Spa Getaway at the Inns of Aurora
Whether you’re a Kirsten, a Felicity, a Molly, or a Josefina, this could be the perfect spa getaway for you and your besties.
In 1962, Pleasant Rowland graduated from Wells College in the town of Aurora in upstate New York. Although she spent just four short years there, it was a place that stayed with her forever.
About two decades later, Rowland utilized her education to create one of the most successful toy brands of all time, American Girl. You know, those historically accurate dolls named Kirsten, Abby, Molly, Josefina, Felicity, and more that have consistently topped children’s Christmas wish lists since their debut. In 1998, she sold the American Girl brand for $700 million and swiftly invested in another project she adored: renovating her cherished college town.
“The four years I spent at Wells College, in the tiny village of Aurora, changed me forever,” Rowland told Vogue. “First, of course, in the obvious ways that college changes everyone. But in another, deeper way, my heart was touched by the timeless remove of this place, far from the hustle and bustle.”
While Rowland thrived, Aurora faced challenges. However, in 2001, she partnered with Wells College to establish the Aurora Foundation, aiming to revitalize the town and attract tourism. Since the inception of this initiative, Vogue noted, the foundation has introduced restaurants, a market, revived local businesses, and added five boutique hotels known as the Inns of Aurora. Recently, she expanded this vision by adding a 15,000-square-foot luxury spa.
The Spa at the Inns of Aurora opened in summer 2021 as part of the larger waterfront village campus and is as idyllic as you would anticipate. The spa features breathtaking views of vast meadows and the nearby Cayuga Lake. Moreover, it presents a “farm-inspired” spa menu designed to “promote healing and harmony in your body and mind.”
At the spa, guests can indulge in services aimed at holistic wellness, including two hydrotherapy circuits and therapeutic treatments provided by Rasa Spa, which include massages, energy work, and multi-day retreats.
“Guided by our wellness philosophy, offerings at the Spa are designed to promote long-lasting benefits to mind, spirit, and body,” the spa explains. “These treatments can be enjoyed as single experiences or as part of a broader wellness visit that incorporates a series of overlapping health benefits. Multi-day retreats are an ideal way to enjoy the full benefit of our services: each day features a progression of treatment that amplifies the healing power of the experience, offering a profoundly transformative wellness journey.”
One of the most intriguing massage offerings is the Abhyanga treatment, which utilizes rhythmic movement and warm oil.
“This deeply relaxing massage involves movements that increase blood flow, cleanse your lymphatic system, and nourish your skin with a warm, healing oil, customized to your needs,” the spa notes. “Your session begins with a brief questionnaire to determine which balancing oil will benefit your entire being. The 80-minute version of this session includes focused, deep tissue massage work.”
After indulging in the spa, you can check into one of the five Inns of Aurora, each offering its own unique personality and style—much like the dolls that made this entire getaway possible. Explore all the accommodation, spa, and experience options here.
