Living Waters Spa: Celebrating Three Years of "More than a Vacation"

Desert Hot Springs, CA, November 10, 2006 --(PR.com)-- Living Waters Spa opened their doors 3 years ago November 10th. What started as a dream for owners Jeff and Judy Bowman has now turned into a #1 rated (TripAdvisor.com) boutique spa hotel attracting people from all over the country and Europe. “The American dream is still alive and well” says Jeff Bowman. “We wanted to create a spa that would offer people a chance to get away from their daily life, reconnect with their partner, and experience a bit of Europe right here in the USA.”

Acquiring a vintage 1960s “spa-tel” originally named the “Kismet Lodge” (named after the famous musical), the Bowmans set out to create something totally unique. Located in Desert Hot Springs California, Living Waters Spa is situated above a hot mineral water aquifer that provides the hotel with pure, odorless mineral water, that is pumped from the hotels own mineral spring well. When they acquired the hotel it was tired and rundown and actually used as low rent apartments. “We hauled out over 30 cubic yards of junk just to get at the core of the building” according to Bowman. “Then once we started renovating we realized that the mid-century modern building was well built and perfectly designed for what we were going to do. It even had the 1960s quality imprimatur ‘live better electrically – medallion homes’ as part of the signage.” Renovation included reviving the hot water well, new pools, new pool decking, all new carpet and furniture, and even a complete overhaul of the old neon sign that proudly lights up “Kismet Lodge” and “Living Waters Spa” underneath.

Their spa has become a favorite having achieved a 70% repeat rate out of the almost 3,000 customers in the 3 short years of business. Judy says: “What really sets us apart from other hotels/spas is our customer care, hot mineral water, massages, and the fact that we are a ‘European-style’ clothing optional spa. You don’t have to be a nudist to try skinny-dipping at Living Waters Spa. People from all walks of life are discovering what Europeans have known for centuries that nude is not lewd. We’ve had guests in their 20s to 80s enjoy our amazing hot mineral water naked or au naturel.” Judy herself is a breast cancer survivor and often shares with guests her experience with surgery, chemo therapy, and because of the clothing optional context they can see her breast reconstruction.

When Living Waters Spa opened in 2003 the dream was to create just the hotel. But as opportunity came along, the Bowmans acquired condos directly across from the spa. These were renovated and they now have in addition to their 9 rooms, 6 two bedroom condos which are being used for “snow-bird” type long term vacationers. “We finished renovating the condos in January and already they are in demand for the upcoming winter months” says, Jeff. “People love to come to the Palm Springs area to escape the cold, ice and snow of winter elsewhere.” When asked if they had any other plans all they both smiled and nodded. Stay tuned…

So, if anyone questions whether or not the American dream is still possible, just ask Jeff and Judy Bowman and they’ll tell you if you work hard, and provide your customers a “lexus” customer experience -- then it is!

For more information see the spa website at: http://www.LivingWatersSpa.com and the condo website: http://www.SpaCondos.com .

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