The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa

Although I’ve never stayed here, when I’m visiting Eureka Springs, I ALWAYS come visit the hotel first! Would love to stay here someday and experience the overnight ambiance! Beautiful hotel!!!

My boyfriend and I, along with my sister and her husband, booked a ghost tour here on a Saturday night.
The tour was fun and informative, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. The guide was really knowledgeable and the history was fascinating. We were told that strange occurrences were k own to happen: phone batteries are drained quickly, orbs are seen and photographed, certain smells can be noticed, touches can be felt in certain parts of the tour, senses are heightened on certain parts of the tour, etc. Nothing. And it didn’t appear that anyone else on the tour experienced anything. The tour itself wasn’t really scary. which was a little disappointing. Maybe it was an off night for the ghosts, but I really was hoping to have an experience. Maybe if we stayed in one of the rooms… but we were only there for a ghost tour.
We decided to stay at their restaurant afterward and have a bite to eat and a few drinks… we ordered a salad and a meat lovers pizza. For hotel good, it was pretty good. Quite above average pizza… very satisfied. Drinks were reasonable. Prices were fair.
I think I would like to come back and book a room… especially Michael’s room, or the nurse’s room (I forgot her name) as it sounds like these are the most active rooms with the most potential for activity.

2* for a shitty hotel. We didn’t stay but visited and took the ghost tour.
For the ghost tour we had a few intense and terrifying experiences.
Reba was our tour guide. She has been leading tours for less than a year, but was very knowledgeable on the 7 ghosts and history.
Room 419 we visited earlier in the day and had weird feelings and my wife got goosebumps. The selfie we took at the door showed a weird blue haze above our heads.
After the sun set we took the tour. We had a crazy experience at room 218. The ghost here is Michael, a 17 year old kid who fell to his death and hit a beam under the room.
A couple on the tour were actually staying the room. They had the window in their room open once, then they closed and locked them only to have them open again. Before the tour they closed them. The couple claimed to know nothing about Michael. They volunteered to let the tour see their room and we all witnessed the window open again.
And the most intense experience was in the meat locker in the morgue. My wife was much more brave than me and volunteered with 4 other people to stay in the locker with the doors closed. All 5 of the people saw multiple orbs– a few white and one green. They also felt something brush against their shoulders. They had photos to prove the story of the orbs.
I have always been a skeptic about ghosts and spirits. I believe there is a scientific explanation for all this (EMF, Gravity, Pressure, poor construction, etc), but several people on the tour experienced the same things as us.
This place is a hard one to «debunk.»

My husband had been to this hotel 16 years ago and was excited to show it to me, along with their famous Sunday Brunch. We arrived on Halloween night and checked into room 422. It was horrid: the room and bathroom are on a 35 — 40 degree slant; the furniture was literally falling apart, there was accumulated dust on the baseboards, paint was peeling throughout, the window unit didn’t cool properly, the hot water was limited, the water pressure was terrible and the TV was way, way across the room. Fortunately, we had made prior arrangements to move into a balcony room for the next two nights and it turned out to be charming and much, much more accommodating.
The renowned Sunday Brunch was a disaster; we were given a 1:00 reservation and arrived at 12:45 to a mostly empty room full of dirty unbussed tables. The tables of chafing dishes likely held a very nice and varied spread earlier in the day, but almost all stood empty or picked over when we arrived and nothing was replenished. Keep in mind that we didn’t just wander in as they were closing; this was our assigned reservation time made a couple of weeks prior. Even the musician stopped playing about 15 minutes after we arrived and walked around scrounging for scraps too. My husband got an omelet (which he said was very good) and all that was left to choose from otherwise was fatty roast beef or bagels. Perhaps an earlier reservation would warrant the $ 21.50/person, but ours did not and we were frustrated that we wasted half of a day waiting for it.
The ghost tour was fun and very informative, but the glow in the dark pin ups in the morgue were cheesy.
According to my husband, the hotel looked as if nothing had been done by way of upkeep since he was there last. The grounds are well kept, but the hotel lobby sports faded furniture and almost threadbare carpeting. Paint is randomly peeling throughout, especially on the balconies. And it is hardly cheap to stay here: $ 11 for a bloody mary, $ 20+/pp Sunday Brunch, $ 20+/pp ghost tour, plus rooms that aren’t cheap — it makes you wonder where the money goes.
It should be noted that all of the staff was wonderful, from the front desk clerks to the waitstaff to the doorman. Everyone was very friendly and helpful (and apologetic), and that’s something. Still, it’s a shame that a historic building like this isn’t given a little more love.

Did not stay at this hotel but did do the haunted tour. It was informative and historical and interesting but not scary/​haunted and a little hokey from that perspective.

This hotel has some beautiful features. The rooms are a little pricey for what you get. The service was good and the breakfasts were awesome! It was just so crowded due to several weddings.

This is an excellent hotel to stay at. Service is really good and the rooms are nice. Come and see all of the intricate architecture while experiencing the slow pace of Arkansas. The hotel is located just minutes from the shops and restaurants downtown! We will return!!!

Love this hotel! First we did not stay here but at a bed and breakfast down the road. We booked a spa day here and that is how we found this hotel. Even though we did not stay here the staff was always so nice and friendly. We did love our spa experience! We ate at both hotel restaurants as well. Both were great, especially the pizza! Next time we are in town we will be staying there!

Fun historical hotel with a beautiful Victorian décor. We first saw this place on ghost adventures. They have excellent ghost tours and a wonderful hotel restaurant. The hotel itself needs slight foundation repair due to its age.

The Brunch was nice with historical ambiance. A little of the faded lady about it. Servers were great. Prime Rib was good as were the cold sides. Mimosas are included.

Very old hotel. Really interesting history. It seems though that it is just a step away from being really great. Something is just lacking but I can’t put my finger on it. Room was good staff friendly. The ghost tour was interesting. I recommend it for a night.

New Moon Spa: Nice, but pricey. For a decent pedicure with no designs or anything fancy, I paid $ 45 (before tip!). The facial I felt wasn’t priced unfairly, and it was really nice. The whole staff was very friendly and overall it was a positive experience.
Ghost Tour: I have mixed emotions about this. It was definitely interesting, but a less than ideal experience. Our tour guide was WONDERFUL, and I so wish I could remember her name so I could compliment her properly. She was marvelous and really got into the role. The tour provides a lot of history about Eureka Springs and the hotel itself, which was very interesting. The frustrating thing is that because it’s a functioning hotel, it’s not really an isolated experience. There were loud people in the hallways, busboys with carts of luggage, people lining up for the next tour in your way, pizza delivery guys… It seemed like every time I started to enjoy it, something would happen to break the mood. Also because there are guests there, you can’t go in any of the haunted rooms. So more than half of the tour is stopping in the hallway and staring at a closed door while they tell you a story. It would have been much cooler if you could have actually gone in the rooms. The morgue was very cool, and yes, you should be brave enough to go in the meat locker! I’m not sure that I’d super highly recommend this, but I did enjoy it, and if you’re looking for something different to do, give it a shot.
The hotel: We almost stayed there, and I am SO glad we didn’t! It’s not nearly as pretty as I thought it would be, inside or out. Instead of being pretty/​restored old, it just looked old (except the spa which is new and nice, and the restaurants we did not see, so I don’t know). The staff were HORRIBLE. My mom tried to buy tickets for the ghost tour at the front desk and they just pushed her off to a computer and told her to buy them online. They told her she could print them there, but didn’t tell her how, and (I wasn’t there) apparently it was a very frustrating experience. After the tour, we were hoping for some dessert and coffee, but the restaurants at the hotel were closed. We asked the staff for recommendations, and the guy at the front desk told us his best recommendation was to go to McDonald’s, because they have ice cream. A busboy whose uniform was all askew and was lounging against the podium instead of standing up like a normal human being at work sent us to a place called the Grub ‘n’ Pub. Why we even went there after we had heard the name, I have no idea, but we decided to go check it out. We knew from sitting in the parking lot that it was not exactly going to be our crowd. I feel like part of being good at a hotel job is reading all different kinds of people and offering suggestions they might actually enjoy — making your guests happy. These people were either really confused about us, or were just rude and didn’t care. There are so many wonderful places to stay in and around Eureka Springs. Don’t spend your money here.
Overall: 3 stars for the overpriced spa, pretty cool ghost tour, and not so fabulous hotel

This place is amazing! Every room is different so it’s always a treat every time we come in. The king balcony room has breathtaking views.

We’ve visited the Crescent many times and enjoy our stay each visit! The hotel has tried to remain as original as it can despite having been many things other than a hotel over the years. The rooms are clean and tidy. The hotel it’s self has that 1900’s charm and the grounds are kept nicely. This is a fun place to take a look back at what society once was and how the elite lived. Don’t expect a modern hotel (I’m 5’9″ and the shower head is face level) with all 21^st century amenities. Relax and enjoy the history!

What a wonderful gem in Eureka Springs! My review is not for a stay in the hotel, but for the FABULOUS Thanksgiving buffet.
Good– The spread of food was top notch. They had a desert bar, salad bar, a hot veggie area, and a meat carving station. Everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed the food. There really was something for everyone.
The turkey, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and gravy were very good.
The pecan pie was nothing to right home about.
Meh–
I didn’t love the wine or champagne they served, but the chocolate fountain where you could dip strawberries and marshmallows I adored! YUM!
Great —
The staff were attentive and pleasant.
The musician was fantastic and the window filled room we sat in was flooded with light setting a very enjoyable ambiance.
Best part about it was NO CLEAN UP! Ok we missed out on leftovers, but with so many other great restaurants to try in E.S. I didn’t mind one bit.
Would I come back again next year. YES!
Be sure to make reservations because it was a full house the entire time.
Hats off to the hotel management for this wonderful Thanksgiving meal. We are grateful to you and your entire staff for working to provide us with a great experience.

Went for the tour. $ 22 bucks not worth it. $ 10 bucks maybe… Scary no… lame yes
Bar pretty cool awesome outside area with killer view. But after tour we went for drinks, and they were crazy rude and cleared the whole bar. Open till 2am Saturday night. Did not happen.
Never stayed in a room. Figured we would see one on tour… but no dice. So I can’t talk about the stay or rooms.

We attended the ghost tour at Crescent Hotel. I enjoyed the restaurant, with the observation, before the tour, this review is just for the ghost tour.
The tour started in a room, explaining several things. The tour guide was hard to hear. She didn’t enunciate her words, and even myself, without a hearing problem, had troubles. Her sentence faded… no mic (follow my reviews for Branson… no mic on tours).
While the tour was interesting, and I was happy that my photos showed orbs, and a figure, I think her facts may need to be checked. It seemed, nearly, politically sided. I am politically sided, but not so much that I eat raw (I know how, but don’t, and eat everything organically, odd she would bring up that in a ghost tour.) No rooms were shown, none of them. Which I thought was odd. Atleast show us one room. But no rooms were shown.
I enjoyed the weird vibes, or not… I do like such things, and a couple of the rooms, which they never showed, made me feel ill. I do believe there are energies at this location. But the hotel smelled old and musty. It felt moldy.
I would never want to stay there. Now, I checked out Basin Park, and that’s another story. I was just not pleased with the ghost tour, for the speaker, and the fact she was trying to push organic and raw eating, herbal medicine, and alternative treatments.

I love this famously haunted hotel, it has so much character & lots of spooky stories. This is the first time we’ve been to brunch here, it is a good little buffet with a generous assortment of food. The chocolate fountain is a plus!
The service is excellent, there is a live keyboardist who creates a nice musical ambiance. The ballroom is beautiful with huge windows & chandeliers.
The fifth star is dedicated to Ryan, for his service & taking time to show us the hotel & giving us the history. We will definitely be back on our next visit!

The Crescent is a great escape for anyone wanting to get away from the ordinary. This old school hotel is what you would expect, old, rickety, creaky, unique, and haunted, or at least everyone says.
Eureka Springs itself is a treasure that is relatively unknown to those outside of a four hour radius of this quaint and progressive Arkansas town. Throw in the Crescent, one of the best known hotels in the town, and you have a great adventure with terrific service in a rustic environment.
The Crescent provides some niceties like the New Moon Spa and outstanding views of the mountains. Some of the other amenities like the Sky Bar (meh food but great views), and the 1886 Steakhouse (frequently closed for wedding receptions on the weekends) provide some noteworthy, but not outstanding ambiance and fare.
As for the haunted hotel talk, I can’t speak to any paranormal activities, but others have. If you are uninterested in ghosts and the paranormal, stay away from the fourth floor, the center of the ghostly universe. Unfortunately our room was sandwiched between the two most «haunted» rooms in the hotel. We found this out when one of the hotel’s ghost tours came by around 9:30 and gave us all the details… while we were laying in bed. It’s part of the mystique of this place and kind of cool, but a little unnerving. Because this is an old hotel, there are a lot of creaks and noises. Gaps under the doors mean you’ll hear everything said in the hallways (ghost tours included).
We’ll be back — both me and my wife enjoyed the hotel but REALLY enjoyed the town. Hopefully you’ll spend more time exploring the city rather than hanging out in your room anyway. I’d definitely recommend the Crescent, but would advise against staying on the fourth floor unless you like stunning views and/​or all things paranormal.

This is not a charmingly renovated historic hotel. If you are looking for beautifully restored turn of the 20^th century accommodations you will not find it here. What you will find is an old hotel with a new coat of paint, some reproductions of antique furniture and a great story!
I can’t say it was a horrible stay. The ghost tour that was included in our room package was interesting. The guide gave us a detailed history of the hotel and three or four of the best ghost stories told about the place. She did keep rushing us through as it seems they run these tours continuously and they don’t want them to run over each other.
The room was clean and comfortable. I liked having a tub because I am not a shower person. Even with a window unit AC it was quite cool and fine to sleep. I didn’t care for the pillows but that’s just a hotel for ya. They’re always too soft or too hard. Oh and don’t think the hotel is air conditioned. The halls were warm here in July and it did take a while for our room to cool down.
Wi-​Fi worked in the room with no trouble. But man was it s-​l-​o-​w.
For over $ 200 a night I expect a certain level of professionalism. Here’s my biggest complaints/​peeves/​irritants:
Staff needs to learn how to properly greet guests.
«Hi, guys» when addressing two middle aged women is NOT the way any decent hotel would allow their staff to talk to guests. We got that from the bell boy to the desk clerk (who went as far as to discuss his salary with us during check in) to the tweens who seemed to staff EVERY corner of the hotel. The only time we saw anyone who looked over the age of consent working there was the day we left and they were cleaning staff. They were always polite and helpful. Don’t get me wrong. But it just irritates me to be addressed as «you guys» all the time. My godkids are 12 and 15 and have learned to call adults sir and ma’am, so I’m not giving them a pass because they are young. Management did respond to this part of my review with that as an excuse. These 20 somethings are in the service profession and need to be instructed properly.
Self parking
Really, no valet available. You can pull in and get your luggage out but they expect you to park your car come rain, sleet or snow. It’s not like you have to walk a mile but still…
No room service
We were told the steak place could prepare stuff for you to take to our room. And the awful little 4^th floor bar had calzones and pretzels too. But really, no room service available for guests. I was told in a reply by the hotel it was because of the size of the hotel and lack of staff to deliver it. Ok. It wasn’t like the food at the hotel was that good anyway.
Bottles only if you wanted wine at dinner
The way overpriced Crystal Dining Room steak place had only a couple average label wines available for pour in the dining room. It made for a sad meal when you have a dining companion that doesn’t drink. They were VERY proud of the wine by the bottle and I really didn’t need a whole bottle of $ 100 wine. Management tells me that since they don’t get much request for wine by the glass they don’t offer it. I’d imagine they just don’t sell much wine period by not offering what people want or can afford.
Bars
Their 4^th floor patio bar was staffed with kids who had no idea how to pour a glass of wine — filled to the rim in a Dollar Store wine glass is so wrong. Are you trying to tell me a hotel that charges $ 200+ a night can’t find some proper wine glasses and teach their bar staff how to pour wines? And don’t even start me on their lack of choices for single malt scotch. It was like a college student union bar. It did have a nice view however from the balcony. The bar in the big dining room never seemed to be staffed so I couldn’t speak to their selections or service.
The grounds were lovely. I enjoy birding and stepped out early one morning to check out the birds in the area. I was joined by one of the hotel cats who enjoyed my belly rubs and stuck with me for quite a while.
Look, it’s an old hotel and it shows it’s age. If you are going to masquerade as a $ 200+ hotel a night you should at least attempt to act like one. For that kinda money I would much rather get a B&B in town or a cabin out in the woods like we have in the past.