Saratoga Travel Guide

Saratoga is situated at the entrance to a historic pass in the redwood forested Santa Cruz Mountains. In the mid 1800's, the abundant redwood forests gave rise to a thriving lumber industry. A sawmill was built in 1847 by William Campbell on the Arroyo Quito (now Saratoga Creek) about two miles west of the present day Saratoga Village. This area was then known as Campbell's Gap.

Other mills were also established along Saratoga Creek - a paper mill near 6th Street and Big Basin Way which burned in 1883 and a flour mill located near the present day Hakone Gardens. These milling activities briefly gave the village the name of Bank Mills.

On march 13, 1865, the villagers voted to rename the community Saratoga. The name was selected because of the similarity in the mineral content of the water, located at the mineral springs a mile above the village, to that of Congress Springs at Saratoga, New York.

In the latter part of the 1800's, the area's fertile soil and available land saw the emergence of another industry - agriculture. Apricots, cherries and French prunes were particularly well-suited to Saratoga's soil and climate. The 680 acre Glen Una Ranch, located between Saratoga and Los Gatos, was the world's largest producer of prunes. Also, the internationally famous Sorosis Farm on Saratoga Avenue shipped its dried fruit worldwide. Another one of the early ranches, the Garrod Ranch, is still in operation today as a riding stable and vineyard.

It was during the late 1880's that the sunny hillsides were found to be conducive to viticulture and many wineries were established. In 1890, Saratoga became the home of the world-renowned Paul Masson Winery. The French immigrant, Masson, brought grape cuttings from his native land to plant on the hillsides along Pierce Road. He was convinced that the rich California soil could produce grapes for champagnes comparable to those of France.

During the 1900's, Saratoga developed an enviable reputation as a highly desirable place to live. The Interurban Rapid Transit of the day began service which connected Saratoga with the rest of the Santa Clara Valley and beyond.

Saratoga soon became a haven for wealthy San Franciscans who came to build elegant hillside homes overlooking the lush valley. One of these was the palatial Mediterranean-style home of the United States Senator James Phelan. His Villa Montalvo is now a center for the cultural arts. After world War II, the character of Saratoga changed forever from agricultural to suburban. As space technology and the defense and electronics industries were established in nearby communities, Saratoga's open land soon became more valuable for homes, for the rapidly growing population, than it was for the fruit orchards.

Today, with a population of nearly 30,000, Saratoga proudly preserves its pioneer heritage. The Historical Museum, dedicated on July 4th, 1976, traces the community's colorful history with displays of photos and artifacts. The nearby historic McWilliams House at 20460 Saratoga - Los Gatos Road is the present home of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce.