by Vickie Lillo
With a Midwestern tribute to the Roman baths, The Elms Hotel & Spa is a rustic, yet opulent, resort in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Sprawled across 16 acres of prime real estate, and with woodlands extending another 20 miles, the iconic resort sits on a wellspring of therapeutic mineral waters in America’s heartland.
It was back in the 1880s, in the days of pioneers and westward expansion, when Native Americans told a local farmer about the mineral water springs with magical healing powers. The farmer brought his daughter, with an incurable form of tuberculosis, to bathe in, plus drink the mineral waters, until gradually she recovered. The history and benefits of hot mineral springs.
Accounts of the mineral waters’ healing capabilities spread through the Midwestern U.S. like wildfire. Recognizing the potential of this phenomenon, a local landowner and a visiting pastor developed the area. Their advertisements flaunted the restorative effects of the mineral waters and visitors began flocking to the valley. In a single year, 200 houses were built, and the current-day town of Excelsior Springs was born.
In 1888. the first Elms accommodations were erected. Today, The Elms – managed by Hyatt Hotels and listed on the National Register of Historic Places – is best known for its strategic location as a romantic wedding venue, just a 45-minute drive from Kansas City. “For guests, it’s just a short road trip from Omaha, Lincoln or St. Louis,” Kara Harrington, Sales Marketing Director, notes. “Many corporate retreats are held here. The exquisitely-designed suites, with their Victorian styling, are “definitely the driver of The Elms’ claim to fame.”
A European lap pool, the only of its kind in the United States, sits at the site of one of the mineral water springs. A 25,000 sq-ft. spa, one of the largest in the region, reflects a 1998 $16-million renovation. A revamp in early 2012 added a 24-hour fitness center, featuring Precor equipment, and the newest feature, ‘The Grotto.’
This Latin-bath-inspired sanctuary emulates the public wash-houses of the Mediterranean, tracing back to the 2nd century BC. Architecturally stunning – from extensive use of marble columns and decorated by frescoes and statuary – The Grotto wash-houses showcase the wealth associated with the Roman Empire, plus their advanced knowledge regarding the importance of uncontaminated water and public sanitation.
It’s here, at The Elms’ contemporary Grotto, that my husband Gustavo and I really begin our wellness journey. We entered the toasty, dry-sauna and subsequent steam-bath, used to open the pores and fight off congestion. Eucalyptus infused, a good-sized hot tub beckons and afterwards, we delight in a misty dousing that guarantees an all-over body exfoliation. To increase circulation, we are encouraged to apply the house-made salt scrubs – Epsom, Dead Sea and Himalayan Pink with rose petals – from the exclusive self-service Aromatherapy Bar. Chilling in the cold-plunge shower comes next. But my favorite part is the final stage – languishing in their oversized chaise-lounges, unwinding with invigorating, ice-packed washcloths soaked in peppermint oil, draped across our faces.
Touting an extensive menu of spa/salon services, The Grotto dishes out “over 200 treatments a day, on the week-ends,” says Hope Whitworth, lead therapist and master of the hot-stone massage. A recently-added experience –Serenity Drift– utilizes Yoga Nidra Meditation to immerse customers – through water flotation and vibrations from soothing sound bowls – into that blissful space between wakefulness and slumber.
A year-round destination, The Elms offers winter vacationers like my husband and I, some extra-special perks. I can imagine nothing better than exercising in the outdoor heated pool during frosty, inclement weather. Savoring the delicious warmth of the water from the neck down while breathing in the cold, crisp air. Or better yet, lazing in the whirlpool while swirling snow flurries mingle with the brume rising from the Jacuzzi. Now, I’m not going to lie…getting in and out of the water is nippy, to be sure, and we persevered by nuzzling around the fire pit, toasting marshmallows.
Once a stomping ground only for the affluent, today The Elms Hotel and Spa accommodates patrons from all walks of life. Young, old, couples, families – everyone is welcome to share the resort’s glamorous history.
Best of all, for those who’ve ever wanted to go back in time, perhaps to the glory days of Imperial Rome, now they can. At The Elms you are free to luxuriate in a traditional Roman bath, like during the reign of Julius Caesar. Today’s guests join the thousands of wellness-seekers over the last one hundred and 25 years who’ve made the pilgrimage to Excelsior Springs to embrace the powers of its renowned mineral waters. More on The Elms Hotel & Spa
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Vickie Lillo is a Missouri based writer who visits wellness resorts and retreats around the world.
