1877
Pictured on the right is probably the first building erected in 1877 on the present site of the Saratoga Inn. Saratoga was first called Warm Springs and this is the only known photo with that name.
The log building was the first post office, community center, general store, saloon, gambling hall, watering hole, and the best place to get a hot bath with mineral water from the springs.
1884
The Saratoga House, later known as the Hot Springs Hotel faced south overlooking the Upper North Platte River and once stood on the present Saratoga Inn grounds. Large rock to the left is now the No. 1 golf tee and the first building in the town shown on far right.
The two-story hotel featured luxury rooms, large dining room, hotel office, barbershop, billiard room, drug store, and a ladies reception room. It was opened in spring of 1884 and operated until 1902 when it burned to the ground.
1892
After the Hot Springs Hotel burned several other structures were erected around the mineral hot springs, but it wasn’t until the state bought the 420-acre site in 1921 that it became the “Saratoga Hot Springs State Reserve” and established as a mineral hot springs bath house and state park.
1930′s
Saratoga Hot Springs advertisement in 1930′s expound on the virtues of the Saratoga Hot Springs and State Park. The original bath house was built in the late 1920′s for mineral baths and is used today as a spa.
1940′s
This 1940′s aerial photo by Bob Martin shows the famous mineral hot springs and the Saratoga State Park property prior to the construction of the Saratoga Inn in 1950. The park included two swimming pools, bath house, four living quarters for employees and several shops.
In the 1921, the state bought a 420-acre site at the springs for $50,000. It was named the Hot Springs Reserve and set aside for the treatment and care of disease and… other worthy purposes. The land was leased to Bill Walker in 1949 and sold to Inn investors in 1958. 16 acres went to the Town of Saratoga for the Hobo Pool and Veterans Island.
1949
This architect’s drawing of the Saratoga Hot Springs Reserve as it will appear when the extensive development project now underway by the Saratoga Hotel Co. is entirely completed, and the resort is ready for full-scale operation.
Included is new hotel, swimming pool, sunken garden and 9-hole golf course. Also to be used is state cottages and bath house, all built around the famous mineral hot springs.
1950
Shown is the Saratoga Inn close to opening June 15, 1950. In front center (facing north) is the lobby and main entrance with cocktail lounge, dining room and kitchen far right of front. The east wing to left contains several sleeping rooms, modern suites and barber and beauty shop space.
More sleeping rooms are in west wing (top left). A swimming pool and sunken gardens are in center courtyard. Of modern one-story construction, the Inn contains 23 individual outside sleeping rooms and two and four-room suites. All are luxuriously furnished with fully carpeted floors and twin beds, individual showers and bath. It cost $200,000 to build – (From the Saratoga Sun, June 1950)
1950
The 9-hole golf course at the Inn crosses the Upper North Platte River twice and the Cadwell Slough once as shown in photo from No. 1 tee box (r.). Trees now obscure big rock in photo at left. Holes number 1 and 9 at the course were built in 1956, with rest of course completed in 1958. Photos by Dick Perue.
1956
In 1956 “Pic” Walker had Snowy Range Hgw.130 bridge moved intact from Cow Creek landing to North Platte River crossing at No. 2 tee box at Saratoga Inn.
Local legend has it that the bridge was floated down river to the Inn, but as this Bob Martin photo shows it was transported the 10 miles North along the railroad tracks. See plaques on bridge.
1959
An often asked question at the Inn is “how did those evergreens get so big in 50 years.” The answer was found in the April 23, 1959 issue of “The Saratoga Sun” that states, “Tree-Moving Project Under Way in Front of Saratoga Inn. A sizeable moving job got underway… when work of relocating eight of the huge 30-year-old spruce trees in the parkway on the north side of the road in front of the Inn was started.
According to Manager Bill Walker… the work is being done to clear needed space for the Inn’s golf driving range.” The trees were originally planted as seedlings on the State Park property in 1928. The Dick Perue photo at left shows the trees being moved to in front of the Inn.
1960
Aerial view of the Saratoga Inn in the 1960′s which shows the hotel and units, swimming pool, bath house, state cottages, Bob Randall’s house (far right), part of holes number one and nine of the golf course, driving range, home of Sneed Davis (right center) and surrounding land. – Photo by Dick Perue, Historical Reproductions by Perue.
Facts and photos compiled by Dick Perue for Saratoga Historical & Cultural Association – 2nd Annual Home Tour, July 28, 2007