Before Vegas Became Vegas, Hot Springs Was America's Sin City. Now the Arkansas Spa Town Embraces Its Colorful and Seedy History
A life-size statue of Al Capone greets downtown visitors, and you can stay in his hotel suite. The town where gangsters once vacationed with movie stars and athletes is still open for a getaway
Hot Springs, Arkansas, once earned the nickname "America's Sin City" due to its wild reputation for casinos, brothels, and gangster activity. Iconic figures like Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, and Charles "Lucky" Luciano frequented the town, which boasted several high-rise hotels and wide-open gambling and illegal prostitution. The town's allure drew wealthy figures such as Andrew Carnegie, F.W.
Woolworth, and even presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. In 1931, Hot Springs had a population of around 20,000, compared to Las Vegas's 5,000 residents and lack of resorts. Gangsters were welcomed as long as they didn't cause trouble, allowing them to enjoy the town's luxuries without fear of arrest. Today, the historic downtown area and the Gangster Museum of America showcase the town's seedy past, housing artifacts and stories from the golden age of Hot Springs.
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