Visiting Saratoga for the weekend and not sure where to stay? Take a look at The Westchester House Bed and Breakfast. I recently had the opportunity to speak with one of the owners, Stephanie Melvin, who provided me with the rich history of The Westchester House. From its beginnings nearly 130 years ago to Stephanie and her husband, Bob’s, complete restoration project, the house is truly one of Saratoga’s treasures.

The bed and breakfast is nestled on a tree-lined street in a residential neighborhood only a short walk away from both the track and Saratoga’s downtown. With King’s skill and imagination, he created this beautiful Queen Anne Victorian home with a whimsical roofline, handcrafted chestnut moldings and elaborately carved fireplaces, which are all still in place today.


The Melvin’s goal as hosts is to make sure their guests’ visit to Saratoga is everything they hoped it would be. Their extensive knowledge of the area often leaves their guests seeing more of Saratoga than they thought was available to them. What have they learned from being hosts for nearly 28 years? “We have learned how to be flexible. We have to be flexible with guests, and in order for the house to be the best place for employees to work, we have to be flexible with staff.”