Ste Anne’s Spa Expansion Serves a Loyal Client Base
by Lynn Burshtein
Since its inception almost forty years ago, Ste. Anne’s Spa in Ontario has emerged as the blueprint for the modern “destination spa.” While the tourism market grows more crowded with endless places to travel when wellness is the primary focus, Ste. Anne’s popularity has not wavered. It has been repeatedly recognized as Canada’s #1 Spa in the prestigious Spas of America rankings and has been featured in Conde Nast Traveller and other notable publications, including, of course, on the pages of this website.
Ste. Anne’s loyal clientele remains enchanted by the property as the steady bookings prove. And the reason guests keep returning? One might point to the bucolic setting in the sprawling Canadian countryside. The property is spread out on 500 acres of rolling hills in Northumberland County near Grafton, Ontario – about a 90-minute drive east of Toronto. Or it could be the rustic charm of the main building which is built in a centuries-old fieldstone country castle, where guests enjoy healthy and tasty meals (including the famous afternoon tea), choose from an array of top-notch spa treatments or make use of the eucalyptus steam room or the thermal pools year-round.
Having stayed there almost a dozen times over the years, I have delighted in all these things. I have also been eager to try their latest wellness offerings, ranging from equine therapy to a cannabis-based massage. But what attracts me most to the property is its unique ability to create a welcoming and relaxing environment immediately upon arrival. Within minutes, guests shed their city clothes in favor of the standard Ste. Anne’s uniform, a plush robe, and swap their phones for a good book to read on one of the property’s hammocks or lounge chairs. A stay at Ste. Anne’s is a chance to disconnect from daily stresses and reconnect with oneself. The experience harkens back to a simpler, low-tech era, despite the availability of modern treatments and amenities.
Over the years, Ste. Anne’s has added accommodations in the form of standalone cottages that have sprouted up around the property, to meet the demand for greater capacity. It has also grown its business with the introduction of its own skincare line, signature tea blends and gluten-free bakery items (all available onsite and through its online retail store so guests can enjoy the experience long after their stay.
Not one to rest on its laurels, Ste. Anne’s continues its expansion efforts. The Spa is currently undergoing enhancements by adding six new cottages situated on the south end of the property. It is also enlarging the space of its beloved steam room and building a bigger wellness studio for group classes and retreats.
Ste. Anne’s also recently acquired the historic Grafton Village Inn, which is situated just a few minutes drive from the property. The main building of the Inn will be undergoing extensive renovations to become a separate restaurant and gathering space.
In the meantime, guests of the Inn can enjoy the “Spa Lite” program by shuttling back to Ste. Anne’s to enjoy the usual dining and spa experiences. Venturing outside the property, visitors can also explore Northumberland County, discovering local events and culinary and winery experiences available throughout the region.
As the property continues to grow and attract spa enthusiasts both near and far, Ste. Anne’s reputation as a world-class wellness destination is cemented with the same strength as the fieldstone its buildings are made of.
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Lynn Burshtein is a long-time contributor to Travel to Wellness and has been a frequent guest at Ste. Anne’s Spa.
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