in recent years, wellness has extended beyond fitness and nutrition to encompass all aspects of our lives, including our homes. As people seek sanctuary and tranquility in their living spaces, incorporating wellness elements into mountain home design and decor has gained significant popularity. 

According to Park City interior designer Stephanie Hunt, owner of The Flairhunter, one of the most sought-after features in luxury mountain homes is the addition of an in-home spa-type space, complete with a cold plunge tub. Hunt finds that where homeowners previously wanted a gym with a yoga mat and a TV, they now request an in-home spa be part of the setup. She notes, “Home gyms are designed now with so much infrastructure behind the drywall that they can [also] support things like TRX equipment and newer forms of exercise … plus a kitchenette to have refrigeration for beverages, etc.”

As the focus on wellness continues to grow, local developers are taking a unique approach by building wellness-centric communities, such as Velvære and Ameyalli, both of which are set to redefine the concept of healthy living in the picturesque landscapes of Utah. By placing wellness at the forefront, Velvære and Ameyalli present an exciting vision for the future of residential living. 

Velvære

Where Home Meets Health
Velvære by Magleby Development, an upcoming wellness community adjacent to Park City’s Deer Valley Resort (formerly The Mayflower), offers residents a holistic living experience. Spanning 60 acres, this thoughtfully designed community provides direct ski-in/ski-out access for year-round mountain adventures.

Velvære also features an integrative wellness center with state-of-the-art facilities and programs curated to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Residents can access cryotherapy, a hyperbaric chamber/pod, LightStem LED, a flotation pool, nutrition programs for microbiome and biohacking, lymph drainage, IV therapy, and fitness training. Every homeowner will have a membership to Fountain Life, a functional wellness program that begins with a deep scan of your entire body systems, for the first two years.

“Velvære is really about living life to its fullest in the sense of longevity and recovery from activities while also being active to your fullest extent,” says Jason Rickards, president of Magleby Development.

This community offers 115 custom residences with environmentally forward designs, including recycled clay and stone scrap tiles, Thermory wood, locally sourced stone, and naturally dyed fabrics, as well as amenities such as advanced air purification, water filtration, circadian lighting, and more. Additionally, in-residence sanctuary spaces will feature a treatment room, steam shower, cold/hot plunge, and HaloIR Sauna (a salt therapy/infrared sauna chamber), with an option to further customize with sensory upgrades like a reflexology foot path, water features, halotherapy, Ketra lighting, and more.

“This is meant to be a place where we cater to the individual,” says Dayson Johnson, vice president of Magleby Development. “We want to show that you can live longer just by making slight changes in the way we design our homes and communities.”

Ameyalli 

Embracing Well-Being in Midway
Located in nearby Midway, Ameyalli—an Aztec word for “flowing waters”—is a resort-style community that promises to rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit. Inspired by European wellness destinations, managing partner and local developer Charles (Chuck) Heath has envisioned Ameyalli as a sanctuary for residents and visitors alike. “We think wellness is super important; the pandemic really highlighted that. We need this as a society, so getting it done and watching the people come, enjoy, and grow from it is exciting,” says Heath. The community will feature luxurious amenities with a boutique hotel, a 50,000-square-foot well-being center, natural 104-degree hot pots, spa facilities, and fitness centers.

With a focus on holistic healing and relaxation, the resort plans to organize programs and workshops under the guidance of wellness guru Deepak Chopra.