Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs officially opened its new luxurious hotel, spa and event center, an expansion project which began construction in 2019, May 21, 2021. “We are taking luxury to a whole new level in Arkansas,” said Louis Cella, president of Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. “It will enhance the entertainment experience at Oaklawn, in Hot Springs and throughout Arkansas, which will further elevate our status as a leading tourism and recreation destination.” The Hotel at Oaklawn is eight stories tall, featuring 198 rooms including two presidential suites. Eachroom offers luxurious amenities such as fine linens and large-screen televisions. From the hotel’s location adjacent to the racetrack, patrons can watch Thoroughbred racing from the comfort of their rooms and take in the scenic views of beautiful Hot Springs and the Valley of the Vapors.
The world-class Astral Spa has unique offerings such as a needle shower, representative of the iconic Bathhouse Row at Hot Springs National Park, an infrared sauna and a Himalayan Salt wall, seen nowhere else in Arkansas. “Throughout the facility, you will see great attention to detail,” Cella said. “You will also notice reflections of our local culture such as historic Oaklawn and Hot Springs memorabilia and locallysourced gemstones that will be used in spa treatments.”The expansion project includes a 15,000-square-foot event center that can seat up to 1,500 people. Conferences, concerts and banquets will take place in the space, which features a 1,900-square-foot stage with a large video wall. Additionally, four meeting rooms are available for smaller gatherings or for breakout sessions. Each room is named after the area’s recreational lakes: Catherine, Hamilton,Ouachita and DeGray. Outside, patrons and guests will enjoy a swimming pool with food and drink service poolside or to a guest’s private cabana.