Chronicling Saratoga's healing waters

The history of Saratoga's hot springs and its healing waters are deeply tied to that of the town itself. So is that of the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort and Spa.

Dr. Michael "Doc' Janssen, the most recent owner of the resort, recently released "The Healing Waters of Saratoga" detailing the history of the springs, Saratoga and the resort itself. The book was first available at the end of January, just in time for the annual poker run, one year to the day Janssen first considered writing the book.

"I spent the last year doing research," Janssen said. "It goes all the way back to the 1800s and there is definite interest."

Initial inspiration for the book came from questions asked of Janssen by resort guests and attendees of the poker run. Questions that, 25 years before, he asked himself.

"When I first started coming here with my wife Sharon some 25 years ago, I started asking the employees why there was this unique jewel with hot springs right outside of Saratoga and how it came about," Janssen said. "That was my first indication of how little was known about the place."

A Healing History

Long before Saratoga-originally named Warm Springs-was founded, the natural hot springs were visited on a regular basis by local Native American tribes.

It wasn't until later the naturally occurring minerals in the hot springs, and their benefits, were known. Included in the 20 minerals is sulfuric acid, at 29.05 grams per gallon, which acts as a skin exfoliant. According to Janssen's book, it is especially helpful in healing skin ailments like psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, folliculitis, warts, some skin rashes, and fungal infections.

The benefits of the hot springs are more than skin deep, though. The water in the hot springs increases blood flow; improves range of motion in tendons and joints; releases serotonin which improves moods; releases melatonin to promote better sleep; calms the nervous system and kills bacteria.

"To understand how a town gem like the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort came to be, it's important to acknowledge who first found and utilized the mineral water: local Native American Tribes," wrote Janssen in the book.

The first 25 pages are filled with information about the hot springs, the history of the area prior to the arrival of settlers and what amenities Saratoga offers to visitors.

Then Janssen introduces the Warm Springs House, which was the beginning of what stands today. He covers the seven years it was in operation, 1877 to 1884, and its later incarnation, the Hot Springs Hotel.

The next chapter covers from 1902 to 1907. The hotel had burned down in 1902, possibly earlier, and the chapter indicates the loss of not having the hot springs hotel in the bustling community. In the 1920s a hot springs bath house and apartments available for rent were built on the property, which was now owned by the State of Wyoming.

The book then moves onto the beginnings of what stands today.

In 1949, rancher Willis "Bill" Walker founded the Saratoga Hotel Company and the construction of the Saratoga Inn began. Janssen covers 10 years of the Saratoga Inn becoming a premier hotel and golf course.

The next chapter begins in 1960 and goes to 2008, when the Janssens purchased the resort. Janssen acknowledges the different owners during this time and the changes the Saratoga Inn went through.   

Janssen didn't complete the book without help. Along with writer Malissa Rodenburg, Janssen also had the help of local historian Dick Perue.

"I contracted Malissa to meet with Dick Perue and she also went about getting all the copyrights for the pictures that are in the book," Janssen said. "She also dealt with the publisher."

Keeping It Secret

As confident as Janssen was he could complete the project in a year, he kept his endeavor close and didn't show many people what he was doing.

"I never showed any part of the book or chapters to anyone. Not even my spouse, who saw it the first time when it was published," Janssen said. "She asked about it, and she saw me spending nights typing on it, but I really only showed it to my daughter who I acknowledged at the end."

While it may seem odd at first glance that Janssen would not show his wife the rough drafts of the book, he had his reasons.

"I dedicated the book to Sharon because she was a great inspiration all through me writing it as she is with all my writing," Janssen said. "I wanted her to read the final product with the introduction, so she would see how she inspires me."

Janssen said he is a very goal-oriented person, and it was important he finish the book in the time he had allotted himself.

"I was very busy the past few months with surgeries and it came down to me doing most of the writing from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. so it felt good when I was done," said Janssen. "I could have gone over the chapters again and again, but I was comfortable with what it was when it went off to the publishers."

Healing Help

At the moment, the book can be found on Amazon and at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort. Copies are also available for guests to read in all the rooms. Janssen is looking at distributing the book to other places in the Valley, such as the Saratoga Museum.

"It is great that Doc took the time to compile the history of the Saratoga Inn and the Saratoga Resort," said Dana Davis, Saratoga Museum Executive Director. "It is one of the oldest and longest running businesses in Saratoga and it is an icon in the area."

Janssen's intention with his book is not just to provide a history of the resort and the hot springs which has helped the business flourish. He will also be using all proceeds from the book to help local causes.

"The money will go to projects like when we donated funds to purchase bullet proof vests for the Saratoga Police Department," Janssen said. "One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the community. That was the whole goal when we put this book together."

With the book helping the local community, Janssen hopes the community will turn out to support the book.

"I personally hope many people in the community will keep a copy in their home, because the book is celebrating the history of the area," Janssens said. "It is definitely a book that has a lot of local information about the hot springs."

Looking Forward

In the introduction for the book, Janssen has included photos of his family floating the North Platte River. In one photo, they are looking forward while, in another, they are looking backwards.

"That is how I feel about the Resort," said Janssen. "We are looking forward to the future, while we are acknowledging the past."

The Healing Waters of Saratoga is set up to do a lot of good and that pleases Janssen and his family tremendously.