Our journey to create the healing wilderness wellness spa experience at Cabot Shores began with a series of adventures seeking out wild hot springs.
From hidden thermal pools along creeks north of San Francisco to secluded springs near the Rio Grande River in Colorado and Taos, New Mexico to Oregon and British Columbia, these adventures shaped our vision long before we explored Cape Breton Island.
“Cape Breton Only Lacks Hot Springs“
Each discovery of wild hot springs reinforced what made these moments magical – the combination of healing waters and wilderness, all under vast, star-filled skies. You’d sit in a quiet, hot pool and enjoy the silence, feel very far from the day to day and your tension melts away.
Is there anything that can replace hot springs…. and then a dip in a cool creek? Then back in the hot spring!? We weren’t sure but knew at the ouside that, as Dr. Paul says, “Cape Breton only lacks hot springs.”
The New Year’s Levee and Polar Bear Swim
So we knew Cape Breton had cool creeks… not to mention at Cabot Shores, Indian Brook feeds into Church Pond and the Atlantic–all good spots for swimming and Polar Bear Swims.
The New Year’s Levee was an open invitation for neighbours to stop by and share food, drink, conversation and a Kitchen Party for music. One year our daughter, Ruby, suggested a Polar Bear Swim on New Year’s Day, just before the spread of food for the Levee.
A bunch of neighbours showed up all set for the Plunge at 1pm and Ruby led us into the chilly water of Church Pond. The next year Ruby was travelling on New Years Day, but folks from Indian Brook, Jersey Cove and Baddeck called Dr. Paul to confirm the time of the now “annual polar bear swim”. Dr. Paul hesitated in the absence of his fearless daughter, but he didn’t have the heart to cancel. So the Levee and the Polar Bear Swim continued with guests, neighbors, and loyal dogs for the next 9 years.
A growing group of people became interested in “enjoying ” cold water (if enjoying is the right word) so…
The Polar Bear Swim Becomes Part of Retreats
Last February, a group from Destination Cape Breton literally helped break the ice and entered Church Pond for a Polar Bear Swim. Call it “cold plunge” if you like.
A group of influencers were creating a campaign for Cape Breton Winter Adventures and using Cabot Shores as a home base.
A Crowded Hot Tub to a Wilderness Wellness Spa
Yes, there were 5 of us in that Little Orange Yurt Hot Tub and then we went off to the Barrel Sauna.
Cabot Shores has had hot tubs for years, beginning with wood-fired cedar tubs. But would hot tubs now appear on the decks of the Chalets, Yurts, Domes and the Tiny House? For sure!
But what about taking this to the next level – creating a Wilderness Spa?
How to Re-create the Magic of the Wild in a Wellness Spa
The first step in recreating that wild hot springs magic was installing our first Japanese cedar ofuro hot tub, infrared sauna, and later the barrel sauna.
Happy guests enjoying an evening soak in the Japanese ofuro hot tub.
The transformation was immediate – after those polar bear dips, instead of rushing home to warm up, our guests could now ease into a hot tub, experiencing that incredible contrast between cold and heat that energizes body and soul.
There are many benefits of hot tubs.
In 2019, we expanded our vision by adding a larger cedar hot tub and a barrel sauna.
These additions were strategically placed to maximize the connection with nature – just as those mountain hot springs had been. Our guests could now soak while gazing at the forest, pond, beach, and ocean, feeling the therapeutic effects after a full day of skiing, snowshoeing or hiking,
Interested in the Wellness Spa?
Now you know how some of it came about. The Wellness Spa is not only for guests lodging at Cabot Shores but also is available for a half-day or full day Wellness Spa Pass.
Give us a call (902-929-2584) or book your Wellness Spa package online.