Saratoga Inn employee returns 64 years later.

John Bergquist has seen a lot of changes in the Saratoga Resort and Spa over the years. In August, he and his wife returned to the Saratoga Resort and Spa to celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary.

He also celebrated his 25th and his 50th wedding anniversary at the Resort and Spa and has visited many times in between.

What makes this place so special for him?

Bergquist worked at the Resort and Spa, then the Saratoga Inn, in 1950 when it first opened.

In 1950, Bergquist was the new kid on the block. The Saratoga Inn was built in 1949 and he knew Pic Walker, who invited him to work for the summer at the Inn.

Bergquist worked as the bartender and one of his friends worked as the lifeguard.

Besides being a bartender, Bergquist said he helped with the landscaping and planting trees.

Bergquist said he likes coming back to see and admire the changes. “It just keeps getting better and better,” Bergquist said.

When the Saratoga Inn was built, there only one room for the dining room, Bergquist explained. The room that is now used for conferences was added later.

In the original bar, Bergquist described a sunken pit about four or five feet deep that had a fire pit in the center. The pit was circular. “It was really neat,” Bergquist said. Later it was torn out and another room was added to the bar.

Eventually, yet another room was added, which is now where the bar is located and then the brewery, Bergquist said.

The bar used to be on the right side of what is now the lounge area where the fireplace is located. The bar was moved again to the opposite side of the room, Bergquist said, before being moved to where it now sits.

The biggest change Bergquist has seen visually is the swimming pool and the steps in front of the rooms.