Saratoga
Springs was named for the famous New York spa, Saratoga. The oldest
resort on Utah Lake has survived fire, flood, and fading interests
of the public to  bring
pleasure to thousands of Utah residents. Though famous for it's hot
springs which have the perfect temperature dipping year round, Saratoga
has always been so much more. It all began when one thousand people
attended the formal opening of Saratoga Springs on July 24, 1884.
A German Immigrant
named John Beck called the twenty-seven acres
surrounding Utah lake, Beck's Saratoga Springs. By 1914, Saratoga had
changed looks by adding new plunges and buildings. Saratoga also changed
ownership several times. In 1914 Austin Brothers and the Austin and
Sons Sheep companies purchased the resort for $60,000.  Early
plans for the area were subdivided farm parcels, and suburban homes
on the lake front. A stockholder in Austin Brothers announced that a
plat of new city called lake front has been made and within weeks
streets and sidewalks were to be laid
out.
Of course
the city never materialized. Once again throughout the years, more
and more additions were made to the resort. New owners came and went.
Dancing became very popular in addition to rides, games, and swimming.
By 1950, a new entrance was  built with a new lobby added, additional
landscaping and new lawns. The cold cement floors of the dressing
rooms were warmed by hot water circulating through pipes under the
floor. A newly installed system filtered the water of the
pools every five hours.
In the
spring of 1968, Saratoga lovers were shocked by a $100,000  fire at the resort. Lost in the fire was the main building
that housed the indoor pool, dressing rooms, laundry, ticket office,
snack bar and gift redemption center. The resort operator quickly
had the debris removed, and the resort was ready for its Memorial
Day opening three weeks later. In the 1970's, a new "Kamikaze"
waterslide captured the interest of resort customers. The two story
structure swept riders into the former wading area. In the early 1980's
Utah experienced record breaking water years. Utah Lake, swallowing
hundreds of miles of shoreline, rose to its highest point in history.
Though unfounded, rumors that Saratoga was underwater initially kept
people away from the resort.
Since the
1860's, Saratoga has survived changing times and is now ready  to
move into a new phase of development. Saratoga Springs has now become
a relaxing and amenity filled master planned community. Residents will
be offered swimming pools, tennis courts, jogging paths, nature trails,
and a proposed future golf course. The neighborhood will be far off
the main road to give you a sense of being out of the city but close
enough to be near town. Don't let this opportunity pass you, be a part
of the
continuing legacy of Saratoga Springs.
View more pictures of Saratoga Springs, Utah Lake.
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