Saratoga County
Character, history, and charm are just a few of the reasons why Saratoga has been the location for films such as:
Seabiscuit
Horse Whisperer
Billy Bathgate
Ghost Story
and The Way We Were
Saratoga was named as one of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and named American Heritage's first Great American Place award recipient.
Saratoga's historic and well-preserved racetrack is what convinced the producers of Seabiscuit and Billy Bathgate to film in Saratoga. Seabiscuit Production Designer Jeannine Oppewall fell in love with the historic Canfield Casino's ballroom. Robert Redford's Horse Whisperer particularly liked the diversity of horse farms, historic hotels and locations in the Saratoga Spa State Park that could double for a hospital. Location managers are awed by Saratoga's Victorian streetscapes and houses, Georgian colonnades and reflecting pools in the state park, the options for hospitals (mental and otherwise) and the quaint downtowns.
Saratoga is known for its many unique attractions - and its Film Commission is known for its twenty-four years of experience, flexibility, knowledge of the area, and its full-time assistance at no charge to production companies.
So why take a look at Saratoga? How about:
Victorian, Greek Revival, Gothic, Colonial Revival and Bungalow styles of architecture.
A commercial district with solid blocks of Victorian architecture.
The oldest, continuously operating thoroughbred track in the country.
The Nation's most beautiful half mile harness race track, and three polo fields.
Jails and courthouses - both old and new.
A 5,100 seat semi-enclosed performing arts center.
A 2,100 acre Spa Park with manicured lawns, woods, Georgian architecture and pavilions, pools, mineral bathhouses, golf courses and a hotel. Horse Whisper and Billy Bathgate both used interiors and exteriors of the park in their films.
The Saratoga National Historical Park, site of turning point of the American Revolution. Near the Battlefield are other interesting locations including the National Cemetery, the General Schuyler House and Saratoga Monument.
Ten museums, whose resources have been used in production. For example, parts of the Seabiscuit collection at the National Museum of Racing, period cars from the Saratoga Automobile Museum, and a room in the building housing the Saratoga History Museum were used in the filming of Seabiscuit.
Snow or Sun (We've got connections "up above.")
Lakes, streams, beaches
A community used to film making
First-class lodging facilities are film-friendly, providing reasonably priced sleeping and meeting rooms, production office space and rooms to show dailies if needed.
No permits!
Saratoga is only a three-hour drive from Boston, New York and Montreal.
