Trust me… you’ve never seen a spa like this one.
Eight outdoor soaking tubs of different sizes facing the stunning Rockies from the base of Pikes Peak. Infared sauna. Hot steam sauna. Massages. Waxing. Yoga classes. Dance classes. Hot-and-cold plunge tubs.
More on those below. But first…
A Little History
Some years ago, owner Kat Tudor was visiting the headwaters of the Ganges River in India with friends. She noticed that the area resembled Manitou Springs and wondered whether she could create a similar sacred space at home.
A friend mentioned one potential hiccup: Manitou didn’t have “healing waters.” Actually, it did. Tudor knew about the Seven Minute Spring, a sacred Native American spring that been inoperable since the 1960s.
“That sent her on a mission to bring the healing waters of Manitou to all people,” said Samantha Bachechi, SunWater Spa’s marketing director.
Tudor returned home and worked with Native tribes and Manitou Springs officials to return it to service and opened SunWater Spa in 2015.
Soaking Tubs + Saunas
The cedar tubs are filled with mineral water from that nearby Seven Minute Spring. The waters filter through deep underground cracks, crevasses and rock faults, infusing the water with health-granting minerals. Summer or winter, the tubs are amazing. They span several floors of outdoor decks with gorgeous pathways connecting them. And that view!
The saunas sit on the ground floor, near the entrance to the hot-and-cold plunge tubs. And don’t forget the adjacent indoor “garden pool,” where you can simply float or swim until your cares disappear.
Great for a date night, a girls’ day or a bit of quiet time to yourself. The whole place is considered a “whisper zone” – a welcome departure from the clatter of daily life.
Massages + Other Services
Tucked behind the main building and up a few steps is a quaint structure called Tava House – a former apartment building that SunWater Spa has lovingly converted into its spa building. This is where bodywork, facials and other hands-on services happen.
Their most popular massage is the Ātma, a combination of therapeutic and relaxing massage flow, customized for each visitor. Side note: Tava is what the Utes called Pikes Peak and the translation is “Sun Mountain.”
Looking for something different? Try the Mountain Mother, a massage geared toward women in their second and third trimesters. Or the Hot Poultice, which combines a traditional massage with warm muslin poultice bags filled with pain relieving herbs and spices. Perhaps a Chakra Journey is more your style. It features seven massage oil blends – each attuned to a different chakra.
“The therapist works from the crown chakra to root chakra, so it’s really special and unique and energetic,” said Gabriella Silva, the spa services director.
They also have a sugar scrubs, mud detox wraps, as well as lash, brow and waxing services.
Yoga, Dance + Food
Want to make a whole day of it? Book a yoga or dance class.
“As the weather warms, we have these giant garage doors in our heart center yoga room that we open and allow fresh air to come in,” Samantha said. “It’s just really beautiful with the views."
Hungry? Grab a bite at the on-site food vendor, Tava Truck, then wander across the street to Memorial Park to eat.
“I think we’re pretty unique in that sense – in our broad offerings,” Gabriela said. “It’s a really unique environment.”
Website: http://www.sunwaterspa.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @sunwaterspa