The outside of Oaklawn Jockey Club
You horse racing fans out there should seriously consider visiting Hot Springs, Arkansas -- home of the Oaklawn Jockey Club and the soon-to-be-opened Catherine's Landing: an RVC Outdoor Destination.
Although this year's round of races at Oaklawn started a month or so ago, there's still much to see since the races will continue into April. Oaklawn is special because it is one of the few horseracing facilities in the country that gets 10,000 visits on an average day. The biggest race days at the park at the Rebel Stakes on March 19 and the Arkansas Derby on April 16. Grandstand seats are $2.50 on weekdays and $4.50 on weekends. You don't have to bet to watch a race, but if you want to try your luck, the minimum bet is $2. If you are feeling even luckier, head on over to the gaming facility which offers poker, reel games and electronic blackjack. Even if gambling isn't your thing, there's still a lot to see and do at Oaklawn. While at the races, you can see the horses as they get ready, people watch, wander around inside and enjoy one of their famous corned beef sandwiches. The best part for RVers is that while you having fun at Oaklawn, you can park your RV in the North Lot for only $2 a day.
Hot Springs isn't just for race fans. Other destinations in Hot Springs include Garvan Woodland Gardens and Bathhouse Row. Garvan Woodland Gardens is the botanical garden run by the University of Arkansas. And for history buffs, Bathhouse Row offers a glimpse into the health spa craze of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Once host to such famous historical figures as Babe Ruth, Al Capone and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the bath houses are the centerpiece a national park which also features hot spring (hence, the name Hot Springs). Only one bath house, The Buckstaff, is still in operation today. Architecture lovers will also appreciate the different building styles of the individual bath houses, including Neoclassical Revival, Renaissance Revival, Spanish and Italianate.
After a busy day at the races or the hot springs, there are several nice RV parks where you can park your rig (several of which are mentioned at the end of this article. There will soon be a new RV park in the area as well -- Catherine's Landing, an RVC Outdoor Destination. This will be the biggest RVC Outdoor Destination yet. Located on one mile of water frontage on Lake Catherine, it is a mere ten minutes away from Oaklawn making it an ideal place to stay during the races. All of the RV sites have full hookups, 50 amp service, WiFi and cable. There will also be a boat ramp and pontoon boats. Catherine's Landing is also a good place for your pets to stay since it has a Bark Park off-leash area. They also have cottages and yurts. Since photographs of the RV sites at Catherine's Landing aren't available yet, here are pictures of a cottage, a yurt and the outside of the park.
While the official grand opening of Catherine's Landing won't take place until May, the general manager says that the park are aiming for an April 1 opening. The amenities may be limited then (for example, the pool and boat dock probably won't be open), but you will be able to get a discounted rate. How much of a discount? If you book by June 1, you'll get 50% off of your stay.
So if you love RVing, gaming, horse racing and big discounts, Hot Springs, AK is a great place to park your rig.
Other RVParking.com Picks for Hot Springs, AK
Hot Springs RV Park
"Very nice, clean, swimming pool, breakfast served by Grandpa's Griddle, lots of shade trees, pond with fish and ducks, cable tv, pull-throughs (many of the surrounding RV parks don't have pull-throughs)." Read more.
J & J RV Park
"Awesome RV park!" Read more.
Gulpha Gorge Campground
"Great park in the forest." Read more.
