History

Eureka Springs Times Echo  July 1, 1905 – THE DOORS ARE OPENED

Early in the forenoon Manager Brumfield opened the doors to the guests, and with each incoming train their numbers increased.  The first service given in the elegant dining room was the six o’clock dinner, and, at one dollar per plate, the tables were continuously filled from 6 until nine.  Following the dinner, the invited guests were ushered by receiving line at the entrance, to the parlors.  

The splendid elevator and the stairways were taxed to their full capacity to accommodate the people, who, in a most genial and orderly manner crowded by one another to reach the various portions of the building.  Immediately following the reception in the parlors, the guests wended their way to the roof garden, and there joined hundreds of others waiting the grand march of the opening ball, which commenced at 9:30 o’clock.  Over one thousand invited guests had come from far and near to participate in this function and witness its splendor.  

The Basin Park Hotel ranks among the largest and most modern Resort Hotels in the country.  A fire-proof structure, built at a cost of $150,000, it has every claim to the title of “A hotel for a day or a year.”  The transient finds a cordial welcome, good service, courteous treatment, and the winter and summer visitor, whether in search of health or pleasure, experiences no disappointment in the Hotel or its splendid appointments.

The Barefoot Ball stands out as Joe Parkhill’s crowning achievement and lasting legacy. Initially held in the Grand Ballroom and Roof Garden of the Basin Park Hotel in 1948, the event quickly became a cherished annual tradition for Eureka Springs.

The inspiration behind the ball came from Ralph Edwards’ “Truth or Consequences” radio show. During the show, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Howard Forehans of Santa Ana, California earned consequences and were awarded a two-week stay at the Basin Park Hotel. However, the catch was that they had to remain barefoot from the time they left California until they returned. Joe Parkhill, the mastermind behind the event, and his wife picked up the happy couple from the train in Siloam Springs and escorted them to the Bridal Suite on the hotel’s second floor.

Despite the unconventional challenge, the couple was good sports and could be seen walking barefoot up and down the streets of Eureka Springs. To celebrate their success, Parkhill, with a live radio hook-up to the Truth or Consequences show, threw the first Barefoot Ball on June 26, 1948. The Forehans were presented with keys to the city, and the townspeople joined in the festivities, basking in the city’s limelight. Over 300 guests and townspeople attended the inaugural event, with the Barefoot Ball becoming an annual tradition that ran for over 30 years.

With the departure of the Parkhill family and the return of Claude Fuller, a new era was ushered in with the introduction of John Cross. C.A. Fuller was a beloved and influential figure in Eureka Springs, having served as mayor and in the United States House of Representatives. 

In 1959, John Cross, a young and eager man in his mid-20s who would later become the owner/operator of CS Bank, began urging his grandfather to take action on a restaurant lease that was in arrears. Cross proposed to his grandfather that he should operate the restaurant himself, promising to improve the product and pay the rent on time every month. His grandfather gave him the opportunity, and on February 17th, 1960, Cross took over the operation of the Basin Park Hotel Coffeehouse, which was open 364 days a year from 6 AM until 10 PM, with Christmas being the only day of the year they were open for only one shift from 6 AM – 2 PM. 

For over 15 years, Cross successfully ran the hotel’s restaurant, retail shops, and the hotel itself. Although the hotel struggled during this time, the revenues generated by the restaurant and retail operations kept the building alive. In May of 1975, Cross sold the entire Basin Park Hotel property, its restaurant, and its retail stores to Reverend Gerald Hanson for $100,000 and $10,000 for the restaurant and its equipment. Hanson reopened Basin Park Hotel as a museum, drawing attention to the hotel by listing it in Ripley’s Believe It or Not and showcasing the interiors of some rooms with half doors. He also purchased one of Elvis Presley’s cars, removing two of the largest windows from the roof garden and using a crane to hoist the car inside.

In 1992, the Parnell family saved the Basin Park Hotel from foreclosure. Troy Parnell, a seasoned developer and successful franchisee of Best Western Motels, saw the hotel’s potential as a romantic getaway and recognized a shift towards casual dining. He oversaw a renovation that included the addition of whirlpool suites and the establishment of The Balcony Restaurant & Bar.

In 1995, current general manager, Jack Moyer was hired as the new GM to lead the hotel towards sustainability. Moyer, a Penn State graduate in hotel management with experience at Hilton, Nemacolin Woodlands, and Adams Marks Hotels, began a revenue growth strategy aimed at capturing the growing wedding and niche meeting markets. The Basin Park Hotel was re-positioned as a destination for getaways, taking advantage of the population growth in the region. While revenue grew by an impressive 55%, expenses also increased, leaving the hotel with little profitability after two years. Frustrated, Parnell decided to place the hotel on the market for sale once again.