The Viceroy Spa at Snowmass

Modern and whimsical, this brand new spa is changing the mood and the scene in Snowmass.

By Melissa B. Williams

The latest Viceroy property, The Viceroy Snowmass, is the fifth hotel in the Viceroy Collection, which includes properties in Miami, Anguilla, and Santa Monica. And as a Viceroy property, attention to detail prevails throughout. No two Viceroy spas are alike; each is created with the setting in mind, yet incorporates a modern aesthetic frequently overlooked in luxury hotels.

As you walk down the candlelit corridor to the spa, you’ll immediately notice the use of natural materials. Long walnut planks lining the walls and ceiling create a tunnel that draws you into the spa space, which feels intimate and warm. Upon entering the locker room, you’ll notice the prevalence of water throughout. A gorgeous waterfall feature cascades over a wall of glass tile, and gently flows into the hot plunge pool. Nearby, you’ll find the only shower in the locker room, featuring a rain showerhead that truly feels like you’re being drizzled by rain clouds. (Be forewarned, however, set the temperature before climbing in or you’ll be drizzled with water that feels like ice.) After taking the water route through the spa, you’ll enter the meditation room, which is unlike any other relaxation room I’ve ever seen. Intimate, like the spa, the room is dark and cozy. Along two edges of the room are large velvet curtains, behind which you’ll find the treatment rooms. Along one of the other edges of the room is an enter wall of rough-hewn granite from which water cascades to the floor. Moving steadily, the water flow almost puts you into a trance as you wait in your chaise lounge for your treatment to begin. The chaise lounges all surround a polished black granite infinity fountain, above which hangs an “Aspen-esque” motif: a fourteen-foot elkhorn shaped chandelier that provides a very modern take on what could be an otherwise rustic element.

Each treatment begins in the relaxation room with a ritual footbath. Your therapist will greet you as you’re lounging, and then sit by your feet where she’ll pour warm water over your feet into a beautiful metal bowl. She’ll also offer you a decadent piece of chocolate as well as cranberry juice, to help ensure you’re relaxed and hydrated; Snowmass, afterall, is situated just over 8,000 feet above sea level.

When choosing your treatment, the Viceroy Snowmass offers unique rituals inspired by the Nordic, Ute Indians, and Asian cultures. The Ute Sundance Ritual, for instance, is a two-hour event that starts with a hot salt soak, which is followed by a Shea butter body wrap, a hot oil scalp treatment, a full-body massage, and a hand and foot treatment. Named after the Sundance Ceremony or “tag-wuni”, this Ute tradition helps to rejuvenate the spirit.

I started my 4-hour spa experience, however, with the Scalp Ritual a thirty-minute experience that helps infuse the scalp and hair with moisture while relaxing tense neck muscles. My therapist Nina Dropcho, like the other therapists I would meet, proved to be incredibly talented as well as a wealth of information. I left my treatment with a greater understanding of how reflexology works, and how it can truly improve one’s health.

After my treatment, I joined esthetician Larina Summers for the Viceroy’s most renowned skin treatment: the O2 Infusion. The treatment started with a thorough cleansing of my face and neck, after which, Larina applied hyperbaric oxygen via a smooth wand to my skin. Cool to the touch, I could almost feel my parched skin soaking up the oxygen. She then applied a serum with the oxygen wand, which was even cooler – almost the same feeling you get when you step outside on a cold, blizzardy day (without the snow of course). Leaving the treatment, I had to go look in the mirror because I felt my skin must be aglow, and true to the sensation, my skin looked more supple and less tired. The facial was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had, and produced visible results. The spa recommends a series of six facials to achieve longer lasting effects. If it wasn’t a four-hour drive, I’d sign up.

I ended my treatments in the hands of Donna Marie Parker for the Varada Blooming Flower Hand Ritual and the Amala Blooming Flower Foot Ritual. Indian in origin, these treatments take the traditional mani and pedi and add lemongrass and sea salt soaks, warm masques, and steaming ginger compresses to help ease any tension in the forearms and calves. Considering that both treatments are only about $25 more than their traditional counterparts, I’d recommend both to anyone visiting the spa. Your skin will look refreshed, your muscles will be relaxed, and you’ll have a fresh coat of polish.

Viceroy Spa at Snowmass

Viceroy Hotels pride themselves on their design sense. At the Viceroy Snowmass they take the traditional Alpine element and infuse a whimsical, playful, and modern edge. I was taken aback – not only by the feel and the energy of the spa, but by the therapies themselves. I didn’t experience a single treatment that wasn’t truly therapeutic. Each was designed to help cure modern day ailments as well as those brought on by such high altitude. The designers intended the spa to play on the Ute Indians powerful beliefs in the four elements – earth, wind, water, and fire. After experiencing the spa, I felt as if I had somehow touched each, and in the process, detoxified and renewed my spirit.