The spa’s main entry immediately sets the tone for the experience, by blending natural elements, a feeling of openness, with its dark colored woods, subtle colored bamboo and rattan, exquisite Oriental rugs, plush furnishings, antiques, and plenty of live plants and flowers.

Mentioning either Kohler, or The American Club always generates varied responses. To the golf fanatic, both are synonymous with PGA top rated golf courses Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits (home of the 2004 PGA Championship). To those craving superior bathroom accoutrément, the name Kohler embodies technology, water, trend and luxury. And, to those in search of a memorable vacation or meeting experience, The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin is the preferred luxury destination in the Midwest. And, for an unprecedented nineteen consecutive years, The American Club has been awarded the coveted AAA Five Diamond luxury resort hotel rating.

With Kohler and The American Club artfully combining luxury and “form with function”, it’s no surprise that they would handily add another jewel to the Midwest’s destination crown, by creating an impressive world-class spa, Kohler Waters Spa. Opening in December 2000, and at nearly 16k sf, the stunning spa has already garnered the Condé-Nast Traveler “Top 40 Spas in North America and the Caribbean” (April 2002, 2003). This is quite an accomplishment considering it's a relative newcomer. The name Kohler Waters Spa is also becoming another “identifier” of luxury and trend. The spa, located in the historical Carriage House, occupies two floors in what used to be the medical/pharmacy building for the original Kohler factory workers (the main hotel was their living quarters). Although the history of Kohler is fascinating, for the spa to have been built in the place where people sought medical help, is not only coincidental, it is ironic as well; historically, spas have always been places were people sought healing. One has to wonder if the spa’s guests are even aware of this coincidence and irony.

With that said, and despite the main hotel’s understated elegance, “familial” luxury and intimacy, the spa devotees prefer staying at the Carriage House (a short walk from the main hotel), because of its overall intimate setting being conducive to a “getting away from it all feeling”, and because the spa is “right there”; additional pleasures guests enjoy include such amenities as daily breakfast, a lovely high tea, and spa admission (main hotel guests pay the spa fee, waived after booking two spa services).

The spa’s main entry immediately sets the tone for the experience, by blending natural elements, a feeling of openness, with its dark colored woods, subtle colored bamboo and rattan, exquisite Oriental rugs, plush furnishings, antiques, and plenty of live plants and flowers.

The diffused ambient and natural lighting further tempers the sensory experience. The combined experience is one of an elegant home, balanced with the order of nature.
The building’s main floor includes the spa’s reception area, retail boutique, two beautiful relaxation areas (one complete with fireplace, and another, where delicious spa lunches and specialty beverages are served), an intimate fitness center, and a “finishing” area for nail and hair services. The retail boutique carries a large variety of items for the “at-home spa experience”, including treatment products like Phytomer and its signature Hollyhock line (Kohler Village’s distinguished flower). Highly recommended is their spa’s exquisitely designed porcelain bowl; shaped in the form of the signature Hollyhock flower; the bowl is a work of art, and contains inscriptions that remind one to relax, breathe, let go, and balance.

The lower level, the spa’s main area, includes a reception area, separate relaxation areas for women and men (complete with lockers, showers, steam, sauna, whirlpool, and plunge pool), and thirteen treatment rooms. With over fifty traditional and non-traditional treatments on the spa menu, the only dilemma a guest might have to contend with, is which ones to chose; besides, with over sixty staff, no guest has to fret about their needs not being taken care of.

© SPA MANAGEMENT JOURNAL - APRIL 2004

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