SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (May 7, 2018) – The Gideon Putnam, the historic hotel in Saratoga Spa State Park, reopened May 1, welcoming back guests to renovated guest rooms, corridors, lobby and restaurant after a three-month restoration project.
Delaware North, which operates the hotel for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, determined it could use the opportunity of the hotel being forced to close for three months as a result of a Jan. 15 water main break that flooded the basement to simultaneously undertake renovations that had been planned for the next several years.
“We can’t wait for our guests to see the significant and careful renovations we have made to this beautiful hotel,” said John Howard, general manager of The Gideon Putnam for Delaware North. “The Gideon Putnam is truly one of a kind as a historic hotel set in a state park, and now our guests will be staying in a classically refreshed hotel.”
Renovations to The Gideon Putnam include:
- Guest Rooms: All 124 guest rooms have received new carpeting, paint and blinds, as well as renovations to the bathrooms.
- Guest Room Corridors: The guest room corridors have received a complete makeover, including new carpeting, wallcoverings and paint, and new light fixtures have made the corridors much more inviting. Artwork by local artist Frankie Flores has been installed on three floors, and photos of Saratoga’s historic past adorn the walls. The new color scheme is contemporary yet incorporates the Art Deco geometric design as a connection to The Gideon Putnam’s history.
- Putnam’s Restaurant: New carpeting and lighting has been installed to better display the 1935 original mural on the walls.
- Lobby: The hotel’s lobby has been painted, marble floor polished and new furniture installed.
“We value this partnership with Delaware North to manage this beautiful hotel, which is set apart from other destinations due to the spectacular setting in Saratoga Spa State Park,” said Alane Ball-Chinian, director of the Saratoga-Capital Region of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Ball-Chinian was on hand to mark the reopening of The Gideon Putnam Tuesday along with Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly.
Delaware North in 2017 renovated the hotel’s grand ballroom and lobby space outside it. In all, Delaware North has spent millions of dollars since 2008 on improvements to the rooms, corridors, meeting spaces, restaurant, lobby, and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
“You really get a feeling of energy and excitement as you approach The Gideon Putnam from outside and now our guests will get that same feeling as they enter the lobby and the room corridors. This is going to have a tremendous impact for both our leisure guests and the many groups we have hosting events and conferences at The Gideon Putnam,” Howard said.
To celebrate the reopening, Putnam’s Executive Chef Luca Brunelle, CEC, has created a new spring menu for the hotel’s reopening, featuring locally inspired fare and other cuisine to appeal to wide array of tastes.
About The Gideon Putnam
The Gideon Putnam is a National Historic Landmark hotel in Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The 124-room hotel, also listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s guide to Historic Hotels of America, houses Putnam’s, a full-service restaurant and bar, as well as a gift shop and fitness center. It is a short walk from the historic Roosevelt Baths & Spa, which since opening in 1935 has drawn guests to its legendary baths for the region’s famed natural mineral spring waters. The Gideon Putnam also offers 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a business center, and Wi-Fi access throughout the property. Guests enjoy complimentary shuttle services to take in the excitement of horse racing at the nearby thoroughbred and harness race tracks or visit historic downtown Saratoga Springs, only five minutes from the resort. The State Park offers golf, museums, outdoor pools, miles of woodsy path for hiking and biking and world-class entertainment at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. For more information visit www.GideonPutnam.com.
About Delaware North
Delaware North is one of the largest privately-held hospitality and food service companies in the world with more than $3 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1915 and owned by the Jacobs family for more than 100 years, Delaware North has global operations at high-profile places such as sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, destination resorts and restaurants, airports, and regional casinos. Our 55,000 employee associates are dedicated to creating special experiences one guest at a time in serving more than 500 million guests annually. Delaware North’s parks and resorts division operates lodging, food and retail services, recreational activities, and educational programming at iconic national and state parks such as Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Niagara Falls State Park. We also operate cultural attractions such as Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Learn more about Delaware North at www.delawarenorth.com.