Don’t be fooled by the out-of-the-way location of the Spa at the Keystone Lodge. To reach the nondescript entrance, you walk along a garden-level hallway and down some industrial-looking steps whose walls are lined with pipes. However, once you enter the boutique and reception area — with its soothing waterfall feature and delicious aromas — you’ll forget how you arrived. You’ll just be happy you’re there.
The Spa at the Keystone Lodge Facilities
Soothing neck compress and warm footbath in a dimly lit room with a roaring fireplace = heaven!
My favorite place in the entire spa is the wonderfully cozy relaxation lounge. Here, chaise lounges and comfortable chairs face a roaring fire, where you can relax with a magazine (a nice array are supplied). You can also nibble on dried fruit and nuts, and sip hot tea or fruit-infused water. A wonderful addition to your stint in the relaxation lounge is a $15 footbath. Soak your feet in a large bowl filled with warm water and blend of green tea, lavender and lemongrass. Add a warm compress for your neck, and you’ll be well on your way to bliss before your treatment.
The women’s locker room is small, with just one shower stall, but it does have tall lockers with thoughtful touches inside: a satin hanger for street clothes, a small velvet bag for storing jewelry, a razor, tampon and shower cap. You’ll find standard amenities in the locker room: supplied shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the shower, plus cotton balls, Q-tips and mouthwash on the counter. But a classy little sign lets guests know that if you need a hairbrush, tampons, toothbrush, toothpaste or floss, you can ask the spa attendant for the item. Finally, I appreciated the heated robe I was given to wear in the spa –so nice, especially on a chilly winter day.
The spa is adjacent to a large outdoor pool and hot tub, and it’s available to those who have booked a spa treatment (even if you’re not staying at the Keystone Lodge). The steam room, sauna and indoor hot tub are all coed, so don’t forget to pack your swim suit! Spa guests also have full use of the fitness studio – with cardio and strength-training equipment – and enjoy complimentary valet parking, too.
The Spa at the Keystone Lodge Treatments
During my last visit to the spa, I enjoyed a 50-minute customized massage that began with my choosing an aroma for my massage oil. I sniffed six different Zents scents, and chose the one that “spoke” to me the most (I believe it was a “balancing” oolong). What followed was a perfect massage – a blend of long Swedish strokes with some deep-tissue penetration where I needed it most: in my neck and calves. Also included in the treatment were hot washcloths rubbed on my hands and plenty of massage for my feet, followed by a hot-washcloth rub.
Massage certainly isn’t the only treatment on the menu here. Body scrubs, hydrating wraps, invigorating facials and luxurious mineral baths are also offered. I’m keen on the special packaged “journeys,” where various treatments are combined for a five-hour experience. So luxurious!
Keystone Lodge Accommodations
The Keystone Lodge is located in the Lakeside Village section of Keystone, adjacent to Keystone Lake — with paddleboats in the summer and ice skating in the winter. It has 152 rooms, including 14 loft suites that are ideal for a few girlfriends to share (or a family). On site is the excellent Bighorn Steakhouse; I’ve eaten here twice — once with kids and once with friends — and each time my meal was excellent. For non-steak lovers (like myself), I enjoyed a seafood dish and pasta entree; healthy options like grilled chicken and veggies are offered for kids. Included in the room rate at the Keystone Lodge is wireless internet, a huge plus for me. The hotel is on the complimentary shuttle route — it’s just a few minutes’ ride to River Run Village, with its restaurants and shops, and gondola that will whisk you up Keystone’s slopes.
Bottom Line: Even if you’re not staying at the Keystone Lodge during your vacation, I certainly recommend a visit to its spa. After all, what better way to soothe sore muscles after skiing or otherwise adventuring in the Colorado Rockies than with a massage or pampering body treatment?
Learn More: Spa at the Keystone Lodge website; 281-313-0555.
– Review & photos by Kara Williams, who last visited in October 2011.
As is common in the travel industry the author received a complimentary spa service.
