Spa Living: Paradise for Your Second Home
With their serene settings, resort amenities and emphasis on health and wellness, spa communities may be the ultimate place to unwind.
By Jamie Marshall
Imagine turning a spa day into a spa life. Premier resorts increasingly offer that option by creating residential communities where treatments, not tee times, are king. "The baby-boomer market is approaching the aging process differently," explains Deborah Evans, general manager of Red Mountain Spa in Utah. "They're very active, and their lifestyles reflect that." Those looking to live part-time in a spa community seek picturesque settings, hassle-free ownership and state-of-the-art spas that combine serious pampering with preventive-medication, nutrition and fitness programs. Properties range from sleek apartments to sizable waterfront homes and, in certain instances, undeveloped acreage. In some cases, the price of ownership covers access to resort amenities as well as dedicated concierge services. In others, owners pay annual membership dues and maintenance fees. The following are five of the most sought-after spots for buying into a balanced lifestyle.
Red Mountain Spa. St. George, Utah
Lay of the land Situated at the base of a 10,000-foot peak in the heart of Utah's red-rock country, this lovely spot combines a full menu of spa services with an extraordinary array of outdoor programs.
The appeal The magnificent scenery and limitless opportunity for adventure. The twelve two-bedroom villas are designed to meld seamlessly with the outdoors; even the interiors have a soothing desert palette. Activities include hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and horseback riding. Classes in guided imagery, meditation and chakra balancing promote spiritual growth.
What it costs A fractional share costs between $110,000 and $135,000, depending on location, and entitles owners to thirteen weeks of use a year. During one of those weeks, an owner and up to three guests can take advantage of the free daily core offerings: three meals a day, lectures, outdoor programs, demonstrations and more. Additional services and meal plans are available à la carte.
Who buys Outdoorsy types, health junkies, corporate CEOs.
Local attractions Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks and the Grand Canyon are all within a few hours' drive, and the small town of St. George is just down the road.
Contact Pat Matthews; 435-652-5707; redmountainspa.com.
Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies
Lay of the land This discreet private-island resort has miles of white sand beaches edging a calm turquoise sea and a superb Balinese-influenced spa.
The appeal Privacy. Residents appreciate the tranquil setting, spare design and barefoot elegance. The recently expanded COMO Shambhala spa focuses on healing and wellness through yoga, meditation, diet and Eastern treatments. Join other guests for morning sun salutations on the beach or hire a yoga instructor to come to your home.
What it costs Beachfront plots go for $1.3 million an acre and range from three acres to five acres.
Who buys High-profile types who want to disconnect from the world. Bruce Willis, Christie Brinkley and Keith Richards all own.
Local attractions World-class snorkeling, diving and fishing.
Contact Harry Apostolides, como Hotels and Resorts; 011-44-20-7447-1017; parrot-cay.com.
Fisher Island, Florida
Lay of the land This 216-acre private island, a former Vanderbilt estate, is home to nearly 700 families who live in villas facing the golf course or in Mediterranean-style waterfront condos.
The appeal Accessible only by helicopter, boat or a short ferry ride from the MacArthur Causeway at South Beach, the island is off-limits to day-trippers. The close-knit community has an active, social lifestyle. The Spa Internazionale, a cool retreat, earns high marks for its deluxe treatments and rigorous workouts, including spinning to a Latin beat. There's also a tennis center, a nine-hole golf course, two deep-water marinas and a wide beach.
What it costs Prices range from $1.5 million for a bay-view unit to $5.3 million for a 5,630-square-foot penthouse in the sleek Palazzo del Mare development (opening in the winter of 2006). Prices include parking for two cars and two golf carts. For access to resort amenities, owners must be members of the Fisher Island Club ($4,250 initiation fee plus annual dues of $6,000).
Who buys Sun-loving Europeans and celebrities. Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft own a home here, as does Oprah Winfrey.
Local attractions The shops of Bal Harbour are fifteen minutes away; the hot spots of South Beach are even closer.
Contact Phyllis Winick, Fisher Island Realty Sales; 305-535-6072; fisherisland.com.
The Residences At Montage Laguna Beach, California
Lay of the land An enclave of twenty-eight oceanfront estates and beach villas sits next to the upscale Montage Resort & Spa.
The appeal Besides the prime beachfront locale and proximity to lively Laguna Beach, homeowners love the resort's indoor-outdoor spa and fitness center. A concierge is on-site twenty-four hours a day to provide assistance with everything from stocking the kitchen to booking tee times to coordinating child care.
What it costs Custom-home sites (four are still available) cost $4.5 million to $7 million, depending on location. Residents pay $5,000 a year to use resort facilities; spa treatments and meals are extra.
Who buys Busy executives, Orange County residents who want a beach retreat, young families and empty nesters.
Local attractions Laguna's galleries, shops and restaurants are a big draw. The Orange County Performing Arts Center is nearby; Los Angeles is sixty minutes north.
Contact John Mansour, the Athens Group; 949-499-4449; montageresidences.com.
Canyon Ranch Living-Miami Beach, Florida
Lay of the land Built on the site of the former Carillon Hotel, this six-acre North Beach complex, opening in the spring of 2006, is Canyon Ranch's first healthy-living residential development. Courtyard gardens lead to two glass-and-steel residence towers with 467 condominiums and 150 condo-hotels, a 70,000-square-foot SpaClub and Canyon's signature Health & Healing Center.
The appeal Besides taking the spa treatments for which Canyon Ranch is famous, residents can enroll in preventive-medicine and mindfulness programs. There are also free lectures and classes.
What it costs One-, two- and three-bedroom condos cost from $700,000 to $3 million. The fully furnished David Rockwell– designed condo-hotel suites start at $700,000. Monthly spa and maintenance fees range from $400 to $700. Owners receive a monthly credit in the restaurant and a voucher for spa services.
Who buys David Caruso and other celebrities, Canyon Ranch devotees and snowbirds looking for weekend rejuvenation.
Local attraction Nearby South Beach. Contact Amy Ballon; 305-993-0030; canyonranchliving.com.
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