exploring The Land of Opportunity.
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Best Unique Hotels to Stay in Arkansas
With so many lodging options in Arkansas, you really have to go above and beyond to stand out from the pack. These unique hotels in Arkansas will be hard to leave after spending a few nights here. From the locations to the designs, these unique hotels are like nowhere else.
It’s not every day that you get a hotel, a museum, and a cultural center all rolled into one, but that’s exactly what’s waiting for you when you book a stay at the 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville. The hotel is ideally located near Bentonville Town Square, putting you within walking distance of the town’s major attractions, including the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. Speaking of museums, this hotel is also a contemporary art museum, a 12,000-square-foot exhibition space with larger-than-life sculptures that will inspire you to dream big.
Amenities: UTV tour, you'll have the entire place to yourself
Ratings: 4.5 stars
If you thought a museum-hotel hybrid was unique, how about a cave? The Beckham Creek Cave Lodge is one of the most unique places to stay in Arkansas, and although it’s not a traditional hotel, it definitely earned itself a spot on this list. You can only book the entire space, a four-bedroom, four-bathroom lodge built into a cave near Jasper. This place is an outdoor lover’s paradise, and there’s plenty of outdoor adventure to enjoy during your stay here, including several hiking trails, fishing, canoeing, and more.
Best Hotel Pools in Arkansas
Sometimes, a hotel’s pool situation can make or break your stay, especially if you’re traveling with youngsters that enjoy cannonballing the day away. Luckily, these hotels have some of the best pools in the state, so grab your swimsuit and make a splash.
Amenities: Outdoor swimming pool, on-site-restaurant
Ratings: 4.5 stars
Hot Springs is one of the most popular cities to visit in Arkansas, and a stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Hot Springs will quickly win you over, just look at that beautiful pool! The pool overlooks Lake Hamilton with direct water access and boat docks, so feel free to bring your boat!
Address: 3303 S Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758
Price: $194/night
Amenities: Indoor swimming pool, free breakfast, fitness center
Ratings: 4.5 stars
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This spiffy hotel in Northwest Arkansas has one of the most beautiful indoor swimming pools in the state, and we wouldn’t blame you if you never left this aquatic oasis. But just in case you do want to venture outside, you’ll be within a five-minute walk to the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, the Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall, and the Rogers Convention Center. Before you get your laps in for the day, fuel up on the complimentary, made-to-order breakfast in the morning!
Best Luxury Hotels in Arkansas
Are you ready to step into the life of luxury that you deserve? Even if just for a few days, these luxury hotels offer the opportunity to give yourself the give of pampering yourself and treating yourself to a vacation fit for royalty. From check-in to check-out, you’ll be dazzled by the details at these luxury hotels.
Located near the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock, Capital Hotel has been providing a luxurious stay for folks passing through Little Rock for over 140 years. All of the 94 guest rooms feature custom-designed mattresses, 14-foot ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows so you can soak in that beautiful view of downtown Little Rock.
Give yourself the give of a weekend getaway at Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, and you’ll set the standard for yourself for all future hotels you’ll ever stay at. This luxury lodging option blurs the line between hotel and bed and breakfast with spacious rooms featuring patios and balconies, fireplaces, and beautiful lake views. This elegant inn is known as the most romantic hotel in America, and it’s easy to see why!
Known as the "symbol of hospitality," the Crescent Hotel and Spa sits high above Eureka Springs, giving you a fantastic view of the historic Victorian village and surrounding areas. The hotel boasts a spa and a salon for all your pampering needs as well as 15 acres of perfectly manicured gardens complete with ample hiking, biking, and walking trails to enjoy. Perhaps the most unique attribute to this hotel is that it’s known as America’s most haunted hotel, and they wear the ghostly badge with pride. Take an evening ghost tour of the hotel and do a little paranormal investigating for an otherworldly experience.
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Best Boutique Hotels in Arkansas
Boutique hotels are always some of the most memorable places to stay. Often located in historic buildings, these charming hotels offer a unique stay where you can relax and recharge in a smaller space without compromising on the amenities or location. Here are two of our favorite boutique hotels in Arkansas that would be perfect for a spontaneous escape.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Reserve at Hot Springs will offer you an unforgettable stay. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens peppered with historic buildings from the property’s history, this Hot Springs boutique hotel put you smack dab in the middle of the action while still feeling like you’re in your own little world. The Reserve is conveniently located to both Oak Lawn Racetrack and Hot Springs National Park, ensuring there’s a nearby adventure for everyone.
Amenities: On-site restaurant and lounge, on-campus location, ADA accessibility
Ratings: 4.5 stars
This boutique hotel is just overflowing with history. The hotel sits in a building that dates back to 1905 and was once the women’s dormitory for the University of Arkansas. All of the rooms feature a flat-screen tv free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers, and if you want to splurge on an upgrade, the suites have sitting areas and mini-fridges, which are great for longer stays. Since it’s located on the campus, it’s the perfect spot for cheering on the Razorbacks either from the comfort of your room or the lounge. Of course, you’re just steps away from all of the action, which is one of the reasons why this boutique hotel is so popular.
Best Resorts in Arkansas
When you pick a resort, you can rest assured that practically everything you need will be on-site, and you’ll never have to leave the resort. These are great options for large groups and especially families with youngsters since these resorts are often kid-friendly and offer tons of attractions for everyone to enjoy. These are some of the best resorts in Arkansas for an unforgettable vacation.
Nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas, Cedar Lodge’s 7,600-square-foot estate is the perfect little slice of paradise for nature lovers. This 5-star hotel transforms every season, providing year-round outdoor adventure from kayaking to snowshoeing. After a day of exploring, sit back and soak in the hot tub or the sauna for the ultimate getaway.
Address: 1216 County Rd 113, Eureka Springs, AR 72631
Price: $250/night
Amenities: Private cabins, waterfront views, fire pits, hot tub
Ratings: 4.5 stars
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Perched above the beautiful Beaver Lake, Sugar Ridge Resort is a dreamy luxury resort in Eureka Springs that’s ideal for both a romantic getaway or a reunion. Each cabin boasts a mesmerizing mountain view, with what might just be the best place to watch a sunset in Arkansas. This resort is only a few minutes from downtown Eureka Springs, and once you’ve explored the historic Victorian town take off to enjoy Dam Site Park or the White River.
Address: 239 Central Ave, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71901
Price: $122/night
Amenities: Spa services, thermal baths, car charging stations
Ratings: 4.5 stars
For nearly a century, folks have enjoyed a luxurious stay at the Arlington Resort, and you should too! The year-round hot tub is a welcome sight after a day of exploring Hot Springs, but you could always opt to do some laps in one of the two outdoor pools, or take a quick 10-minute walk down to historic Bathhouse Row! With a top-tier on-site restaurant and live entertainment on the weekends, you could spend your entire holiday within these walls and never have to leave.
Once you've settled into one of the amazing hotels, you're bound to be itching to explore the Natural State in all its glory. Here are some of our favorite adventures in Arkansas that'll have you asking yourself, "should I move here?"
Of all the great getaways in Arkansas, none quite compare to Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa! Living up to its reputation as the "best resort in Arkansas," it boasts peaceful solitude, luxury lodging, and lots of amenities. One visit to this Arkansas resort in the middle of nowhere, and we can just about guarantee that you’ll forget all of your worries. It might just be one of the best Lake Ouachita resorts.
Since opening in 1955, it’s grown into Arkansas’ premier lake resort. Not to mention, it’s been repeatedly voted the best resort in Arkansas – and rightfully so!
So, what do you think? Are you ready to escape to this lakefront resort? We're ready to pack our bags! For more info, call Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa at (870) 867-2191. You can also visit the Mountain Harbor website. And make sure to like the Mountain Harbor Facebook page.
