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My Vision for the
Floating Stone & Aqua Spa
Tubac blew me away when I first laid eyes on it. The Santa Cruz Valley rests between two stunning mountain ranges, with the Santa Rita Mountains most prominent on the eastern side of the valley. There's a good
reason people say that Tubac is going to become the next Sedona or Santa
Fe. The variety of artists' shops and restaurants, the beauty of the golf
resort, the cottonwoods along the Santa Cruz River, and the Anza Trail all make
a visit to this area a vacationer's delight. And it's only 45 minutes from
Tucson International Airport.
I was looking for property to purchase in 2007 when I flew from
Northern California to Tucson to visit a good friend who was also looking for
real estate. We were driven around Tubac when I saw the "for sale" sign on the
Poston Block, a one-acre parcel that included the home of Charles Poston, the
founding father of Arizona--an all-adobe building dating from the 1850s with a
beautiful Spanish courtyard and fountain.
I could not believe that I could purchase a one-of-a-kind,
historically important, building that dated back to the beginning of this great
state. Poston's vision, like mine, was to take advantage of Arizona's natural
resources. Times have changed in the last 150 years, and the resources I care
most about aren't the silver he wanted, but instead the infinite beauty of the
natural scenery: clear skies, a climate that's both dry and warm, and wide-open vistas.
I'll never forget opening the courtyard gate. There was nothing
built on the land adjacent to the house--just a large wooden cross with
Christmas lights, half of a laundry line that neighbors had decorated, and
scraggly weeds. I was reminded of a business opportunity that encompassed the
renovation of a hot springs. It occurred to me how hot-spring pools surrounded
by this gardenlike landscape would draw people to this vortex. My vision was of
an historic property with gardens and relaxing hot-water pools facing
the beautiful Santa Rita Mountains.
Born and raised in southern California, with a pool in the
backyard and an older brother who took me to the beach, I have always loved
being by water. Putting water in a desert environment seemed like creating a
bit of heaven on Earth--an oasis for the body and soul. And to do this in a
sustainable manner--that was to be my real challenge. The sustainable part led
me to the vision and mission of an educational theme throughout the Floating
Stone's Aqua Spa experience. Every guest would come away nurtured by the
environment and hot pools and would learn how to bring home the experience of
chlorine-free water, the art of eco-living, and personal well-being to a higher
level. That was my vision.
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Coming Soon
Opening in the fall of this year, the Floating Stone will offer both day and overnight guests a full range of spa services, including massage, body treatments, and facials. All guests will have unlimited access to our lap, Watsu, and hot-therapy pools. The pools, which will have a Zen-like feel and will be chemical/chlorine free. To achieve this, we will be among the first spas in the country using a copper ionization filtration system, which has long been popular in Australia and Europe.
We will offer two- and five-day programs, including The Art of Eco-Living, Green Your Business, and Creating a Green Team. In addition, we will be offering our in-depth Wisdom Series, featuring Wisdom of the Body, Wisdom of the Heart, Wisdom of Relationship, and Wisdom of Community. The Wisdom workshops foster a deeper connection with our inner source as the guide for action in the ever-widening circles in our lives. There will also be a wide array of workshops offered by experts on sustainability and wellness-related topics. |
