Glass Bathrooms of Sulphur Springs

Public restrooms have never been so public. Constructed in 2012 to vie for the title of “America’s Best Restroom,” these are the first restrooms in the United States to be made entirely of two-way glass. They sit along the edge of Celebration Plaza in the middle of downtown Sulphur Springs, Texas. 

Furnished with a stainless steel sink and toilet, the restrooms have relatively normal amenities but a view that’s completely unique. Visitors have a panorama of the park while sitting on the toilet, encompassing features like a giant outdoor chess set and the historic sandstone-and-granite Hopkins County Courthouse.

The ceiling of each privy, also made of two-way mirror glass, allows it to be illuminated by the northeast Texas sun during the day. At night, an LED array around the base of the structure ensures that it stays reflective and private. 

Sulphur Springs’ sizable investment in these latrines paid off; they claimed the bronze medal in a nationwide restroom competition hosted by supplies manufacturer Cintas. More than that, the restrooms are considered works of art helping to elevate and beautify the park.