Atmore, Alabama, is now one of my favorite weekend travel destinations. I really never thought I’d be saying that, but it’s true. I recently had the
Escape
pleasure of spending a weekend at the newly opened Escape Health Retreat at the Wind Creek Casino and Resort, and I must say, it was incredible. Escape promotes wellness from a variety of angles by combining experiences for the mind, body and spirit. Healthy and delicious culinary experiences, luxurious spa treatments, meditation and fitness classes work together to help guests escape the stress of the day to day through rejuvenation and reconnection. The newest offering from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama, Escape is the only health retreat of its kind located in the southeastern United States. Escape features a state-of-the-art facility with a world-class spa, fitness center, culinary studio, discovery programs, adventure experiences and Level 15—a hotel in a hotel.
As part of the Escape concept, Wind Creek has created Level 15, a unique, boutique-styled “hotel within a hotel” located on the 15th story of the AAA Four Diamond Wind Creek Hotel. This unique hotel features curbside check-in, a dedicated staff and welcoming amenities specifically for Escape at Wind Creek guests. The rooms are gorgeously appointed with a nature-inspired theme that includes super plush bedding, hand-carved palm wood accessories, bamboo flooring and Gilchrist & Soames bath amenities. One of my favorite features of both Level 15 and the spa are the honey walls. Jars of honey are inserted in wooden panels and backlit to highlight the varieties of amber hues. It’s a great idea and a very lovely design. Hands down, my favorite part of the Escape experience was the spa, of course. The decor is very relaxing with slate walls, tranquil sitting areas and peaceful lighting. The spa boasts 15,000-square feet of
By Kelly Oden
indulgence. Although there are separate wings for men and women, the spa also has a couple’s treatment room and a coed lounge for relaxing between services. The ladies’ and men’s spas include relaxation lounges, whirlpools, steam rooms, saunas, ice baths and a current pool. There are also eight treatment rooms for a variety of luxurious spa experiences—everything from facials and massages to body wraps, waxing, manicures, pedicures and more. I had a signature massage, which began with a visit to the Aromafloria’s mixology blending bar where I was able to create a custom blended oil for my massage. My massage therapist used just the right amount of pressure and was very professional throughout the experience. After the massage, I was able to spend the afternoon relaxing in the hot tub, steam room and sauna. It was really a terrific day of rest and rejuvenation.
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Photos courtesy of Wind Creek
Left: Whirlpool spa. Right: Level 15 Room with King-Size Bed
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Spa Coed Room
Resistance Pool and Lake
Spa Welcome Area
Pedi-Spa
Sauna and Whirlpool
For those who enjoy a little movement, The Work Out Center & Fitness Studio is a 2,400-square-foot facility overlooking the infinity pool. The center offers both a gym and studio classes. The gym features LifeFitness equipment including elliptical cross trainers, recumbent bikes, upright exercise bikes, stair climbers, treadmills, multi-use weight training stations, free weights, exercise balls and stretching mats. A variety of studio classes, such as yoga, pilates, tai chi, zumba and meditation, are offered for all fitness levels. I enjoyed a terrific yoga class while visiting. The instructor was great, and the studio’s full-length windows gave a serene view of the sky and grounds. One of the best things about Escape, to me, is that it combines luxurious physical experiences with decadent yet healthy food experiences. The culinary studio, under the guidance of specialty chef Jay Norris, provides a multitude of cooking experiences including demos, hands on classes and a chef’s table experience. The impressive studio features a Wolf Sub-Zero-equipped, hands-on kitchen with six chef-friendly cooking stations, accommodating up to 12 culinary enthusiasts per session. Renowned chefs are available to instruct guests in preparing fabulous gourmet meals using the finest culinary tools, all culminating in dinner at the Chef’s Table. The fully stocked demonstration kitchen houses culinary experts that offer interactive classes for up to 42 participants.
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Culinary Studio
Discovery Programs and Adventure Experiences Escape also offers guests the opportunity for outdoor adventures and experiences such as golf, tennis, deep-sea fishing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, Alabama beach excursions and garden tours. These discovery programs allow guests to take a little time to reconnect with the natural world and enjoy a few hours of leisure or recreation. Retreats and Special Events Escape hosts a number of retreats throughout the year. Designed to give guests a well-defined, structured period of time to learn a better way to live. Escape retreats offer a chance to learn, laugh, explore, be challenged and create new and exciting changes in one’s endeavor to live a healthy and fun lifestyle. Typically five days in duration, retreats are highly structured, and they include three healthy gourmet meals daily, a fresh start beverage (juice or smoothie) each morning, spa treatments, unlimited use of spa amenities, access to personal trainers, fitness classes, discovery workshops and Level 15 hotel accommodations. Retreats focus on specific areas of interest such as Yoga, Pilates, Natural Foods, Culinary Arts, Detox and DE stress, Weight Loss and Personal Rejuvenation. Escape is also a premier wedding destination. The romantic gardens and elegant decor create an ideal venue for small, intimate weddings, receptions, engagement parties, bridal showers and rehearsal dinners. Wedding and Bridal spa packages are available as are corporate and group packages. So the next time you feel like you need a little time to decompress, grab a couple of friends and take the quick 50-minute drive to Atmore, Alabama. Go for a day, a weekend or a week. Just go. Take a little time to unwind, indulge and learn. Your body will thank you!
Fitness Room
For more information, visit www.escapeatwindcreek.com.
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Yoga Class