Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is an oasis nestled near the Topatopa Bluffs, over 6,000 feet above sea level, at the eastern end of the stunning Ojai Valley. Considered to be a sacred place by the Chumash Indians who ascribed healing powers to the mystical valley, it was referred to as “The Nest,” due to the many medicinal herbs that grow and thrive in the area.
Today the Spa has created a perfect balance between ancient traditions and modern approaches to health, wellness and rejuvenation. Whitewashed Spanish Mission-style buildings pop against a lush expanse of manicured grounds with a dazzling landscape. Two hundred twenty tree-shaded acres also contain a jewel of a golf course framing breathtaking mountain vistas. The setting creates a cool, calm refuge, especially during the summer months when temperatures here can reach the roasting triple digits. The historic sanctuary of well-being is a green enclave full of eye-catching colors thanks to blooming flower gardens, bougainvillea tumbling from terraces and fragrant herbs everywhere.
Spa Ojai Village, located on the resort grounds, offers personalized treatments, a Mind and Body Studio, Artist Cottage & Apothecary and the health-conscious Café Verde. Along with the luxurious treatments offered at the Spa are a whole range of services, classes and private instruction on wellness carried out by practitioners in the fields of physical therapy, fitness training and personal coaching who use innovative ways to address specific wellness issues.
We especially loved the Artist Cottage & Apothecary, adjacent to Spa Ojai, where local artisans demonstrate how to create personalized blends using essential oils and locally grown herbs to make lotions, potions and a variety of other things inspired by whatever is in season. When we visited lavender was at its fragrant peak, the lovely aroma wafting throughout and circulating around the grounds practically turning an afternoon stroll into an aromatherapy session.
For cozy evenings there’s the SpaVillage courtyard’s outdoor fireplace with a splashing Moroccan fountain and a 50 foot bell tower presiding serenely over it all, drawing your attention upward toward all that open sky. Right after sunset you might be lucky enough to see what’s known as “the pink moment,” when an exquisite rosy hue hovers over the valley, a phenomenon that happens in only a few places on the planet.
At OVIS, a comprehensive approach to keeping fit involves spending a great deal of time outdoors communing with nature, easy to accomplish as the grounds are an extension of OVIS’S great indoors, with many activities to pursue. Four swimming pools, including one saltwater pool, are situated throughout the property along with tennis courts. And golfers will thrill to the resort’s course designed by George C. Thomas, Jr., that’s sculpted naturally from the terrain. The 18 hole championship course, where two of the original holes from the 1923 design were recently re-introduced, has a full service golf academy with top tier pros to give instruction.
The rolling hills can be enjoyed on bicycles which are available for short excursions or on horseback, compliments of the resort’s 800 acre ranch. Many of the hiking trails seem to lead off into the horizon and with advance notice, a guided hike can be arranged. Even geocache adventures are on offer for those interested in some vigorous treasure hunting.
Food is a natural component of the OVIS approach to health and the Spa offers guests a range of options from casual to fine dining that includes Jimmy’s Pub, Oak Grill, Herb Garden Bistro, Swim Club Cafe, Joe ‘n Go and Maravilla. Oak Grill’s Spanish Colonial design, based on Wallace Neff’s signature architectural style, has a centrally located fireplace where guests can gather when an evening chill is in the air. Both lunch and dinner are served and the menu offers signature soups, an assortment of salads, sandwiches, pastas and specialties from the Chef, all using local and regional ingredients. The Grill has a stunning view of the fairway, a great backdrop for sipping one of their signature beverages—refreshing drinks that are good for you like the Pomegranate Spritz, Ojai Sunrise, Peach Fizz with fresh peach puree and Berry Lemonade, juiced up with strawberries and raspberries.
An excellent testament to longevity, OVIS is a sanctuary of solace, a rejuvenating yet restful experience that imbues guests with calmness, vitality and an appreciation of how good it is to be alive.