A stay at this lakeside property means experiencing wellness in many forms–but especially in and on the water
by Diana Ballon
Published in Travel Life Magazine in Summer 2023
Arriving from the Austin airport by Uber, our driver inadvertently pulls up at the Lake Austin Spa Resort’s LakeHouse Spa, rather than the front doors of the property. No worries. Wandering the short distance along its manicured walkways we pass two pools, one in a rustic barn, walk through a wooden arched gate and traverse a trellis-covered path before we see our first glimpses of the green lake on which this resort rests.
Its location on Lake Austin, actually a part of Texas’s Colorado River, is a key aspect of its wellness offerings. Whether “in, on or beside” the lake, the resort embraces the philosophy of marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, who in his book Blue Mind, describes the healing powers of water. The leading wellness retreat in Texas Hill Country, Lake Austin Spa Resort has received accolades worldwide for its 25,000 square foot spa, its varied and innovative “Ripple Effects” fitness programming, wellness and lake activities, delicious food and stunning lakeside property located about a half hour from downtown Austin, accessible by car and water shuttle.
The Lake Austin Spa Resort wasn’t always a luxury destination. The resort began as a hunting and fishing lodge in the 1940s, had a short-lived stint as a nudist camp in the mid-70s and then in the late 70s became a camp to lodge cowboys and rodeo clowns. After that was its incarnation as a “fat farm,” at a time when health was focused on weight loss. It was not until 1994 that the retreat was renamed the Lake Austin Spa Resort with a focus on active healthy living and fitness—without the calorie counting.
The resort has only 40 cottage-style guest rooms, accommodating up to 80 guests (or slightly more with families). So having more than 20 daily all-inclusive activities—plus the option of private add-on experiences, personal training and other outings—makes the experience feel very personalized. Guests also have access to their LakeHouse Spa, which has 30 treatment rooms, including a private outdoor suite with in-ground tub, two acres of terraced gardens, two pools and the luxurious “Blue Room” salon.
IN, OFF AND NEXT TO WATER
With geography as integral to the experience, water can be seen from almost every vantage point. Guest rooms are arranged in a row, each overlooking the lake, with wicker outdoor furniture and covered awnings out front to enjoy coffee in the morning. They have a beautiful second-floor Treehouse Studio for some of the classes, a glassed-in lake view fitness centre, and even Bokken-do, a way of learning and practising traditional Japanese sword skills, taught by Japanese-trained David Robbins
Aquatic classes are offered in their rustic-chic Pool Barn, a 90-degree junior Olympic-size pool with garage style doors. Pool classes include their Wellness on the Waters workout, which is conducted on inflatable paddleboard-style mats tethered together on the water; their Flute and Float class, where you can listen to meditative flute music as you float on a buoyancy mat; and the popular Myofascial Release class, where the instructor offers each of us of a sampling of “assisted stretching” of the fascia or fibrous connective tissue. Only five minutes, and I felt a release from muscle pain for the entire day!
Aquatic classes are offered in their rustic-chic Pool Barn, a 90-degree junior Olympic-size pool with garage style doors. Pool classes include their Wellness on the Waters workout, which is conducted on inflatable paddleboard-style mats tethered together on the water; their Flute and Float class, where you can listen to meditative flute music as you float on a buoyancy mat; and the popular Myofascial Release class, where the instructor offers each of us of a sampling of “assisted stretching” of the fascia or fibrous connective tissue. Only five minutes, and I felt a release from muscle pain for the entire day!
We also have access to hydro bikes, kayaks and paddleboards and enjoy a swim in the lake. Even some of the hikes (of which there is a three-and five-mile option daily) are accessed by short pontoon ride. One morning, we take a boat to Austin’s 215- acre Common Fords Ranch Metropolitan Park. We do a loop trail in the prairie region of the park with a birding, flora and fauna specialist and a hiking guide for faster paced walkers. As soon as we disembark, we see a great blue heron on the lawn and look up to admire a red shouldered hawk in a tree. Pecan trees cover our heads as we walk, and wild grape vines soar in the tree canopies alongside us. We arrive at a slow-moving
waterfall before circling back to the pontoon.
MINDFUL DINING
Stays at the resort are all-inclusive, which—as well as activities—includes not just three meals a day, but healthy snacks, tea and coffee that you can help yourself to, and daily smoothies or frozen yoghurts (that are there for the asking). Executive Chef Stéphane Beaucamp uses locally
sourced ingredients (some from their own organic gardens), to create what he refers to as “conscientious cuisine,” which focuses on flavour, nutrition and balance.
We had almost all of our meals on their outdoor lakeside patio, but you can also eat indoors in their lakeside dining room, have lunch at the spa’s Aster Café—for healthy salads, power bowls and wellness shots—or request room service.
The resort also offers a weekly cocktail class as well as culinary demonstrations. The week I was there, personal chef Danny Kievit showed us how to create tasty sandwiches for a springtime tea party. And for the cocktail class, we learn how to make “tipsy Texan” drinks with tequila and peach liqueur, cranberry juice and ginger ale. Other culinary events include chef-led cooking classes and a monthly culinary week featuring chefs from the Food Network, well-known eateries and cookbook chef-authors.
WELLNESS–BROADLY DEFINED
As I was to discover, wellness is broadly defined at this resort. At their “plein air” wildflower watercolour class, the instructor encourages us to enjoy the creative release and flow, without worrying about being good or bad at painting. One evening an astronomer hosts a talk about “The Stars at Night” and another day there is a tarot reading. There are author’s nights each month, wine cruises are available daily and inspirational talks are given on such topics as learning how to activate your neuroplasticity to boost memory.
What I can attest to, is feeling very “well” after spending three days at the resort.