Welcome to Hot Springs, Arkansas
The Spa City – America’s First Resort and home to Xpress Boats & Veranda Luxury Pontoons
Hot Springs gets its name from the naturally flowing thermal springs that meander down the mountains. Centrally located in Arkansas, the area has been a destination for visitors from Native Americans who called this area “the Valley of the Vapors” to Spanish and French settlers. The hot springs were such a coveted natural wonder that President Andrew Jackson designated Hot Springs as the first federal reservation in 1832 (essentially America’s first national park, predating Yellowstone National Park by 40 years). People traveled across the country to “take off the waters” to heal and rest. The Arlington Hotel was built in 1875 and was the largest hotel in the state at that time. In 1887, the Army and Navy Hospital opened and began treating military personnel. Between 1892 and 1923, eight bathhouses were built on what’s known today as Bathhouse Row. Thoroughbred racing began in Hot Springs with the construction of Essex Park in 1904. One year later, Oaklawn Park opened where it still stands today. Famous for its hot mineral waters, tranquil mountain scenery, hotels, and nightlife, this bustling resort town attracted baseball players for spring training, mobsters, gamblers, and business tycoons alike.
Today, the area offers a high quality of life with a low cost of living (14.82% lower than the national average). The median household income is $44,743. Hot Springs is a great place to call home and an affordable answer to the needs of families and businesses. Key industries include aerospace, health care, transportation, and manufacturing, like Xpress Boats and Veranda Luxury Pontoons. The lush green forests of the Ouachita Mountains and pristine lakes and rivers provide endless outdoor recreational opportunities, such as world-class mountain biking trails, hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, and rock hounding.
Hot Springs offers eight award-winning schools, three hospitals, a booming business community, vibrant nightlife, annual festivals, thriving fine arts and cultural experiences, and bountiful dining and entertainment options.
Are you ready to move to Hot Springs and become part of the flourishing community?
Family Owned & Operated
In 1966, the very first weld made by Kermit Bryant established the foundation for Xpress Boats with a commitment to manufacturing the finest all-welded aluminum boat. Three generations later, our family focus remains the same, it has not and will not deviate. Xpress Boats continues to revolutionize by investing in technology and improving production methods to guarantee the finest, cost-efficient solution on the water today. Xpress Boats strives to lead and not follow, which is evident in every single original, all-welded, high-performance aluminum boat that comes off our line from our Bassmaster Elite proven X21 Pro bass boat to the #1 selling 20-foot aluminum pad hull bay boat. Remember, if you are not the original, then you will always be in the shadow of one. Visit xpressboats.com to learn more.
In 2006, Veranda Luxury Pontoons began crafting the finest engineered pontoons in the boating industry. The strength and security of our Patented All-Aluminum All-Welded Interlocking Deck System combined with the ultimate in luxury style means that Veranda owners never have to choose between exhilarating performance and soothing relaxation. Over the years, Veranda has continued to refine manufacturing processes and provided the opportunity for thousands of owners to discover the rewards of boating and making memories that last a lifetime. From the sleek fiberglass exterior panels and knife-edge nose cones on the V One to the packaged features on the Relax and Fish Series, you will not be disappointed. A lifetime of enjoyment awaits. Visit verandamarine.com to learn more.