It all started back in 1890, when Lumber Baron W.C. Brown, Sr. arrived in Hot Springs in search of a homeplace for his growing family and to escape the frequent malaria outbreaks that were occurring in Stamps, Arkansas at the time. The family officially moved to Hot Springs around 1904. W.C. Brown, Sr. had remained in Stamps to keep the family business thriving but made frequent trips to Hot Springs to check on his family, which included his wife Mary, their four children (Josephine Emily, Jean, Allan, and William, Jr.), and two aunts. Mr. Brown, along with William Buchanan of Stamps, had founded Bodcaw Lumber Company in Stamps, and it provided the basis of the family fortune.
Originally built as a typical Queen Anne structure, the W.C. Brown House was extensively remodeled in 1919 by the successful Arkansas architectural firm of Witt, Siebert and Halsey of Texarkana and became an outstanding example of Neoclassical residence.
This impressive structure had been the home of two generations of the Brown family, who through a variety of philanthropic activities, have contributed to the growth and development of their community and state.
In 2020, Mark and Rhonda McMurry purchased the house from local businessman Rick Williams in 2020, the vision for The Reserve truly took shape. Their unwavering commitment blended with their son and daughter-in law, Nathan and Katelyn, propelled us into the transformative phase that would redefine hospitality in our region. Since opening in summer 2021, The Reserve at Hot Springs is poised to become AR’s most coveted hospitality gem and premier event destination, as the state’s first luxury property of its kind.
