News Release

Hot Springs National Park is Modifying Operations to Implement Latest Health Guidance

Date: March 17, 2020

[Hot Springs, AR] Hot Springs National Park is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. As of March 18, 2020, the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum is closed until further notice. Where it is possible to adhere to the latest health guidance, outdoor areas of the park, including all trails, the Grand Promenade, and the park campground, will remain open for hiking and recreation. “This is a challenging situation for all of us and we want to do our part to prevent the spread of infectious disease,” said park superintendent Laura Miller. “We are modifying our program to better protect the health and safety of our staff and visitors. We will provide more outdoor, roving visitor contacts, along with developing content to allow our visitors to continue to enjoy their park online.”

The Bathhouse Row Emporium, located in the Lamar Bathhouse, will close March 18 as well. Other park partners and businesses along Bathhouse Row and at the Hot Springs Mountain Tower also are following guidance from the CDC. Visitors are encouraged to check with those businesses regarding possible updates to their services.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Hot Springs National Park is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with the federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website and social media channels.

The NPS urges visitors to do their part when visiting a park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick. For high-risk populations, such as the elderly and people with underlying conditions, we ask that they take extra caution and follow CDC guidance for those at higher risk of serious illness. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. For more information and updates, visit our park website at www.nps.gov/hosp or follow us on social media. www.nps.gov About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.