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1886
1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa
75 Prospect Avenue, Eureka Springs, Arkansas 72632 Original Property Opened in 1886 Historic Hotels of America member since 2000- The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Haunted Hotels List Is Announced
- The 2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America for a Romantic Proposal Announced
- The 2021 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Haunted Hotels Announced
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- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Where Women Made History
- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Haunted Hotels List Is Announced
- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Where Women Made History
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Haunted Hotels List Is Announced
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Gingerbread Displays List Is Announced
art
gardens
ghosts
memorabilia
tours
1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa is a mountaintop vacation retreat hand-constructed of Arkansas limestone by Irish stonemasons at a cost of $284,000. When this “Grand Ol’ Lady of the Ozarks” opened, the railroad had reached the village and brought tourists eager to sample the healing waters of the local springs. Located atop the historic district and surrounded by acres of gardens, forested walking trails, and restored Victorian shops, the hotel retains its historic character all while offering a spa activities, rooftop dining, and luxurious amenities. Eureka Springs itself ranks consistently a top destination for the arts and has been named the "Wedding Capital of The South" by many within the hospitality industry.
Discover
- Discover the rich heritage of the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. During the first few decades the hotel’s existence, the “invited guests” would ascend the limestone steps to the East Garden. Their presence would then be announced by the staff, followed by rounds of applause from the guests attending “welcome tea” in the space.
- Marvel at the construction of the hotel itself, which is essentially a five-story castle built in the 1880s. Irish stonemasons cut and stacked 18-inch thick limestone blocks to construct the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. The blocks themselves were quarried about 10 miles away near the White River and brought to the site by horse-drawn wagons. Visitors will notice that due to settling, there is now mortar between the blocks.
- Admire the hotel's unique folklore. Some of the most fascinating tales concern the late 1930s, in which charlatan Norman Baker operated a hospital on the grounds. Originally from Muscatine, Iowa, Baker had called his facility, “Baker's Cancer Curing Hospital.” Most of the hotel's guests are said to have originated from the era, as many patients died from Baker’s fraudulent cures. In fact, the basement once partially served as the hospital’s moruge.
Explore
- Journey across Crescent Drive to find Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church, a building on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by noted American contractor and politician Richard C. Kerens. The church was built using leftover limestone from the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa’s construction.
- Visit the quaint Victorian village of the Eureka Springs Historic District. With a population of 2,000, the city—which in its entirety—is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. More than 100 shops, high-quality restaurants, art galleries, and nightspots are spread across what is affectionately known as the city’s “limestone canyon.”
- Explore the many bodies of water just outside the city limits, where three lakes and two rivers await. White River, King’s River, Beaver Lake, Lake Leatherwood, and Table Rock Lake are all great ways to take in some breathtaking scenery.
Experience
- Step out into nature as Eureka Springs is crisscrossed with urban walking and hiking trails. Just outside the front doors marks the Crescent Trailhead, perfect for a leisurely stroll through the wooded trail to Harmon Park and historic neighborhood. Harmon Park offers playground, skate park and dog park. Mountain biking trails are also quite numerous, especially with the addition of the new downhill feature, the “Lake Leatherwood Gravity Trail” project and at The Great Passion Play.
- Fly above the treetops at Ozark Mountain Ziplines. Experience an adrenaline rush of a zipline canopy tour in the gorgeous Arkansas Ozarks. Reaching heights of some 300 feet, soar over vast, breathtaking spreads of hardwood trees and limestone cliffs. This soaring adventure is guaranteed to satisfy.
- Experience the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, which is home to approximately 100 species of animals and is one of the most well-respected “Big Cat” sanctuaries in North America. View African lions; Bengal and Siberian tigers; black and tawny-colored leopards; native cougars, bobcats, and black bears up close and personal in close imitations of their special natural habitats.
Taste
- Partake in a superb meal at the Crystal Dining Room inside the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. Marvel at the 18-foot ceilings, historic walnut walls, and crystal chandeliers in a warm, open setting. Choose from a varied menu of Italian dishes served family-style, as well as an extensive wine list from our Roenigk Wine Collection.
- Taste some amazing local cuisine when out exploring Eureka Springs. This wonderful Southern community has long been known as, “the town of few people but many quality restaurants.” Barbecue, Thai, Italian, Breakfast Only, Eclectic, Fusion, German, Mexican, and Southern style. Stay in this historic community for weeks and never have to eat in the same restaurant twice.
- Sample from local breweries or wineries. Visit Got A Hold Brewery or Eureka Springs Brewery to sit and sip. Relax outside in the beer patios with music and games offered. Head to nearby Keels Creek Winery & Art Gallery inside. Take a scenic drive over to “Railway Winery @ Trestle 71-7” near the historic Beaver Bridge and Table Rock Lake. Try the wines and bring a picnic basket.
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Best Available Rate
Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotels.org and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
