“Today’s meeting was informative and encouraging.  It gave everyone a chance to come together, discuss their goals and offer ideas and proposals to each other,” Pryor said.  “There is a mutual agreement that restoring our bathhouses is an important priority for Arkansas and the nation, and I think this is a positive step toward securing additional resources for the renovation and preservation of the Hot Springs bathhouses.  I will continue to work with Senator Lincoln, Congressman Ross, the City of Hot Springs and the Park Service to build momentum and move this process forward.” 

"It’s important that we continue to provide funds to renovate and restore the Hot Springs bathhouses, as these beautiful structures are among our state’s most treasured historic sites," Lincoln said. "I’m pleased that Director Mainella recognizes the importance of future federal investment so we can continue the ongoing efforts to preserve bathhouse row for the benefit of families today and in the future."

"Restoring these bathhouses has been one of my top priorities since day one in office, and today's meeting with the Director of the National Park Service underscores the significant progress my colleagues and I have made toward full restoration of this project," said Ross.  "The National Park Service recognizes the historic value of these bathhouses. One of the most successful parts of today's meeting is that we are now all on the same page and agree on what the end goal should be.  I am hopeful that as a result of today's meeting, we will soon secure the funding necessary to fully-restore Bathhouse Row."

Last month Lincoln, Pryor, and Ross announced that a $3.8 million contract had been awarded to LARICH Inc. to stabilize the 6 vacant bathhouses. Work under the stabilization contract includes the installation of heating and cooling devices to prevent further deterioration, structural repairs to the buildings and foundations, and measures to make the buildings ADA accessible. 

The restoration effort is intended to make the Quapaw bathhouse suitable for leasing to a private developer as part of a long-term project to use public and private resources to rehabilitate and redevelop Bathhouse Row for future use. The House of Representatives Interior Appropriations bill currently appropriates stabilization funding for Bathhouse Row, and the Senate Appropriations bill has earmarked $2 million for the project. Both bills are currently in conference committee.