Saratoga Spa State Park

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Saratoga Spa State Park
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Saratoga Spa State Park (New York)
Saratoga Spa State Park
Location: Saratoga Springs, New York
Coordinates: 43°3′4″N 73°48′14″W / 43.05111, -73.80389Coordinates: 43°3′4″N 73°48′14″W / 43.05111, -73.80389
Built/Founded: 1835
Architect: Multiple
Architectural style(s): Colonial Revival, Beaux Arts, Other
Designated as NHL: February 27, 1987[1]
Added to NRHP: September 12, 1985[2]
NRHP Reference#: 85002357
Governing body: State

Saratoga Spa State Park is a state park located in Saratoga County, New York in the USA. The park is in the City of Saratoga Springs, near US 9 and NY 50.

The area, part of which became the park, drew interest from Mohawk and Iroquois Native American tribes for its hunting and mineral springs. The Native American name for the area was "Kayaderosseras."

The Saratoga Springs area has the only active spouting geysers east of the Mississippi River in the United States. The mineral springs for which the area is famous arise from fissures in the Saratoga Fault, which runs 65 miles from Whitehall to Albany. The carbonated water which vents in springs and geysers is rich in minerals and salts.

Two of the most visited springs today are Island Spouter and Orenda Spring, along Geyser Creek. Island Spouter, which sends a narrow plume of water 10-15 feet (3-5 meters) into the air, first emerged in the early 1900's. Since that time, it has deposited minerals which grow a tufa deposit at the rate of two inches per year. Orenda Spring has created a massive tufa dome, which continues to fossilize leaves and other debris as it grows.

In the nineteenth century, the area became much visited for its purported medicinal effects. Entrepreneurs dug wells and bottled the mineral water for sale. In 1908, as the springs were being depleted, the New York Assembly passed an injunction against pumping water. The injunction was ignored; in 1909, governor Charles Evans Hughes signed into law a bill which made the springs of Saratoga a State Reservation. The Spa was named a State Park in 1962. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.[1],[3],[4]

The park hosts numerous theater and other events. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center, located on the State Park grounds, has been the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and New York City Ballet since 1966. Jazz and dance are featured at SPAC. The SPAC Amphitheatre itself is 110 feet high, sits in a natural, curved bowl that is bordered by large pine trees and a large lawn space, but is afflicted by the roar of nearby Geyser Creek, which creates serious acoustical problems. Inside the amphitheatre is seating for 5100, the lawn can easily hold an additional 20,000 people. The park is also home to the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, the Lincoln Mineral Baths and Spa, and the Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa.

The park offers picnic tables and pavilions, a pool, a playground, recreation programs, a nature trail, hiking and biking, fishing, tennis, golf, cross-country skiing and a museum and performance theatre.

On March 19, 2007, it was confirmed by state officials that the reportedly "pure" mineral water used in the public baths at the state park is actually mixed with tap water from a nearby source. Admission to the baths at the park is $20.

Contents

[edit] Springs In Operation

Hathorne

Orenda

Hayes

Charlie

State Seal

Geyser

State Seal

Polaris

Lincoln (Baths)

[edit] Recreation

Spa Park is very versatile in terms of recreational opportunities.

Peerless Pool- A complex of three pools. Contains a Kiddie pool, water slides and a Zero Depth entry Olympic-sized swimming pool. Prices are $3.00 for adults, $1.50 for children and Seniors (only with a Valid NYS id.)

Victoria Pool- A smaller pool with covered arcades surrounding. Set near the Golf course this pool was built when the original park buildings were constructed. Historically the bath house was on the north end while the golf house was on the south end. Today there is a restaurant in the former golf house. This pool is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children and seniors with an NYS ID weekdays. Seniors pay full price on weekends. Season passes have been available for the past two years 2006-07. There is now one available for the 2008 season.

Major renovation of the pool, and its buildings were begun in 2003 after a local "grass-roots" lobby group was started. The group called, "Save the Victoria Pool Society", was co-founded by Louise Goldstein and Andrew Jennings. The group lobbied state officials and assisted in gaining a 1.5-million-dollar grant for the historic renovation and repair of the aging structure. It should be stated for the record however that this group didn't actually do any of the hands on repairs or make a single contribution to the cause. Whatever success that came out of their apparent crusade was simply done through intense pressure and exaggeration in the media. The rehabilitation took a little more than two years to complete. Even now, five years after they first joined together and the pool has been "saved" the crusade continues. The issues in recent years has become the opening date of the pool. The society insists that the traditional opening date has always been Memorial Day even though there is documentation contradicting that statement.

Over the years the pool has been the summer playground for locals and visiting celebrities. The pool and its grounds have been used for multiple purposes. Wedding, engagement parties, fund-raisers have been a few uses of the setting. In winter months the main lobby is used as a warming station for local skaters.

SPAC- Amphitheater home to the Philadelphia Orchestra, NYC Ballet and site of numerous pop, rock rap and country and western concerts. SPAC can hold approximately 25,000 patrons.

Spa Little Theater- A theater that has many plays throughout the year although most tend to be in the summer and spring. On the north side of the park office.

Tennis Courts

Golf Courses- 2 Golf courses. A par 29 and "Executive" Golf Course. Designed to give a cardiac workout.

Picnic Areas- Eight picnic pavilions. $75 for small pavilions and $200 for the larger ones. Some areas have horse shoe pits, Softball fields and volleyball nets, some areas equipped with electricity and all are convenient to restrooms. Picnic tables and grills in Geyser Loop area.

Geyser Creek- fishing

Hiking Trails

Winter ice Skating and Snowshoeing

Winterfest

Museum of Dance and Auto Museum

Many interpretive programs throughout the year.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Saratoga Spa State Park. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service (2007-09-19).
  2. ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
  3. ^ ["Saratoga Spa State Park", July 1985, by Lucy A. BreyerPDF (1.81 MiB) National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination]. National Park Service (1985-07).
  4. ^ [Saratoga Spa State Park--Accompanying photo, interior, from 1982.PDF (94.7 KiB) National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination]. National Park Service (1985-07).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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