The Mansion Bed and Breakfast

The Mansion of Saratoga is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. We found the house on-line and thought it would make for a very interesting overnight bed and breakfast in the Saratoga Springs area. It was built as an imposing twenty three-room Venetian, villa-style estate in 1866 by Hon. George West. This building served as the West family primary residence until they relocated in 1875 to a larger residence on Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa, New York. As well as a B+B; the house is a lovely setting for the many weddings that are hosted here each year. 

West was born on the 17th of February 1823 in Brandon, England and came to the United States in 1840 where he made his fortune as the inventor of the folded paper bag. A man of many accomplishments, George West established an art and archaeological museum in Round Lake, NY, served in the NYS Legislature and the United States Congress in the House of Representatives from 1881 until 1889.

There was a scrap book containing a detailed history of the Mansion, George West and as he was known around the world - "The Paper Bag King" (own blog) - a title earned as the world’s largest manufacturer of folded paper bags. He died on the 20th of September 1901 at 79 years of age and is buried in Ballston Spa, New York. The deserted Empire Mill across from the Mansion dates back to the early 1800's and was the first of the many he owned after the Civil War. Behind the mill are acres of great jogging (of course Bear tried them all out !!!!) and hiking trails complete with interesting ruins of some of his other mills and the Kayaderosseras railroad. The millpond and waterfalls directly across from the inn is one of the most famous trout fishing sites in Saratoga County.

The Mansion is very much the grand home of a 19th Century industrialist and after one hundred and fifty years, it remains virtually unchanged. We were welcomed by the staff of one who poured us a glass of wine. We sat out on the porch and took in the peaceful surroundings for an hour or so. The staff of one then left us as she had ‘a do’ to attend. We were to be Home Alone. Completely on our Todd until the chef arrived in the morning. One of the more bizarre experiences of our travels together. Oh well. We explored the house, had a Jacuzzi bath, watched a little news on the tiny television, finished our wine and bedded down for the night.

This Saratoga bed and breakfast is full of striking details, such as the six fireplaces with massive mantelpieces, original brass and copper gas chandeliers with Waterford glass shades, etched-glass doors, parquet floors of three woods, 2" thick pocket doors and even an unsigned Tiffany chandelier in the gracious main entrance. There are two formal parlors. In keeping with the period, both the public rooms and bedrooms of the Mansion have been elegantly furnished in fine Victorian antiques.

While the Mansion is a step back in time, there are many creature comforts of the 21st century. The antique beds have been retrofitted to accept queen and king size beds and they have replaced George West's "out house" with private bathroom facilities within each bedroom, TV, internet and all the usual paraphernalia.

ALL IN ALL VERY STRANGE TO BE ‘HOME’ ALONE