Elora Hotel and Spa: An Otherworldly Wellness Escape in the Heart of Ontario
by Lynn Burshtein
When A.J. Casson, and other members of Canada’s famous artist collective, the Group of Seven, took residence In Elora, Ontario in the late 1920s to paint a series of landscape works, he was enchanted by the limestone buildings and cragged features of the lands wrought by natural elements over millions of years. The combination of 18th century architecture first built by Scottish settlers, the cobble roads more suitable to a European hamlet than rural Canada, the rugged cliffs of the Elora Gorge that soar 22 metres high, and the mist rising from the Grand River inspired Casson to describe ethereal Elora as “Ontario’s most beautiful village.”
Since that time, this majestic region, located a two-hour drive from Toronto, has drawn thousands of visitors who bask in the otherworldly beauty of the environment. Beyond the beautiful scenery and architecture, there are also some notable places to visit in town, including the Elora Centre for the Arts, which offers art programs for persons all ages and community outreach.
From a wellness perspective, the crown jewel of the region must certainly be the Elora Mill Hotel and Spa, a cliffside property with panoramic views of the gorge, and that offers curated restorative activities and a full-service spa. Housed in an old mill dating back to the 1800s, the limestone property is beautifully restored, yet the exterior of the ancient building belies the modern amenities inside.
The spa occupies three floors – the first is dedicated to fitness activities, the second to rest and relaxation and light meals at the Spa Café, and the third floor houses the treatment rooms plus offers access to a eucalyptus steam room, cedar sauna, hot tub and the rooftop pool –all together known as the Wellness Water Circuit. Treatments include luxury facials, such as the Bespoke Couture Ritual and the Oxygen Infusion Therapy, calm-inducing massages including the Tranquil Salt Stone Massage, and body treatments such as the Zen Body Ritual, which incorporates shea butter, Vitamin E and jojoba oil – all designed to help the body and mind slow down and drink in the elements.
Accommodations at the Elora Mill are upscale and the dining is high-end and includes options for vegetarian and vegans on request. More recently, the selection of Elora’s guest suites and dining options was expanded with the long-awaited opening of the Walser Collection and its nine new guest rooms.
A stone structure dating back to 1861, the Welser Buidling was first used as a manufacturing plant that went on to suffer through a fire and further ruin, finally receiving a major restoration at the hands of Ontario-based Pearle Hospitality. At the very top of the new property is the Walser Suite, a large space that offers expansive views of the gorge, an outdoor terrace and a private dining area. Each of the nine suites will have access to an exclusive rooftop hot tub. On the main level of the Walser there is the Bardo, the latest in a series of Bardo restaurants operated by Pearle throughout Ontario.
It would be easy to get caught up in the luxuriousness of the property (and there would be nothing wrong with that), but to ensure there is a variety of options for the wellness enthusiast, the Elora’s curated workshops aimed at encouraging balance, resilience and enriching life experiences and Kundalini yoga classes are also available. And of course, a good chunk of time must be set aside to hike, canoe, cycle around, or otherwise explore the outdoor trails around the Grand River that is the centrepiece of this magical destination.
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Lynn Burshtein is an Ontario-based writer and long-time contributor to Travel to Wellness.
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