1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa
History
Irish stonemasons constructed what’s now affectionately referred to as the “Grand Old Lady of the Ozarks” in 1886 with every intention of making it the grandest hotel west of the Mississippi. The timing couldn’t have better—the newly completed railroad brought thousands of tourists to the town, eager to sample the recuperative waters of the local springs. The “Carriage Set” was attracted to the resort’s palatial surroundings, and its stable—outfitted with 100 horses—made sure that everyone had a steed to ride.
Since then, the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa has undergone several incarnations within its all-Arkansas-limestone walls, including a period as an all-girls' school and as a cancer hospital before closing in 1940. It reopened after World War II and, in 1967, a fire destroyed most of the fourth floor, including the center penthouse.
Historic preservationists Martin & Elise Roegnik purchased the hotel in 1997 and have since invested more than $5 million in renovations, which has re-enlivened the hotel’s history, complete with period guest rooms, a refurbished penthouse with unsurpassed views of Ozark Mountains, state-of the art New Moon Spa and Salon as well as a new addition the Health Spa and the Victorian-style Crystal Dining Room.
