Cove Tourist Court

The Cove Tourist Court is located on the corner of Park Avenue and Cove Street in Hot Springs (Garland County). Constructed in 1937, the court is designed in the International style with Craftsman-style details. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 11, 2004.

The thermal waters found in Hot Springs have made the area an attractive destination for visitors for centuries. The widespread adoption of automobiles in the early twentieth-century, coupled with the improvements made to highways in Arkansas, made it easier than ever for tourists to reach Hot Springs in the 1930s. In response to the growing demand for lodging in the area, numerous tourist courts and other amenities were built along Park Avenue.

The court was constructed by Carl Crocker. He held the property until 1943, when it was sold to Joseph Brock. In response to demand for affordable housing, Brock converted the property into apartments in 1946. The name changed two years later to Cove Street Apartments, named for the street in front of the building. The building has continued to operate as an apartment complex since that time.

Designed in a U-shape around a central courtyard, the nine-unit building is wood framed and covered in white stucco. Each unit has a single entrance that opens into the courtyard. The front doors of six units are covered with a shed-style roof that extends about one foot on each side of the door. The roofs are supported by Craftsman-style brackets. Two units share a roof, while the last unit no longer has any type of roof over the door. The roof of the units is sloped to the rear of the building and a parapet is present at the front. The parapet is capped with sheet metal and painted red. Several of the front doors and some trim are also painted red. Each unit includes double-hung four-over-one windows that overlook the courtyard. The two units at the ends of the building have additional windows that overlook the street. Dispersed through the property between the units are seven garages or storage areas.

The interior of the units include hardwood floors and stucco walls. Most units include a combination bedroom/living room area with a bathroom and kitchenette. The two units at the ends of the building have separate living and sleeping areas. The doors and windows inside of the units do not have any trim as part of the International style. Each unit includes at least one four-over-one window at the rear, along with a smaller single-pane window.

In 2019, the property continued to be used as apartments.

For additional information:
“Cove Tourist Court.” National Register of Historic Places registration form. On file at Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Little Rock, Arkansas. Online at http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/National-Register-Listings/PDF/GA0612.nr.pdf (accessed January 24, 2020).

David Sesser
Henderson State University