The Homestead Spa
Julie Register visited this resort spa in Hot Springs, Virginia in May 2000

I visited the spa at The Homestead with my daughter as we moved her home from college in Georgia to Delaware. Approaching from the southwest took us through absolutely beautiful mountainous country with numerous switchbacks and lovely views. We only stayed one night but that was enough for us to have time to visit the spa. The Homestead resort's guests appear to be the upper crust from Washington D.C. and the South. I admit I felt a little out of place pulling up in my daughter's Sentra packed to the roof with household goods, boxes and clothes - the interior of which she has decorated with furry cow-motif seat covers. We had been on the road for two days and looked like it. Bless the parking attendant and bellboy. They didn't even smirk.

A Superior room, high tea, dinner, and breakfast was included in the per night charge. Our room was cozy although Megan said the hallway that led to it was identical to the one in the movie The Shining (which I haven't seen and don't care to). We went down to the main lobby for high tea in the afternoon. Dinner was delicious as was breakfast the following morning - a huge buffet with live entertainment. Then came the spa.

The historic spa is contained in its own 4-story building. It has been around since 1766 when a rustic lodge was built to enjoy the adjacent hot springs. The present day spa building, called the Bathhouse, was built by the springs in 1892. It survived a 1901 fire that destroyed the hotel and has recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation and restoration. The first floor contains indoor and outdoor swimming pools; the second floor houses the main spa reception area, spa lockers, showers, steam and sauna, relaxation lounges, treatment areas, and a spa shop; the third floor contains relaxation lounges and treatment areas; the fourth floor contains the salon, fitness center and aerobics room.

Entrance to the Homestead Spa from the covered archway connecting it to the hotel.	The Homestead Spa
View from the covered archway connecting the hotel to the Spa	Gardens outside of the Spa

After changing into robes and slippers, we were told to wait in the small area outside the changing rooms. We used the steam and sauna, and still had about 20 minutes before our treatments. The area only had one lounge chair unoccupied, so we shared it. I found out later that there was a larger waiting area on the floor above. It is curious that one of the attendants didn't suggest we wait there.

I started with the Mountain Laurel Soak. Carolyn escorted me into a tiled room and asked me to climb into a large tub. The tub is filled by removing a plug in the bottom (where there is usually a drain). Natural pressure from the springs forces the 104 degree, high-magnesium, water into the tub. I was left alone to soak for about 10 minutes while the tub overflowed onto the floor then Carolyn came back to put a much appreciated cool towel on my forehead. After about 10 more minutes, I got out and was taken to my next treatment, the Allegheny Raspberry Relaxer. My cheerful therapist, Wesley, started the treatment with a full-body raspberry-scented sea salt exfoliation with a loofah body massager that left my skin tingly. I rinsed off in a 16-nozzle Swiss Shower while Wesley used a Scotch hose with an adjustable nozzle to massage me with water. I dried off, got back on the table (which had clean sheets on it), was lightly massaged with raspberry oil, and then wrapped for 10 minutes to let it soak in. It was a very pleasant combination of treatments.

Megan had The Cure, a package that reflects spa services from the past. It has been in existence as long as the spa has. It starts with a warm Mineral Bath followed by a salt blend exfoliation, Scotch hose and Swiss Shower (very similar to the treatments I had).

Other treatments offered at the spa include:

• Massage (Swedish, Aromatherapy)
  
• Hydrotherapy (Mountain Laurel Soak, Aromatherapy Bath, Dr. Goode's
• Spout Bath, Sea Soak, Mineral Bath)
  
• Body Therapies (Mineral Clay Body Wrap, Seaweed Body Wrap, Allegheny
• Raspberry Relaxer, Herbal Wrap, Karisoftness Nourisher, Golfer's Glow,
• Mountain Laurel Polish)
  
• Skin Care (facials, eye treatments)
  
• Spa Manicure
  
• Spa Pedicure
  
• Salon Services (nail care, hair styling, waxing, makeup)
  
• Packages combine the most popular treatments for an even better spa experience.

A 15% gratuity is included in the charge.

About 30 minutes from the resort are the historic Jefferson Pools consisting of two wood-covered, spring-fed, naturally heated pools that maintain a temperature of about 96 degrees throughout the year. The Men's Pool opened in 1761, and the Ladies' Pool was added in 1836. Originally valued for medicinal purposes, the springs became more sought after as centers of pleasure and social activity over time. Wesley told me that there have been so many happy people that have used the pools that they are full of positive energy.

The Homestead offers many other activities for additional fees such as bowling, fly fishing, swimming, horseback riding, carriage rides, hikes to Cascades Gorge passing 13 waterfalls, mountain biking, golf, tennis, skeet, trap, sporting clays, and falconry. The KidsClub is offered for children 3-12 yrs.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the spa, I'm sorry we didn't have time for the hike to Cascades Gorge, a falconry session, and a visit to the Jefferson Pools.