BATTLE CREEK, MICH.—Deep Lake, a wellness resort planned here, will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The Battle Creek township has approved the Planned Unit Development for the resort which is situated on 300 rolling and wooded acres with five lakes. The plan includes multiple conference rooms, wellness center, spa, dining room, and 122 guestrooms. The Village at Deep Lake, a community of 137 homes, will surround the resort.
Guests, villagers and area residents will have the convenience of a wellness facility lead by a physician trained in a holistic medicine. There will be massage therapists and offerings such as acupuncture, Reiki and therapeutic spa services. This combination of spa and wellness harkens back to old Eastern Europe when people went to spas for health reasons and doctors prescribed services accordingly. While some will visit solely for relaxation, others will enjoy multi-day programs on de-stressing, weight loss or diabetes management.
The experience will be healthy in every way, from the no-VOC paint on the walls to cleaner air in the buildings. And it doesn’t end when they leave.
More Than a Resort Experience
“We want guests to make lifestyle changes while they are here, but not forget about them when they go home,” said Russ Valvo, Deep Lake founder. “We’ll offer additional online courses and materials, telephone follow-up or coaching, plus a network of practitioners back in their hometowns.”
Founders Russ Valvo and Meg LaRou are creating a natural environment to foster learning. According to the Travel Industry Assn., one-fifth of U.S. travelers took an educational trip last year. An easy trip for Detroit and Chicago visitors, the destination resort will take advantage of this growing trend in a unique way.
The clustered development will preserve 80 percent open space for outdoor recreation. Alternative storm water, sanitary systems, and permeable paving will be the norm. The homes will have lower energy costs and higher resale values according to the 2006 McGraw-Hill Smart Market Report. Village homes tucked into the woods will offer country living, but also be just a 15-minute drive to Downtown Battle Creek. While health spas, environmental learning centers and green homes have been done before, it’s the combination of the three that makes Deep Lake pioneering.
“What we are trying to demonstrate is that our own health and the health of our water, trees, plants and animals are all interconnected,” said founder Meg LaRou. “We’re trying to help people connect the dots, become healthier and live more fulfilling lives.”
Go to Deep Lake.
