In a town known for its alpine grit—where hiking boots outnumber heels and locals swap summit stories over stouts—The Western Hotel offers a softer landing. Built in 1891 and meticulously restored, this boutique hotel marries frontier charm with modern luxury, featuring sixteen thoughtfully designed and well-appointed suites, a wood-fired restaurant that whispers tales of the Wild West, and a chef’s counter where rough edges meet refined details. Step through the spa’s weathered 1916 door, once used by bootleggers during Prohibition, and you’ll enter a hidden oasis that feels part European wellness retreat, part Western time capsule.
But here’s the catch: Not just anyone can visit. “The spa is only for hotel guests,” explains Susanne Wood, general manager and partner at The Western. “This makes it very private and intimate. It’s the secret sauce to the entire experience.”
This moody, mineral-toned hideaway invites hotel guests to cycle through a classic Scandinavian hydrotherapy circuit: a 104-degree soaking tub laced with Epsom salt, a brisk 37-degree cold plunge—a shock to the system that sharpens the senses—and a dry cedar sauna with coals and buckets for creating steam. There’s also a serene lounge stocked with herbal teas and plush robes.
While the circuit itself is worth the trip, guests can elevate their visit with a menu of massages and facials that lean into botanical-rich ingredients and serene techniques. Masseuses use Los Poblanos lavender oil and salves, ranging from Swedish to deep tissue, with luxe add-ons like hot stones or CBD. For an ultra-pampered plunge, book a couples treatment in the candlelit spa rooms. Facials, launching this year with the Laurel line, include the Sun Goddess Repair Facial—designed to correct hyperpigmentation for sunkissed skin—and the Plant-Assisted Detox, which draws from the elemental: chamomile, passionflower, turmeric, lavender, and herbal infusions designed to restore and revive.
The Grotto is exclusive to hotel guests, making it feel like a well-kept secret—one guests use multiple times a day, according to Wood. No crowds, no day passes—just a low-key, high-luxury escape you’ll have nearly to yourself.
After a day of summiting peaks or soaking in alpine sun, this quiet, subterranean sanctuary is where the real adventure begins—within.
