Mystic Ozark opens as new interactive museum in Hot Springs, Arkansas

The new museum features a gift shop near the exit with name-drop apparel and fun mementos for kids.

People visiting Hot Springs, Arkansas, can learn all about the history behind the geothermal waters of Hot Springs National Park at Mystic Ozark, a new, interactive museum in the historic Ozark Bathhouse that debuted May 17.

“Mystic Ozark is an exciting addition to downtown Hot Springs that will bring together education, history and interactive experiences,” says Romeo Lopez, director of Mystic Ozark. “This project will offer a deeper understanding of the unique features of the National Park that have shaped the city’s identity while creating a new attraction, benefiting both locals and visitors.”

Hot Springs-based Mid-America Science Museum helped to develop the new interactive attraction. The science museum signed a lease agreement under the historic leasing program to develop the interactive experience in the Ozark Bathhouse, which is a 14,000-square-foot building from 1922 along the city’s Bathhouse Row. The museum worked closely with the National Park Service to preserve the building’s historic integrity while creating a modern, educational experience.

Mystic Ozark features several interactive exhibits that teach guests about the Hot Springs and local legends, such as “the dragon.”

“There’s a local legend around here, this story of a dragon that lives underground that heats up the Hot Springs,” shares Layne Skinner, assistant director at Mystic Ozark.

Kids visiting Mystic Ozark's gift shop are drawn to a bathtub full of plush dragons.

Mystic Ozark

“We focused on trying to make the attraction a hands-on sensory experience,” she says.

At the end of the museum, guests can visit a brand new gift shop with merchandise tied to the attraction and Hot Springs. Skinner says guests can purchase a variety of souvenirs — name-drop apparel, stickers, patches, plush, science kits and jewelry. She adds that many vendors in the gift shop have ties to charitable causes or helping the environment.

There are also some fun, one-of-a-kind finds — like lollipops that feature seedlings inside that can be planted.

“One of the lollipop flavors is strawberry and basil. Once you’re done with the lollipop, you plant the stick in the ground and seeds inside the stick grow,” she explains. “Now you wouldn’t think about trying strawberry and basil together, but once you try it, you’re amazed it tastes great!”

Kids also smile when they see a bathtub full of plush dragons in the gift shop. Skinner adds that the museum plans to expand its merchandise selection and make changes over time, sharing that she hopes the store can add some new short-sleeve T-shirts and logoed tote bags soon.

Since opening this spring, Skinner says people have enjoyed both the new museum and its retail offerings.

“People have been enjoying it — we’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback,” she says. “People enjoy how interactive the exhibits are and that there’s always some sort of button to press or fun hands-on thing to play with in each exhibit. We’ve also noticed a lot of people really like the gift shop and its selection of toys. We have a lot of fun toys, cute backpacks for kids and candies that kids like. Candies and toys are selling best for us, and that’s because we’re a family-friendly attraction. Kids see these things in the gift shop and get excited. So that’s been very successful.”