Not Many People Know The Story Behind New York's Forgotten Bath Town

Around the mid-1800s, the village of Sharon Springs began to attract visitors from all over the state. The charming town featured four mineral springs that were known for their healing powers. If any of this sounds familiar, it's most likely because you recently read about New York's fountains of youth up in Saratoga. During the era of these town's developments, their similar natural attractions had them competing against each other for the attention of visitors.

Even though Sharon Springs was known for having better quality water, ultimately Saratoga Springs became the more popular destination. Saratoga's closer proximity to the Capital Region was seen as being more ideal, alongside the fact that the New York State Thruway was eventually built. The Thruway's route lead travelers away from Sharon Springs, making it nearly impossible to stumble upon unless you knew to look for it. Now the city of Saratoga has become a booming area, still attracting people from all over to come and bottle up this magical water.

Today the village has a population of roughly 600 residents, an area that's always maintained a small-town feel. Besides being known for its abandoned structures, Sharon Springs gathers groups of friendly faces all throughout the year with festivals like their Victorian Holiday Celebration, Harvest Festival and upcoming Garden Party festival that's this month.

During the mid-1800s, a series of hotels were built in town, set out to accommodate those who were interested in seeking out the mineral springs for medical treatment. Just like our springs in Saratoga, the water here in town has been said to have healing powers and medical benefits. Sadly after World War I, using the water for treatment became a less enticing idea. It was around this time when Sharon Springs would begin its steady decline, slowly becoming more abandoned by the minute.

Now left to rust away, the cast iron work of art known as the Magnesia Temple use to be one of the town's main attractions. The water at this temple was said to be beneficial, acting as an antacid when consumed in smaller amounts. Today the mineral spring sits inactive in town, just one of the many forgotten pieces of local history.

Devoting over $9 million dollars into renovating the bath house, construction on this historic location has finally begun. Once the old Imperial Bath spa is completed, renovations on Hotel Adler and Hotel Columbia will begin! Hotel Adler has been left to fight against time since 2004, becoming a popular place for curious urban explorers to come and peak inside. The hotel looks eerily similar to how it did when it was up and running, with phones still hooked up in its 150 hotel rooms and bedding still set up like the place is expecting guests to arrive any minute.

Today in Sharon Springs you'll find shops and businesses run by people who are in love with the town, constantly working to maintain its history and inviting character. Places like the American Hotel have already been renovated in recent years, bringing out-of-town visitors to the area once again. With no specific details on when we should expect the renovations on the Imperial Bath to be completed, all we can do is anxiously sit back and watch the revival of this abandoned town unfold before our eyes. To find out more about what the town has to offer today, click here.