Hot Springs, ark (Little Rock, Bella Vista, Hot Springs Village: sales, crime rate, hotels)

[gottaleaveOK]

I want to get out of Oklahoma. I bought a house while in college...and kinda got stuck here. I think hot springs is beautiful. It reminds me of the mountain village i grew up in California. which may be clouding my judgment.
Can anyone tell me what sports lakeside school district offers? How barbaric are the liquor laws here? (can wine or beer be bought in a grocery store?) And how is there library system? Oklahoma City does have a fantastic library system i will miss.

[hitpausebutton2]

School sports? They have them all.. track and field, basketball, baseball, football, Swimming team. Thought you was in college?

Liquor law in arkansas is zero sales on sunday, except for private bars with permits. < no drinking on property, and yes you can buy limited amount of beer in grocery stores vs the real beer store. Not much of a book readers, cant speak about the library.

Not sure what job path your going, just know that HS has zero technology jobs, and its mostly hospitality jobs as they call it now. Work at the hospital, or fast food is the only choices you got locally. Racetrack is just another casino but dont call it that as they still think its game of skill..its all computer generated slots..

If it wasnt so touristy city.. it be empty..

[Larryrickenbacker]

Howdy,


This educator in NW Louisiana would like to retire to Hot Springs in a few short years. The problem is Hot Springs' high crime rate. For this reason I'm also putting Heber Springs on my list. Make no mistake: I adore Hot Springs, but with it's crime rate rivaling Shreveport and Little Rock, one must make contingency plans.

[Old Fossil]

Originally Posted by Larryrickenbacker

Howdy,


This educator in NW Louisiana would like to retire to Hot Springs in a few short years. The problem is Hot Springs' high crime rate. For this reason I'm also putting Heber Springs on my list. Make no mistake: I adore Hot Springs, but with it's crime rate rivaling Shreveport and Little Rock, one must make contingency plans.

Hmmm, where did you get your "high crime" info I don't live in H.S. but worked there, off and on, for several years. If circumstances permitted I would not hesitate moving there today. But as in any town, large or small, there are areas you stay out of. I never had any problems there.

[Larryrickenbacker]

Originally Posted by Old Fossil

Hmmm, where did you get your "high crime" info I don't live in H.S. but worked there, off and on, for several years. If circumstances permitted I would not hesitate moving there today. But as in any town, large or small, there are areas you stay out of. I never had any problems there.

Old Fossil, Let's try Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site. for starters. Again, the wife and I prefer Hot Springs. Only the research has given us cause for pause. I've found Arkansans the friendliest people and the state's natural beaty enticing. I look forward to your insight.

[jimnelson1]

I live in Hot Springs Village. I was transferred here by my employer (Aerospace) so saying the only jobs are hospitality jobs is wrong. Hot Springs is actually a fairly small town, population about 35,000. But it’s also a vacation destination, so we see huge swings in the actual number of people in town. I think this has an effect on the crime rates. I’ve seen reports that Hot Springs is a high crime area before, and have to scratch my head on that. There is certainly no part of Hot Springs that I’ve ever felt unsafe in.

Hot Springs is also a regional hub for SW Arkansas. Keeping in mind that it’s a town of 35,000 people, consider that we have two major hospitals, umpteen new car dealerships, far more restaurants, hotels, and attractions than any other town of 35K that I know of. And downtown is a National Park. So there are jobs in all those industries, plus jobs in the boating and fishing arenas.

Some other industries in the Hot Springs area. Xpress boats are made in Hot Springs, Alcoa has a rolled aluminum mill, forestry jobs, several state parks, and the Aerospace jobs I mentioned before. And all the jobs that are in every town, cops, firemen, doctors, lawyers, teachers, city workers, utility workers, and many more.

For the guy looking to retire here. Take a look at Hot Springs Village, but also consider Bella Vista, Fairfield Bay, And Cherokee Village. We have been here in HSV for a little over 5 years now, and love it. But we are small town folks originally from Kansas, so a lack of nightlife and fancy restaurants don’t matter at all to us.

As far as liquor laws. People cross the state line into MO, OK, or LA to buy beer on Sunday. And there are still a few dry counties in Arkansas (like White county where my mother lives). I don’t think we have any of that 3.2% beer nonsense like OK and KS have. I’ve lived in Utah too, and people thought the liquor laws there were awful, didn’t bother us a bit after living in Kansas.

[Old Fossil]

Originally Posted by jimnelson1

I live in Hot Springs Village. I was transferred here by my employer (Aerospace) so saying the only jobs are hospitality jobs is wrong. Hot Springs is actually a fairly small town, population about 35,000. But it’s also a vacation destination, so we see huge swings in the actual number of people in town. I think this has an effect on the crime rates. I’ve seen reports that Hot Springs is a high crime area before, and have to scratch my head on that. There is certainly no part of Hot Springs that I’ve ever felt unsafe in.

Hot Springs is also a regional hub for SW Arkansas. Keeping in mind that it’s a town of 35,000 people, consider that we have two major hospitals, umpteen new car dealerships, far more restaurants, hotels, and attractions than any other town of 35K that I know of. And downtown is a National Park. So there are jobs in all those industries, plus jobs in the boating and fishing arenas.

Some other industries in the Hot Springs area. Xpress boats are made in Hot Springs, Alcoa has a rolled aluminum mill, forestry jobs, several state parks, and the Aerospace jobs I mentioned before. And all the jobs that are in every town, cops, firemen, doctors, lawyers, teachers, city workers, utility workers, and many more.

For the guy looking to retire here. Take a look at Hot Springs Village, but also consider Bella Vista, Fairfield Bay, And Cherokee Village. We have been here in HSV for a little over 5 years now, and love it. But we are small town folks originally from Kansas, so a lack of nightlife and fancy restaurants don’t matter at all to us.

As far as liquor laws. People cross the state line into MO, OK, or LA to buy beer on Sunday. And there are still a few dry counties in Arkansas (like White county where my mother lives). I don’t think we have any of that 3.2% beer nonsense like OK and KS have. I’ve lived in Utah too, and people thought the liquor laws there were awful, didn’t bother us a bit after living in Kansas.

[MNFBW]

Originally Posted by Old Fossil

I know this is not a HSV thread, but I'd love to know more about HSV. We will be visiting the first week of November as HSV is high on our retirement list.

[jimnelson1]

Originally Posted by MNFBW

I know this is not a HSV thread, but I'd love to know more about HSV. We will be visiting the first week of November as HSV is high on our retirement list.

Lots posted here about HSV. After you read all that, let us know if you have any specific questions.