Abandoned Hotel Once House America's Most Notorious Gangsters

By Bunmi Adigun @Bunmi_Adigun

A FORMER hangout of some of America’s most notorious gangsters is still standing despite being constructed over a century ago

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Photographer Dax Ward visited Hot Springs, Arkansas

The Dugan-Stuart building in Hot Springs, Arkansas was originally built in 1904 to house medical offices but was then transformed into a hotel and luxury apartments.

The southern town was at one point in time known for its many gambling and drinking dens during the 1920s, the latter being illegal at this time due to prohibition.

The Dugan-Stuart building was built in 1904 to house medical offices

Criminals were not the only people to be drawn to the town, as many people from all over the States frequently visited Hot Springs for its natural hot springs and thermal baths which were believed to have healing properties.

Photographer Dax Ward, 36, documented his trip to the city on his latest visit in April 2017.

In the 1940's the building was converted into a luxury hotel

He said: “The city was once a gambling, drinking, rest and recovery mecca in the deep south, a sort of Las Vegas before there was a Las Vegas, beginning in around the 1920’s. A number of well-known gangsters such as Al Capone, Lucy Luciano, Bugsy Seigel and others were regular visitors to the city in it’s heydey of the 1920’s and 30’s.”

A number of well-known gangsters such as Al Copone and Bugsy Seigel were frequent visitors to the hotel

With such an eclectic group of people visiting the city in its heyday the Dugan-Sturt building situated in centre of town was the ideal meeting place for some of America’s most popular criminals.

The five storey building showcased the best in 20th century architecture with its intricate designs and was later developed into a luxury hotel as more and more people moved into the town.

The once ornate interior is now crumbling since the building has been abandoned since the 1980's

Dax said: “The ornate, early 20th century architecture and design is still eye-catching, with mosaic tiles and D & S initials engraved into door handles, much of the interior is reminiscent of the bustling 1940's hotel that it once was. They really don't build them like this anymore, with such attention to detail.”

The Stuart-Dugan is in the centre of town and was the perfect meeting place for America's biggest criminals

Under the building there is a bowling alley where many of America’s notable criminals would meet up during the peak of the city, which was seen as neutral ground.

He said: “The bowling alley underground was once used by the gangsters that roamed around Hot Springs such as Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, however all that remains is the 90-year old scoreboard.”