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FrontRangeLiving.com -> Escapes -> Resort-Spas
Getting Away: Colorado Resort Spas
By Sally McGrath
In part one of “Making Time Slow Down”, Sally McGrath visited
a Boulder spa that emphasizes treatments with sea water and a
Denver spa featuring traditional Russian techniques of steam and cold. This
story explores the historic Broadmoor in Colorado
Springs.
A heated robe, waterfalls, world-class golf
courses, five-star restaurants – these are among the details that make
Colorado resort spas rank among the best in the nation.
Colorado is blessed with top-notch resort
spas. Unlike day spas, where you spend a few hours getting pampered and then go
home, at resort spas, you can go from a facial or massage straight to your
bedroom or an outstanding restaurant. You can also choose from a variety of
other recreational activities such as golfing, hiking, boating, rafting, skiing
and fishing.
A recent survey by the International Spa
Association confirmed that relaxation remains the main reason people visit spas,
whether they are day spas, resort-destination spas or cruise spas. Pampering and
stress reduction came in second, with weight loss, health, exercise and fitness
at the bottom of the list.
Spa visits are a time to relax, reflect, revitalize and rejoice, says Jane
Segerberg, ISPA president.
"Spa guests have the opportunity to take time to listen to their souls
and their bodies. Personal issues are resolved, new horizons to visit are
identified and a new perspective and understanding is achieved," Segerberg
says.
Outdoor massages on the golf course, underwater music in the swimming pool
– these are details that make spas such as the historic Broadmoor in Colorado
Springs stand out.
THE BROADMOOR
 The venerable Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs is synonymous with luxury,
and that's what spa-goers expect and receive when they visit the famous resort
hotel.
With dramatic views of Cheyenne Mountain, the Broadmoor's sand-pink walls and
red-tile roofs earned the hotel reputation as the "Riviera of the
Rockies" when it opened in June 1918. The original concept of a grand
European-style hostelry remains.
The resort's spa and fitness center has become a huge draw, says Broadmoor
spokeswoman Kristin Koca, even though the resort is best known for golf. One
signature perk the Broadmoor offers golfers is a massage at the ninth hole,
which can be split among a foursome.
Spa facilities include 16 massage rooms, six facial rooms, a dozen mineral
bath tubs, 12 soaking tubs, four wet treatment rooms with Vichy showers, four
Broadmoor Falls showers, inhalation rooms where essential oils are diffused into
the air and an elegant "quiet" room with mountain views and chaise
lounges.
Director Marguerite Lykes says the spa emphasizes renewal of body, mind and
spirit. "We believe in individualized programming, with a philosophy of
moderation, not deprivation," she says.
The spa and fitness centers are the vision of well-known resort and spa
designer Tag Galyean, who found inspiration in the resort's mountain setting and
its Western and Italian design heritage.
Hand painted tiles featuring the columbine flower showcase the Colorado
mountain environment. A glass ceiling brings outdoor views indoors. The Colorado
columbine theme is carried throughout the spa in custom-designed wallpaper and
tile patterns.
Spa guests enter a hushed, warm environment with flowers, gilded accents and
Colorado sandstone. Hardwood floors lead to plush changing and sitting rooms
with cozy fireplaces, where guests dress in heated robes and European sandals.
Four of the spa's treatment rooms have private outdoor terraces for massages
with views of the mountains.
Guests set their own schedules and can choose from a full-week exercise and
treatment regimen to a one-day pampering program.
The signature spa service is the Broadmoor Falls Shower and Spray, a
combination of a traditional Swiss shower and Scotch spray with 17 jets in
varying temperatures and pressures set on heated granite walls. The effect
simulates showering under a waterfall.
Hydrotherapy treatments include Colorado mountain spring water. Body polishes
are infused with local spruce and evergreen botanicals. Massage therapies use
oils, creams and other products made with indigenous herbs, scents and essences.
The club's fitness center includes an indoor swimming pool with an underwater
music system, an outdoor heated lap pool and Jacuzzi with mountain views, an
aerobics studio and workout room. The indoor pool is framed by a glass ceiling
with an appliqué of glass jewels atop floor-to-ceiling windows.
The spa offers more than 35 treatments including massages, facials, baths,
body treatments and fitness classes. Expect to pay around $100 for an hour-long
massage; $90 to $150 for a facial; and $100 to $150 for body wraps. Rooms range
in price from $295 to $455 in the summer. Suites, during the summer, go for $480
to $2,250.
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