Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Seeking Partner to Operate Gideon Putnam Hotel 

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is seeking a partner to operate the Gideon Putnam Hotel in the Saratoga Spa State Park. 

The current contractor, Delaware North, agreement is set to expire January 5, 2028. Any prospective contractor must commit to at least a 10-year agreement and a maximum 40-year agreement. 

The selected operator will be expected to oversee hotel operations, facility improvements, maintenance, dining, and catering services.

The five-story hotel contains 124 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of flexible event space including a Grand Ballroom. 

The hotel’s namesake comes from Saratoga hotel tycoon, Gideon Putnam, who masterminded the famous Grand Union Hotel which stood until 1864. 

The Gideon Putnam Hotel was constructed in 1935 to accommodate guests seeking the healing mineral baths offered in the Spa park. After a strong start highlighted by a total attendance of 25,000 over the first decade of operation, advancements in understanding of medicine led to decreased attendance in the late 1940s. 

In 1966, The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) gave new life to the Putnam Hotel, creating a new reason for guests to spend the night.

The 2,200-acre Saratoga Spa State Park was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1985, which allows for potential use of federal and state historic tax credits for prospective operators of the Gideon Putnam Hotel. 

“Whether visitors come to spend a few days at the track, tour historic battlefields, check out a show at SPAC, or take in the waters, Saratoga Springs is a world-class destination with Saratoga Spa State Park and the Gideon Putnam Hotel at the heart of it all,” said Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner, Kathy Moser. 

Applicants must submit a request for proposal with the OPRHP; a deadline was not announced.