Saratoga Spa State Park
Encyclopedia
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
.
and Iroquois
Native American
tribes for its hunting and mineral springs. The Native American name for the area was "Kayaderosseras." The first recorded use of the springs was by Sir William Johnson during the French and Indian War; brought to Saratoga to recover from wounds.
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 (104.6 km) 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 1900s. 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 and gas companies sold the carbonation to soda fountains, reported Spa Park employee Ed Murphy
. In 1907, the stage was set to protect the springs in a lawsuit Frank Hathorn vs Dr Strong's Sanitarium, which proved that pumping on one well decreased the flow of water in wells across the city. The court certified the relationship between wells and when Dr Strong stopped pumping the flow of water in Mr Hathorn's well resumed its natural flow. 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 waters of Saratoga made Saratoga famous across the world for Hydrotherapy and brought a noted physician Dr Simon Baruch, father to famed financier Bernard Baruch. In the 1930s Reconstruction Finance Corporation funds were used to develop bath houses. research facilities and a drink hall. The Saratoga Reservation was designed with graded walkways intended to help rehabilitate those with heart conditions. After World War 2 veterans were welcomed as part of their readjustment and Holocaust survivors began using the baths as part of their healing process. The Spa was named a State Park in 1962. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1987.
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 Amphitheater itself is 110 feet (33.5 m) 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 amphitheater 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 theater.
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.
Orenda
Hayes
Charlie
State Seal
Geyser
State Seal
Polaris
Lincoln (Baths)
Peerless Pool - A complex of three pools. Contains a Kiddie pool, water slides and a Zero Depth entry Olympic-sized swimming pool. Prices are $2.00 for adults (Ages 12-up), $1.00 (Ages 5–11) for children and seniors. Seniors must be age 62 or older and they must have a valid NYS drivers license or non-driver ID card. Also the senior discount is not applicable on the weekends.
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. Prices are $8.00 for adults (Ages 12-up) and $4.00 for children (Ages 5–11) and seniors (under the same rules mentioned above).
Access passes are accepted at both pools and allow free entry. Empire Passports do not include the pools fees, only the park entrance fees.
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. The prices vary some are $125, $150, and $300. 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.
Host the annual New York State Section 2 Cross Country Championships.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located in Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
in the USA. The park is in the City of Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
, near US 9 and NY 50
New York State Route 50
New York State Route 50 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in Scotia...
.
History
The area, part of which became the park, drew interest from MohawkMohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
and Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes for its hunting and mineral springs. The Native American name for the area was "Kayaderosseras." The first recorded use of the springs was by Sir William Johnson during the French and Indian War; brought to Saratoga to recover from wounds.
The Saratoga Springs area has the only active spouting geysers east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The mineral springs
Mineral Springs
Mineral Springs is the name of several locations in the United States:* Mineral Springs, Arkansas* Mineral Springs, North Carolina* Mineral Springs Township, North Dakota* Mineral Springs at Green Springs, Ohio...
for which the area is famous arise from fissures in the Saratoga Fault, which runs 65 miles (104.6 km) from Whitehall
Whitehall (village), New York
Whitehall is a village located in the town of Whitehall in Washington County, New York, USA. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. The carbonated water which vents in springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
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 1900s. Since that time, it has deposited minerals which grow a tufa
Tufa
Tufa is a variety of limestone, formed by the precipitation of carbonate minerals from ambient temperature water bodies. Geothermally heated hot-springs sometimes produce similar carbonate deposits known as travertine...
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 and gas companies sold the carbonation to soda fountains, reported Spa Park employee Ed Murphy
Ed Murphy (activist)
Ed Murphy is an American activist and the Executive Director of the Workforce Development Institute. He is a former military intelligence agent who exposed the CIA's Phoenix Program in April 1970.- Profile :...
. In 1907, the stage was set to protect the springs in a lawsuit Frank Hathorn vs Dr Strong's Sanitarium, which proved that pumping on one well decreased the flow of water in wells across the city. The court certified the relationship between wells and when Dr Strong stopped pumping the flow of water in Mr Hathorn's well resumed its natural flow. 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
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He served as the 36th Governor of New York , Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , United States Secretary of State , a judge on the Court of International Justice , and...
signed into law a bill which made the springs of Saratoga a state Reservation. The waters of Saratoga made Saratoga famous across the world for Hydrotherapy and brought a noted physician Dr Simon Baruch, father to famed financier Bernard Baruch. In the 1930s Reconstruction Finance Corporation funds were used to develop bath houses. research facilities and a drink hall. The Saratoga Reservation was designed with graded walkways intended to help rehabilitate those with heart conditions. After World War 2 veterans were welcomed as part of their readjustment and Holocaust survivors began using the baths as part of their healing process. The Spa was named a State Park in 1962. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1987.
The park hosts numerous theater and other events. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is an amphitheater in Saratoga Springs, New York, which presents summer festivals of all kinds of music , dance, and opera, as well as a Wine & Food Festival...
, located on the State Park grounds, has been the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
and New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
since 1966. Jazz and dance are featured at SPAC. The SPAC Amphitheater itself is 110 feet (33.5 m) 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 amphitheater 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
National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame, in the Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga, New York, was established in 1986 and is the only museum in the nation dedicated entirely to dance. It contains photographs, videos, artifacts, costumes and biographies. The museum is located in the former and...
, the Saratoga Automobile Museum
Saratoga Automobile Museum
The Saratoga Automobile Museum is located in the Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, New York . Housed in the former bottling plant, the Saratoga Automobile Museum is a non-profit educational institution focusing on the impact of the automobile in the past, present and future in New York...
, 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 theater.
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.
Springs in operation
HathorneOrenda
Hayes
Charlie
State Seal
Geyser
State Seal
Polaris
Lincoln (Baths)
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 $2.00 for adults (Ages 12-up), $1.00 (Ages 5–11) for children and seniors. Seniors must be age 62 or older and they must have a valid NYS drivers license or non-driver ID card. Also the senior discount is not applicable on the weekends.
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. Prices are $8.00 for adults (Ages 12-up) and $4.00 for children (Ages 5–11) and seniors (under the same rules mentioned above).
Access passes are accepted at both pools and allow free entry. Empire Passports do not include the pools fees, only the park entrance fees.
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. The prices vary some are $125, $150, and $300. 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.
Host the annual New York State Section 2 Cross Country Championships.
See also
- AmphitheatreAmphitheatreAn amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
- List of contemporary amphitheatres
- List of New York state parks
- Saratoga Performing Arts CenterSaratoga Performing Arts CenterThe Saratoga Performing Arts Center is an amphitheater in Saratoga Springs, New York, which presents summer festivals of all kinds of music , dance, and opera, as well as a Wine & Food Festival...