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Saratoga Springs State Park
On my way out of Saratoga, I decided to take a quick drive through Saratoga Springs State Park. This huge chunk of land was designed during the New Deal in 1933-1935 with health and culture in mind. There are meeting halls, theaters, a hotel, a public pool, an 18-hole gold course, tennis courts, mineral baths, mineral spring fountains, exercise trails, and tons of open space.
The place is just stunning. This is the Hall of Springs, where huge gala Gatsby-esque events take place. In fact I'm going to one tomorrow night, which overlaps with the Kentucky Derby. Black tie and all. I'll try to get a pic of me in a tux...
This is the main building where all the doctors used to hang out. This entire park was originally intended as a health retreat where people would come to tend to their weak constitutions. The idea is that a patient would go there for weeks or months, see a doctor and be given a health regimen, which would include daily mineral baths, tennis, golf, walks, massage, and odd tonics:
Here is the famous Victoria Pool, the first heated pool in America. You can't tell from this pic, but this pool is massive.
Here is one of the two famous lion head fountains. The lion spits water...but has not yet been turned on for the season. The pool and the lions were rennovated not long ago and people were very excited to see the lions spitting after all those years of spitlessness:
And close-up:
Nearby (just a short walk through the restaurant from the pool) is the clubhouse for the golf course. Look at those tall pines. And imagine your doctor being able to PRESCRIBE therapeutic golf for you. You could play the best courses for the cost of a co-pay (assuming they're in-network and you've already paid your deductible):
This is the view down the first fairway. Although I jest about therapeutic golf, I can understand how someone would see it as having healing properties. Just take a look:
Now, if you're still reading and are wondering WHY I'm lurking around parks like this, my book takes place in 1934, cleverly placed right during the construction of this remarkable park. And there are two pivotal scenes in BUG BOY that take place in the park. But you'll have to wait until July 2009 to read about that!
The place is just stunning. This is the Hall of Springs, where huge gala Gatsby-esque events take place. In fact I'm going to one tomorrow night, which overlaps with the Kentucky Derby. Black tie and all. I'll try to get a pic of me in a tux...
This is the main building where all the doctors used to hang out. This entire park was originally intended as a health retreat where people would come to tend to their weak constitutions. The idea is that a patient would go there for weeks or months, see a doctor and be given a health regimen, which would include daily mineral baths, tennis, golf, walks, massage, and odd tonics:
Here is the famous Victoria Pool, the first heated pool in America. You can't tell from this pic, but this pool is massive.
Here is one of the two famous lion head fountains. The lion spits water...but has not yet been turned on for the season. The pool and the lions were rennovated not long ago and people were very excited to see the lions spitting after all those years of spitlessness:
And close-up:
Nearby (just a short walk through the restaurant from the pool) is the clubhouse for the golf course. Look at those tall pines. And imagine your doctor being able to PRESCRIBE therapeutic golf for you. You could play the best courses for the cost of a co-pay (assuming they're in-network and you've already paid your deductible):
This is the view down the first fairway. Although I jest about therapeutic golf, I can understand how someone would see it as having healing properties. Just take a look:
Now, if you're still reading and are wondering WHY I'm lurking around parks like this, my book takes place in 1934, cleverly placed right during the construction of this remarkable park. And there are two pivotal scenes in BUG BOY that take place in the park. But you'll have to wait until July 2009 to read about that!