April 5 marked the 96th anniversary of the burning of a historic building in Hot Springs. The famous Arlington Hotel, synonymous with the Spa City since its inception in 1875, suffered its demise after an employee saw smoke coming from an electrical panel.
With owners already in discussion about constructing an addition across Fountain Street, those plans then became the blueprint for rebuilding the entire hotel on that site. The current version of the Arlington Hotel was completed on Nov. 28, 1924. It later became a go-to spot for Al Capone and baseball legend Babe Ruth, among other celebrities.
– Zach Parker, Ghidotti