Derby Tours

Derby Tours offers tours of Saratoga Springs including various walking tours and step on guides for bus tours. There is a reason.

Please see the description of each tour under our "services" section. Saratoga Springs is arguably the most beautiful small city in the country. Regardless of the season, Derby Tours’ goal is to enhance the experience of those who visit. To accomplish our purpose we offer different services. The most common are:
•Various Walking Tours (see specifics under services);
•Step on Bus Tours (we step on

to your bus);
•Tour and a Book (Batcheller Mansion - for guests staying at the Mansion); and
•Armchair Tours - Slide presentations to introduce groups to the city. There are hundreds of Victorian Era homes in Saratoga all of which are privately owned. A passenger on one of our bus tours remarked, “There are more mansions that you can actually see here (in Saratoga) than anyplace I have ever been.” He was right. Our fine homes are not hidden behind hedges or walls, they are visible to those who walk or drive by. Saratoga has always been about See and be Seen - seeing who else was in town and being seen yourself. That is probably why people still smile as they pass on Broadway.

05/15/2024

Please Note: Due to low enrollments, our Mansion to Mansion Tours for May 20 and May 27 have been cancelled. The remaining tours are still available.

*To sign up for these tours you must pre-register via phone (518) 495-7012 or email: [email protected]

Updated Derby Tours for 2024
Date Tour

7/9/2024* Oldest Saratoga; meet at corner of Division & Broadway; $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours;
11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

7/16/2024* Circular Street; meet corner of Circular & Whitney $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

7/23/2024* Merchants & Mansions; meet at corner of Union & Regent; $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

7/30/2024* North Broadway; meet at corner of North Broadway & VanDam; $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

8/6/2024* Woodlawn Walking Tour; $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

8/13/2024* Greenridge Cemetery Tour; $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

9/20/2024 Greenridge Cemetery; sign up through SUNY ADK

*must pre-register via phone (518) 495-7012 or email: [email protected]

05/08/2024

Just some photos from our Mansion to Mansion Tour on Monday.

05/08/2024

Great "Mansion to Mansion" tour on Monday. Beautiful weather and we all had fun touring inside the Batcheller Mansion and Union Gables.
Don't forget, we have three more open Mansion to Mansion tours available on: May 13, May 20 and May 27, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, $25/person. You must pre-register via phone (518) 495-7012 or email derbytours@yahoocom.

04/29/2024

For those of you who are interested, here is a listing of the Derby Tours for 2024. Hope to see you there.

Date Tour
5/1/2024 Woodlawn Walking Tour, sign up through HVCC

5/6/2024 Mansion to Mansion Tourl, sign up through HVCC

5/13/2024* Batcheller Mansion & Union Gables Tour
$25/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:30am - 1:30 pm*

5/16/2024 Merchants & Mansions sign up through SUNY ADK

5/20/2024* Batcheller Mansion & Union Gables Tour $25/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:30am - 1:30 pm*

5/22/2024 Woodlawn Walking Tour; sign up through SUNY ADK

5/27/2024* Batcheller Mansion & Union Gables Tour $25/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:30am - 1:30 pm*

5/31/2024 Bus Tour; closed to public

6/5/2024 Prestwick Chase; closed to public

6/21/2024 Oldest Saratoga; closed to public

7/9/2024* Oldest Saratoga; meet at corner of Division & Broadway, $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

7/16/2024* Circular Street; meet corner of Circular & Whitney $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

7/17/2024 SCHC Fundraiser; closed to public

7/23/2024* Merchants & Mansions; meet at corner of Union & Regent; $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

7/30/2024* North Broadway; meet at corner of North Broadway & VanDam; $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

8/6/2024* Woodlawn Walking Tour; $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

8/13/2024* Greenridge Cemetery Tour; $15/person; sign up via Derby Tours; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm*

8/18/2024 Bus Tour closed to public

9/20/2024 Greenridge Cemetery; sign up through SUNY ADK

*must pre-register via phone (518) 495-7012 or email: [email protected]

04/26/2024

2024 Open Mansion to Mansion Walking Tours
Presented by
Dr. Hollis Palmer
Gilded Age/Victorian Historian and Author

Each tour starts at the Batcheller Mansion, 20 Circular Street
and ends at Union Gables, 55 Union Avenue.

The tour starts inside the Batcheller Mansion (first floor only). Hear the story of George, Catharine and Kate Batcheller. The tour will introduce the audience to what their lives were like when they built this beautiful home in 1874 and detail events in the following years. Hear about their friendship with President Grant and how they spent years in France, Portugal and Egypt - just to name a few. The tour will then move outside to a walking tour down Circular Street, telling the stories of the Batchellers’ neighbors such as the then Vice President (he lived across the street) and the acting First Lady (who lived a few more houses away). Our last stop on the tour is visiting inside the mansion known as “Union Gables,” built in 1901 for a local merchant and manufacturer.

Tour Dates:
May 13, 2024
May 20, 2024
May 27, 2024
Times:
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
$25/person - includes one of Hollis’ books
Cash or Check payable to Derby Tours
Pre Registration is required via Derby Tours:
518-495-7012, or
email: [email protected].
Wear comfortable shoes! Minimum of 15 - Maximum of 20 people.

04/18/2024

On behalf of Discover Saratoga, Derby Tours will be providing two complimentary walking tours this weekend. As always these tours make history fun. Both tours start promptly at eleven.

Saturday April 20th ‘s tour is of North Broadway. The tour begins at the corner of North Broadway and Van Dam. This tour is a loop.

Sunday April 21st 's tour is of Union Avenue The tour begins at the corner of Union Avenue and Regent Street.

As always, the tours are about the people who lived in the houses during the Gilded Age.

03/19/2024

We just had our first Walking Tour up North Broadway on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The group that helped us start the tour season was a lively bridal party. Thank you to the ladies for making the day a great success for all!

09/13/2023

If you are looking for something to do this Saturday, 9/16, join me, along with other re-enactors and storytellers, as we talk about the history of our families buried at Bacon Hill Cemetery. I'll be discussing my ancester Joseph Palmer and Jessie Billings Jr (who was accused of killing his wife Eliza). You will find me at Stop #7 (maps will be available).
A Self-Guided Walking Tour Honoring Local Families and Veterans
September 16 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Bacon Hill Cemetery Association proudly presents: A Self-Guided Walking Tour Honoring Local Families and Veterans. Join re-enactors and storytellers as they share the history of many Bacon Hill families and veterans starting from the 1700’s through present day!
This free event takes place at the Bacon Hill Reformed Church at 506 Rte. 32 N, Schuylerville, NY on Saturday, September 16 from 2-4pm (rain date of Sunday, September 17). Light refreshments will be available for purchase.
Please email [email protected] with questions.

09/08/2023

I have commented several times about how writing is a lonely experience. This morning I woke up to the following email that makes it all worthwhile.

"When I first got the book, I was going to thank you. I started it right away and decided I'd wait until I'd finished. I loved it and the ending was a nice set up for Book 4 which, I hope, you're working on.

I appreciate the depth of the character development and thoroughly enjoy your sense of humor.

Much as I thought Book 2 could be a standalone without Annandale, by book 3 I was so invested in the characters that I thought my daughter should start the series with Annandale. Caitlin was visiting over the weekend and left heading back for Virginia with Annandale (which we checked out of the library) and my copies of 2 and 3. You have another fan.

Thank you.
Maureen"

And yes book four is in the works! The entire series is available at Amazon and Impressions Of Saratoga.

07/24/2023

REMINDER
July 29, 2023, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Book Signing with Author Hollis Palmer

In celebration of his new book, local author and historian, Dr. Hollis Palmer, is back for another book signing. There will be special pricing for his six books based in Saratoga including his newest, "All That Glitters."

Meet Hollis at Impressions Of Saratoga,
368 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Saturday, July 29, 2023, from 6:00 - 9:00 PM.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

07/09/2023

Thank you to everyone who helped make our book signing a success on Saturday, July 8th at Impressions.

If you didn't get a chance to join us then, we will be having another on Saturday, July 29, 2023 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM at:
Impressions
368 Broadway,
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

07/06/2023

Reminder - Book Signing and Special Pricing for Dr. Hollis Palmer's newest book, "All That Glitters." His prior books will also be available for the special pricing. Meet Hollis at Impressions, 368 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, on Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Here is the newest review on Dr. Palmer's new book, "All That Glitters" -
If you think historical fiction is long, boring chapter books, then you need to jump on the extreme ride that is Dr Hollis Palmer’s book All That Glitters. He is an historian, true, but he write his books in short vignettes rather than long chapters and each one ends with some sort of cliff hanger that makes it impossible to stop reading! All That Glitters is the third book in his series on the Gilded Age of Saratoga Springs, NY, where the rich and famous came to play at the end of the 19th Century. Dr. Palmer is an expert on the facts and adds extra players and events to fictionalize and spice up the emotional impact of the story. The first book, Annandale was heavy on facts and meeting the families and I loved it, but had a hard time remembering all the people. The second book, What if? was a delight because I already knew and loved or hated the characters and there was some heavy drama towards the end that made reading the third book imperative! All That Glitters is the best one yet! This is the one I couldn’t put down and stayed up way too late at night reading on a road trip with grandchildren, but who cares when you have a great book!

This series is definitely Downton Abbey, American Style, and I would SO LOVE to see it on screen! (Someone from Hollywood please pay attention!) Meanwhile, I really want to read more about the characters and their stories. Fact or fiction, I don’t care - just give me more! I lived for many years near Saratoga and have seen the great houses and heard of the families that lived in them, but I think if you’ve never even heard of Saratoga you could jump into All That Glitters and be hooked! Fasten your seat belt!

I purchased my copy of All That Glitters , and the others, too, and was not paid or reimbursed in any way for this review. This is my honest opinion! Diane G, Florida, USA

Address

Saratoga Springs, NY
12866

Website

http://www.derbytours.com/

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