Sisters Escape to Eureka Springs

As I have said before, my sisters and I are very close.  We try to get together once a year for some sister bonding and girl fun.  Several years ago we chose Eureka Springs Arkansas as our destination.  Eureka Springs is one of America's quaint little villages that now thrives due to its tourism industry.  The town was once a thriving community because of the lure of the magical healing waters of the springs.  Back in 1886 when the present day Crescent Hotel was built people came from all over the world to be healed by the mineral springs.  The Crescent Hotel was originally built as a hospital and health care center by Dr. Norman Baker.  Dr. Baker was quite theatrical and liked to perform his surgeries in front of the hospital so that local citizens could watch his procedures.  Fortunately he was eventually closed down but not before he mutilated and killed many poor souls.  The hospital is now a magnificent old hotel.  The once lovely old Victorian homes in the area are now bed and breakfasts offering wonderful home cooked meals and relaxing massages.

Two of my sisters and I headed to Eureka Springs, not for the healing waters but for adventure.  It is said that the spring water flowing beneath the hotel is high in energy attracting lost spirits.  The Crescent Hotel is considered to be America's most haunted hotel so naturally we made reservations to stay there.  Besides the unfortunate people who put their lives in the hands of the sadistic Dr. Norman Baker many others died in the hotel.  One of the most colorful characters who died there was an Irish construction worker who fell to his death from the roof landing on the future site of Room 218, considered to be the most haunted room.  Michael, the worker was known as a prankster and it is said that his ghostly spirit enjoys playing pranks on the guest of room 218.  Naturally we asked for that room but it was already taken.  Darn!  However because of our interest we were given the room next to it where the ghostly figure of a small boy has been seen chasing his ball.

The morning of our arrival to the now elegant hotel we headed for the lower level where The New Moon Spa and Salon is located.  We had this mini-vacation well planned - first full body massages, next hike and exploration of the area, followed by the ghost tour and last but not least pizza in our haunted room waiting for our friendly ghost's visit.  At the spa we were greeted warmly by the pretty young lady at the front desk.  While we waited for our masseuse she guided us on a tour of the modern facilities. (Which happened to be next door to the morgue.)  There were several private rooms with attached showers so that all three of us could have our massages at the same time.  Sue had opted for the hand and foot massage and exfoliation treatment.  She explained that her feet deserved a little pampering after all the years of work standing on concrete floors.  I do believe she was right.  Mary was scheduled for an aromatherapy body wrap with deep exfoliation and a soothing foot and scalp massage.  Personally I wanted to get down and dirty so I chose a sea science mud body wrap to eliminate toxins.  The sessions varied in length of time depending on the type of massage we were to receive; Sue's being the shortest and Mary's the longest.  We were each led to our private rooms with soft music to help us relax.  I was instructed to remove all my clothes and lay face down on the massage table with a sheet draped over me.  The young female masseuse quietly came in the room when I was ready and in a soothing voice explained the procedure of applying warm mud over my entire body (except my hair).  She then gently applied the mud and massaged my body as she went along.  I must confess it was the best massage I have ever had (also the most expensive).  She gently rubbed the warm silky mud from my toes all the way up to my nose.  When she was finished I was instructed to lay there and relax for as long as I wished and afterwards I was to shower off the mud and join my sisters where we first met.  As I was lying there I could hear the male masseuse in the next room giving Mary her massage.  That is when I came up with one of my scathingly brilliant ideas.  No more relaxation for this girl.  I had things to do.  I quickly showered and dressed but rather than join Sue I tiptoed quietly into the room where Mary was being massaged by a handsome young man.  The young man looked at me quizzically and before he could speak I placed my finger to my lips to shush him.  Mary had a scented mask over her eyes so she had no idea what was going on.  I leaned over her and deposited a big kiss on her lips.  At first Mary just looked stunned and then she queried, "David?".  David and I burst into laughter as she pulled off her mask to see me standing there.  Later she said the massage wasn't near as soothing after the kiss because David couldn't stop laughing.

After the massage and lunch we took a hike and explored the area as planned.  We enjoyed ourselves but we were anxious for our adventure.  Would we really see ghosts or were these just stories to lure the tourist there?  Finally 7 o'clock arrived and we followed a well versed man around the hotel listening to the many stories of mutilation by the infamous Dr. Baker.  Dr. Baker claimed he was able to cure cancer.  Two stories vividly standout in my mind.  One of his patients purportedly had brain cancer.  Out in the courtyard where the town's folk had gathered to witness his claims he drilled a hole in the ailing man's head and then proceeded to pour Eureka Springs mineral water into the cavity made by the drill.  He then announced to the surprised crowd that the man was healed.  Not surprisingly, the man died a few days later.  Another time one of Dr. Baker's patients had cancer on an arm.  The hospital also served as an insane asylum.  Dr. Baker cut the cancer ridden arm off; then cut the arm off of one of the insane asylum's inmates and sewed his arm onto the cancer patient.  Dr. Baker was astounded when the arm rotted off.  No wonder ghosts walked the halls of the hotel.  Ghastly stories.  With the stories fresh in our minds we headed for our room to eat veggie pizza, tell ghost stories and wait for our ghostly visit.  We stayed up as late as we could keep our eyes open watching and listening but finally gave up and went to bed, disappointed.  No ghosts.  We did have one experience that could have been the ghost of the construction worker.  As each of us took a shower the warm water abruptly turned cold and a few seconds later warm again.  Was Michael playing around or was it the old plumbing in the hotel?  I guess we'll never know. 

We all slept soundly and spent the next day shopping at all the quaint little shops in the town.  The shop keepers were friendly and full of suggestions of places to see and places to eat.  We went home tired from walking up and down the hills in the town.  Tired and yet refreshed, if that makes sense.  Refreshed and ready to make more plans for other adventures.