# My state lost a historic 132 year old landmark. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-state-lost-a-historic-132-year-old-landmark/682617 "2014-03-01T18:46:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-state-lost-a-historic-132-year-old-landmark/682617/1 "2014-03-01T18:46:18Z")
☹☹ The Majestic Hotel was Arkansas’ biggest and best known Hot Springs landmark. My wife and I spent our honeymoon there in the early 80’s. [Beautiful resort hotel and spa.](http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000NMCL3kp6_5Q/s/750/750/Majestic-Hotel-Hot-Springs-Arkansas-ed-20121108-MG-5707.jpg) [Had distinctive green awnings.](http://www.pocketfullofquarters.com/photogallery/Arkansas%20-%20Hot%20Springs%20-%20Majestic%20Hotel/Majestic%20Hotel.jpg)It drew big Hollywood celebrities, gangsters and a pro baseball team there in the 30’s. It flourished and expended in the 60’s. It had a long decline starting in the mid 80’s that resulted in its closing in 2006. There was a campaign to get it restored. Huge fire has closed the chapter on this landmark. They’ll start tearing it down in a few days. A big part of my life gone. It’s going to be so strange visiting Hot Springs and not seeing it. [News: History of the hotel](http://www.katv.com/video?clipId=9897733&topVideoCatNo=189702&autoStart=true) [News: the fire](http://www.katv.com/video?clipId=9898151&topVideoCatNo=189702&autoStart=true) [News: Aftermath](http://www.katv.com/story/24856807/aftermath-of-the-majestic-hotel-fire) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-state-lost-a-historic-132-year-old-landmark/682617/2 "2014-03-01T18:54:56Z")
The link to the Boston Red Sox and The Pittsburgh Pirates is very interesting. The Hotel’s history was something to be proud of. > **[The Majestic Hotel « Hot Springs Arkansas Historic Baseball Trail](https://hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/see-the-trail/the-majestic-hotel/)** > [@](#): > > Constructed in 1902 and expanded in 1926, the Majestic was a favorite destination for several Major League teams including the renowned Boston Red Sox. The Sox trained at Majestic Field on the south end of town. As part of their training they hiked the four miles to and from the ball field, over West Mountain. > [@](#): > > When the yellow brick building opened in 1893, it was a modern, 20th-century hotel that quickly became a popular spot for tourists and athletes. According to “Majestic Hotel: The History of a Grande Dame,” an article by Garland County Historical Society secretary Isabel B. Anthony, Babe Ruth frequented the Majestic. The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox also stayed at the hotel for their spring training and fitness programs. As tourists continued to pour into Hot Springs, the hotel expanded, with an eight-story, red-brick addition to the west of the yellow-brick building in 1926. Also in the ‘20s, another well-known visitor began showing up in town. In the mid-’30s, new spa facilities were added to the Majestic. - See more at: [The Majestic Hotel | 300+ Photos/Video | Abandoned Arkansas](http://www.abandonedar.com/the-majestic-hotel/#sthash.4eqGJ8QG.dpuf) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-state-lost-a-historic-132-year-old-landmark/682617/3 "2014-03-01T19:07:56Z")
I’ve watched channel 7’s lead news anchor, Scott Inman every weeknight for 15 years. This was the first time I can remember him personally reporting a story on location. He normally stays behind the anchor desk. Anchoring the 5,6 and 10 broadcasts. It was a huge fire that took most of the evening and night to get under control. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-state-lost-a-historic-132-year-old-landmark/682617/4 "2014-03-01T19:24:29Z")
aerial view > fire three cities fire departments joined to fight this fire. Thank goodness no one was inside. The firemen didn’t send anybody inside. The building was too old and dangerous to risk lives going in. > > Theres still two other buildings (hotel annexes) built in the 60’s that are still ok. Vacant, but ok.