Hot Springs, Ark., the home of Oaklawn Park, has a history of lavishly entertaining tourists since the 1800s. People originally visited to experience the thermal waters that were thought to have healing properties, but later they came for other reasons, like baseball spring training, the gambling that was a precursor to Las Vegas, and world-class Thoroughbred racing. Babe Ruth enjoyed Spa City so much that the New York Yankees eventually added to his contract that he could not return.
