The Ohio Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas
When it comes to historic bars, the Ohio Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas has it all.
Old as hell? Check. In fact, I couldn’t find any evidence against the bar’s claim that it’s the oldest in the state. Named for the birthplace of its original owners, the joint has been in continuous operation since 1905.
Historic artifacts? Oh yeah. The mantel behind the bar was hand-carved in the late 1800s from a single piece of mahogany. It made the trip from its home in Covington, Kentucky―just across the river from Cincinnati―by way of a river barge to Memphis, a train to Malvern, Arkansas, and a two-day horse-and-buggy slog before it pulled up in front of the Ohio Club in 1911. Its lamps don’t run on gas anymore, but who cares?
Sketchy history? Definitely. This place was suspect from the get-go. It opened as a bar and casino and remained that way even after anti-gambling laws were passed in 1913. During Prohibition, the space was renamed the Ohio Cigar Store, but that didn’t really fool anyone. The casino and sports book operations didn’t close down until 1967.
Heroes and villains? You got it. Not only was this place a safe-haven for gamblers, the entire town of Hot Springs was a headquarters for the Prohibition gangster underworld. Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Bugs Moran, and pretty much every other big-name gangster rolled through town at one point or another.
Beefs were rare though, even between rivals. With the amount of moonshine being distilled and shipped from Hot Springs, the town was recognized as a neutral zone to protect financial interests.
And between the gambling, the gangsters, and the eponymous baths, Hot Springs was a popular destination for more upstanding public figures as well. Many a baseball spring training session was conducted in the area, and players like Babe Ruth always stayed in Hot Springs and frequented the Ohio Club.
Entertainers, too, were drawn. Al Jolson performed at the Ohio Club in 1915. Mae West performed in the 1930s, and a host of blues and jazz musicians continued to grace the bar into the 1960s.
Still serving? You bet. The celebrities are mostly gone, but the old-school vibe is still there. The drinks are cold and there is live music seven nights a week.
photo by: Ohio Club
The Ohio Club during the Prohibition era.
Location: 336 Central Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–2:00 a.m.; Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–midnight
You’re Having: Why complicate things? Try the Old Fashioned Burger and anything with alcohol.
Best Yelp Review: “The atmosphere in this place is great and it's fun to drink in a place where Al Capone, other gangsters and several old baseball stars used to drink.”
