We are staying there next weekend with another family picking up our boys from Camp Ozark. Wives have done zero planning on this so up to me as usual. Where should we stay for two nights, maybe a place with nice pool or resort, get a good meal nearby, etc.? Basically driving up from Houston on Friday, pick kids up Saturday morning and drive back on Sunday.

There are much nicer hotels and much nicer bath house opportunities. But, when we did Ozark pick up, we stayed at the Arlington, did the bath house / massage thing, and crushed the breakfast buffet . . . and it was some of the most fun we've had on a short trip. The hotel hasn't been remodeled since 1924, so it felt pretty . . . "authentic".

As far as national parks go it is probably one of the worst in the USA.
If you like golf I would suggest get a VRBO or AIRBnB in the hot springs village area

As for around the area I would suggest going to one of the lakes in the area either Hamilton or Quatchia for a day.

The Arlington is as the above poster said authentic but another word is a bit run down

As for food recs there are a couple of places that are on Central Ave (main strip street) but nothing outstanding in my opinion.
However the state park system is pretty good

I agree with Wicked Ag. Here is a post of mine from last summer:

One last thing on the Hot Springs trip: we stayed two nights at the Arlington and while it's ok, it's not what I had in mind. Maybe it's because everything was not open, but is was also very dated. It could use some major touch ups and still maintain the old charm, but it just seemed worn down. That said, we spent our third night at Hotel Hale on Bathhouse Row. It's much nicer!!!! And cleaner. And the bath water is from the hot springs so if your wife/kids want to do the mineral bath at a bathhouse, it's about $40 saved per person by staying there. The Hale restaurant is pretty good too.

Get a VRBO on the lake, rent a pontoon, and hit up the botanical gardens.

Used to live close to there.

The Arlington is a very old hotel. The lobby has been renovated but I understand the rooms are small and very average. However, it is downtown and, therefore, immediately adjacent to all the downtown shops. There are also 3-4 breakfast places downtown including one pancake house which dates back to the 1940's.

Downtown is 3-4 miles from the Lake. If you want to stay on the lake, I would recommend renting a condo through vrbo or the Radisson. The Radisson is on the lake and there is a great seafood place immediately next door.

We spent a week there last Thanksgiving in the RV. If only having 1-2 days, Garvan Gardens is nice spot to spend a few hours. Scenic trails around a peninsula on the lake. Then hit up a bathhouse tour and dinner downtown.