We may not always have had the data to prove it, but humans have long flocked to nature for its healing properties and to wilderness retreats in particular for their botanical-derived self-care treatments. In the New Age era of the 1960s to 1980s in the US, upstate New York was dotted with such “health spas.” Last October, Hemlock Neversink revived one of its most beloved in the Catskills region as a contemporary spa, goat, and wildflower farm, hotel, and yoga retreat on a 230-acre campus. And last month, Malibu’s celebrity wellness retreat, The Ranch, opened its first New York branch on 200 forested acres of the Hudson Valley’s Table Rock Estate. Its program includes fitness, water activities, a solarium, healing sessions, yoga, and a plant-based menu.
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While these post-pandemic wellness farms span the nation, their designs follow a similar aesthetic formula. Employing natural materials like wood, metal, and stone, any new structures built on the property are barn- or cottage-derived. Porches are popular for accommodations, and furniture is loosely inspired by midcentury shapes. With simple architecture made of top-quality components, these luxury retreats often have the nostalgic feel of a high-end summer camp for adults. Far from do-it-yourself campers, travelers who flock to wellness farms are looking for nature without the messiness in an environment where they don’t have to lift a finger—unless it’s to go to a workout class.
In California’s Napa Valley, Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection opened its doors in April 2022 on a historic 712-acre wine country ranch, offering tailored wellness programs at its serene Halehouse spa alongside foraging, fishing, falconry, and craft workshops to guests staying in its farmhouse-inspired cottages by Clausen Collaborative Interior Design. Now, those who truly love their experience there can own a piece of it—Stanly Ranch recently launched sales for a series of luxe on-site homes, designed by Bob White of Forest Studio and EBTA with interiors by Edmonds + Lee Architects, and villas designed by JZMK Partners with interiors by CCID. Ranging from two to six bedrooms with features like working stone fireplaces, outdoor showers, and incredible vineyard views, they have the same indoor-outdoor feel as their hotel counterparts and access to the amenities.
Finding these retreats on a map can feel like a discovery in itself—one that will almost certainly require a car. And the proprietors of these wellness farms are banking on this sense of remoteness. “I believe people have rediscovered the beauty of the American countryside during the pandemic and have now realized you don’t have to jump on a plane to travel somewhere really special,” says Dawn Ranch’s Jariwala. If you’re a luxury traveler with a set of wheels, touching grass can be easier than you think.
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