The Rich History of The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa

The original Arlington Hotel opened in 1875 as the state’s largest hotel.

 Rebuilt in 1893 as a Spanish Renaissance masterpiece, it was hailed as “the most elegant hotel in America.”

On April 5, 1923, the second Arlington burned completely to the ground, killing one fireman and causing $1.6 million in damage (1923 dollars).  Because of it’s brick structure, the hotel was thought to be fireproof, but a fire began in the sub-flooring and slowly spread throughout the building.  An employee noticed smoke and the authorities were notified.  William Pinkerton, the founder of the famous security service and a guest at the hotel at the time, was so certain, as were others, that the fire would be controlled that he sat on the veranda and smoked a cigar rather than retrieve his belongings, all of which he lost in the fire.

Construction on the third and current Arlington began on October 25, 1923, on land directly across from the previous location, and no longer on federal property.  Designed by the same primary architect of the Arkansas State Capitol, the hotel includes two massive towers, like it predecessor but designed in a Mediterranean rath than Spanish Revival style.  

Just eleven months and three days later, on November 28, 1924, the new hotel was completed – surely quite a feat for that time! In keeping with the “resort” image, the hotel boasted a library/writing room; an Arthur Murray Dance Studio; roof gardens; room service; a bathhouse with its own private elevator; a full service gas station/auto repair shop; cigar/newsstand; Board of Trade; Western Union Office; stenographers; laundry; drugstore/soda fountain; commercial print shop; barber shop/beauty salon; convention facilities; grand ballroom; ten-piece Meyer-Davis in-house orchestra and dining in the Fountain Room. The grand opening was celebrated with a New Year’s Eve dinner dance.

World War II brought changes for The Arlington. By Labor Day, 1944 the United States Army had commandeered five Hot Springs' hotels and converted them into a recreation and redistribution center, accommodating 3,000 servicemen a day until the end of 1946. At The Arlington, the Army took over the kitchen and created a military mess hall in the Fountain Room, and converted the ballroom to a movie theater.

In true resort style, outdoor relaxation and sunning were a popular pastime on both the 8th floor roof top garden, as shown in this photo from March 1951, and the 7th floor mountainside Pool Deck that was built soon after.  The Pool Deck still boasts two twin-cascading pools and now has a hot tub and hiking trails.

In May, 1987, a 10,000 square foot Exhibit Center was added, expanding meeting space to 45,000 square feet and allowing simultaneous exhibit booths, seminars, and meal functions to be set up.

The Arlington is currently undergoing a major restoration and remains fully open, with renovations carefully phased around guests. Exterior crews have removed seven layers of old stucco to restore the original brick and architectural details, while interior work includes modernizing plumbing, installing new windows and finishes, and reinforcing structural elements. Key infrastructure—such as the cooling tower and roof surfaces—is also being upgraded. Public spaces, including the lobby and conference center, are being refreshed to restore the hotel’s historic grandeur.