08/28/2026
š© FUN FACT FRIDAY | AL CAPONE IN HOT SPRINGS
Apparently, one hotel room just wasnāt enough when Al Capone came to townā¦
Yep - THAT Al Capone was a frequent visitor to Hot Springs during the cityās infamous gangster era.
When Capone stayed at the Arlington Hotel, he was known to book the entire fourth floor for himself, his associates and bodyguards.
And he wasnāt exactly hiding in his room.
Capone frequented some of downtown Hot Springsā most popular spots, including the Southern Club, where he was known to play poker, and the Ohio Club, which still stands on Central Avenue today.
Hot Springs had become a getaway for some of the countryās most notorious gangsters - a place where they could enjoy the thermal baths, gamble, visit Oaklawn and apparently take a little break from beingā¦wellā¦gangsters. š
So the next time you walk past the Arlington, just think:
Al Capone once rolled into Hot Springs and said, essentially, āIāll take the whole floor.ā š
Our little Spa City has some STORIES.
Who knew Hot Springs had this kind of gangster history? š