Wellness Communities a Growing Trend

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By John Voket

RISMEDIA, Jan. 11, 2007-Centuries ago, thousands of Cahuilla Indians would come to the Carrizo badlands in the area that is now Cochella, California to winter on this pristine plateau 1,000 feet above the Anza-Borrego Desert. Today, the natural beauty and resources of clean air, abundant supplies of sparkling water and fertile soil continue to attract individuals and families seeking the type of healthy alternatives offered by the Montesoro residential community.

Montesoro is a 3,140-acre private residential community with a boutique hotel and destination spa, surrounded by more than 600,000 acres of protected state park land.

Montesoro is one property in a rapidly growing field of wellness communities simultaneously targeting several demographics including retirees, younger professionals and families, as well as individuals who are looking for an environment where their personal commitment to better health is supported by either the community where they reside, or a resort/conference destination.

According to Managing Director Divid Itzikman, Montesoro's coveted location offers spectacular views of the Borrego Valley and surrounding Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains. Construction of the community recently commenced, and will include 800 homes, a signature Tom Fazio golf course, a boutique hotel and a spa.

Itzikman describes himself as, "an individual who has been on a quest of healing for more than a decade, who has discovered a place and a way of reconnecting with life, family, nature – the basics."

"I envisioned this project in a setting like this, close enough to the major SoCal cities, (30-minutes by air from LA) but feeling like it is a million miles away," he said during a recent interview from the Montesoro development office. "This is designed to be a second home community with 15-20 percent full-time residents."

Philip Kendall is the GM at Calistoga Ranch, a similar wellness community that is already well-established in northern California. Calistoga is a mixed property development with a hotel and residences supporting an ambitious wellness component, providing a variety of health treatments and activities available to guests and residents.

Kendall said Auberge Resorts, the company that operates Calistoga, and Mark Harmon, whose family is a primary investor in the development, not only take special care in providing healthy alternatives for its many visitors and residents, but also works to enhance and protect the 9,000 acres of pristine Napa Valley surrounding the 157-acre resort.

"We go as far as actually using a predatory mite to protect our Poplar Trees versus applying pesticides and fertilizers," he said. "This is just one example of how we are looking at all corners of our facility to make organically sound decisions about everything we do, from the trees above us to the cleaning products our housekeeping staff is using on our floors."

Philip said Calistoga's 46 guest suites are designed to provide the utmost back-to-nature experience, which collaterally benefit one's mindset and well-being.

"Your guest bedroom is separated from your living room by a 400 square-foot deck with a pine, fir or oak growing through it or extending over it, a supplemental outdoor shower as well as indoor/outdoor fire place on each deck," he said. Accommodations for those in more than two dozen Calistoga residences are even more environmentally integrated.

Auberge Resorts is currently eyeing the expansion of wellness communities and its spa model to new locations including St. Kitts, Santa Fe and Aspen.

At The Cliffs Communities on the edge of South Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, Director of Wellness Sam Varner describes his company as a pioneer in the wellness in real estate trend. The latest development, The Keowee Lodge and Spa, will offer wellness amenities including personal health advisors, memberships with Pinnacle Care, a six-acre organic farm producing vegetables for use in our clubhouses and for property owners, and highly personalized wellness programs.

"It will be America's greatest family wellness destination," he said. "Renowned golf champion Gary Player has designed courses at eight of our facilities, and remains an integral partner because he is impressed with our commitment to wellness and our overall concept at existing properties including The Cliffs at Mountain Park in Travelers Rest South Carolina just south of Asheville."

At The Cliffs wellness communities, every resident is assigned a Pinnacle advocate and a health and wellness coach working to embrace wellness in every facet of their lifestyle, along with activities ranging from kayaking, hiking, and walking trails to a meditation center.

Carlo Taddei is a homeowner at The Cliffs Communities and a self-proclaimed wellness fanatic who rides 25 miles a day on his bike.

"I grew up in New York City area, so a lot of fitness activities are new to me since I've moved here," he said. "I used to run a lot and I'm back into it. In fact, I just ran the Chicago Marathon."

Having served in the Marine Corps in the early days of the Vietnam conflict, Taddei always had a foundation of fitness, and The Cliffs provide him with on-site trainers who he said are especially good.

"My mentor here has done a lot to help me set up programs and has kept me going sine I moved here about three-and-a-half years ago. Some of the activities suggested were kind of daunting, but the introductory courses are a great way to discover how easy and beneficial," Carlo said.

"I lost about 85 pounds since I moved here, got off my blood pressure medicine, and avoided going on diabetes medication," he said. "I was in a pre-diabetic situation, but now I'm losing the weight, exercising, and adjusting my food intake to an increased raw food diet considering my needs and wants, – I still like my steak once in awhile."

When Taddei and his wife arrived for a visit to The Cliffs, he said the experience was serendipitous.

"We were looking for a retirement community and passed by the Cliffs during a visit to family down here. It blew us both away, even though the community was still in the planning stages" Carlo said. "All the components, clubhouse, the wellness center and other services have been built since. I usually don't make snap decisions, but we put a deposit down the day we saw the place."

For more information about Montesoro visit www.montesoro.com or call 866-503-7418; for more information about The Cliffs Communities visit www.cliffscommunities.com or call 866-246-5154. For more information about Calistoga Ranch visit www.calistogaranch.com or call 800-411-1003.

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