On Sunday, July 23rd at 10:30 am, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is offering the “Spa Complex” Summer Sunday Stroll. Linda Harvey will lead a tour of the Spa Complex in the Saratoga Spa State Park, a National Historic Landmark.
The Spa Complex was developed with the goal to increase both therapeutic and recreational use of the park. Between 1932-1936, multiple buildings were constructed – the Hall of Springs, Simon Baruch Administration and Research Center, the Roosevelt Bath Houses, Victoria Pool, the Gideon Putnam Hotel, and a bottling plant. The construction also included a comprehensive landscape plan that included scenic trails, the Avenue of the Pines, formal walks, and scenic vistas. This tour meets outside of the Hall of Springs located at 108 Avenue of the Pines.
The “Spa Complex” Summer Sunday Stroll is sponsored by the Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park, a non-profit organization that supports and enhances the parks’ historic, natural, and recreational resources. They host hikes and walking tours; help maintain facilities – tennis courts, trails, flower beds, and a dog park; and raise funds for restoration projects. The Friends group will also be partnering with the Foundation on a three-hour bike tour at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 7 of the Saratoga Spa State Park. To learn more about the Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park, please visit https://friendsofsaratogaspastatepark.org.
Next Sunday, July 30th Executive Director Samantha Bosshart will lead the tour “Summer Cottages of North Broadway”, highlighting the architecture and sharing entertaining stories of those who built and resided in the grand residences that line North Broadway. The tour, sponsored by the Olde Bryan Inn, meets at Northwest corner of North Broadway and Van Dam Street in front of Witt Construction.
The Foundation is particularly grateful for the generous support of 2023 Series Sponsor Bonacio Construction as well as Summer Series Sponsors Burns Management, Business for Good, Family Vision Care Center, and Stewart’s Shops. All Sunday morning tours last approximately 90 minutes and require walking and standing on varied terrain. Tours are limited to 30 and tickets should be purchased in advance. Please check the Foundation’s website to confirm if a tour has sold out. If tickets are still available the day of the tour, they can be purchased at the tour’s meeting location. The cost per tour is $15 for SSPF members and $20 for non-members. Foundation members with stroll passes need to contact the Foundation’s office to book their Sunday Summer Stroll prior to the date of the stroll they chose.
For additional information or to purchase tickets to any of the upcoming strolls or upcoming events, please visit www.saratogapreservation.org, call (518) 587-5030, or email Nicole Babie, Membership & Programs Director, at nbabie@saratogapreservation.org.
Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs.
Photo of Saratoga Spa State Park provided.
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