I moved to Kansas City from New York City several years ago. Since then, I’ve been checking out the local spa and resort scene to tap into the wellness community near me. However, I’ve been missing a major gem—The Elms Hotel & Spa in Excelsior Springs, MO. My friend and colleague, Marissa Krems, has spent 11 years at the helm of the spa and has been generously extending an invitation to visit for some time. I finally got the opportunity to take her up on the offer this summer, and I’m kicking myself for not getting there sooner.
My family and I decided to have an Elms adventure before school started, with the kids and my husband enjoying the property while I got the chance to spend some time at the spa. It was an all-around lovely experience. My family had a blast, and I had an extraordinary spa journey. The team, the treatments, the facility, and the thoughtfully curated retail offerings all make the spa a true standout.
The exceptional wellness offerings are unsurprising considering the region’s history as a healing destination. The story of The Elms begins with the discovery of healing mineral waters in Excelsior Springs in the late 1800s, when a local farmer’s daughter recovered from tuberculosis after “taking the waters” in local springs. The area soon became a mecca for visitors looking to treat a number of ailments, leading to the opening of the first Elms Hotel in 1888. The hotel has undergone a variety of incarnations since that time, attracting famous (and infamous) visitors ranging from presidents to athletes to notorious gangsters. Today, The Elms draws visitors from around the region, many of whom flock to its 28,000-square-foot spa.
The spa honors its healing heritage with its iconic Grotto, an underground thermal sanctuary inspired by the region’s mineral-water history. Designed as an intentional hydrotherapy journey, the space invites guests to move gently between warmth, cooling waters, steam, and moments of rest and restoration. I shuttled between the dry sauna, eucalyptus-infused steam sauna, hot tub, cold plunge shower, and steam shower and found it to be a wonderful place to relax and “take the waters” prior to my services. A very cool nod to the property’s past is a 1902 hotel safe embedded in the wall on the way to the Grotto entrance, adding a fun piece of history to the more modern escape.
The spa is also full of state-of-the-art equipment, and I got to sample the Sacred Harmony Massage & Acupuncture ($250, 75 minutes) on a healing quartz bed from Gharieni. The service includes a soothing massage atop warm quartz sand, acupuncture, and a singing bowl session, all designed to help restore energy and balance. Guests can also partake in detox services in the Halo Salt Cave or choose from a variety of healing body treatments incorporating techniques like cupping, hot stone, and hydrotherapy. No matter what level of spa adventure guests are up for, the menu provides a solution.
The skincare services are equally well rounded, ranging from Hydrafacial offerings and Korean skincare-influenced services to add-ons using tools like gemstone eye gels, gua sha quartz stones, and cooling ice globes to calm the skin and reduce swelling. I enjoyed the heavenly Circadian Waters Rejuvenation ($230, 80 minutes), an experience using Circadia products that included a double cleanse, enzyme exfoliation, massage, mask, and more. Those looking for nailcare offerings will also love the spacious salon area, complete with a full range of Dazzle Dry offerings. And no visit to the spa would be complete without perusing the expansive retail area, where Krems’s careful selection of skincare, beauty, suncare, jewelry, and apparel ensures clients can leave as happy with their retail therapy as they are with their relaxation.
Wellness extends beyond the spa. The resort features a Wellness Studio where various movement classes take place, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness studio and indoor lap pool. Along with lovely 16-acre grounds that are perfect for a stroll (and a stop by the charming wishing well), the outdoor pool is a haven for relaxation during warm weather. My family made their home in a private cabana during the day, enjoying an ongoing selection of healthy snacks and drinks. While families are certainly welcome, the pool was also full of groups of women on girls’ getaways, couples enjoying romantic retreats, and a group getting ready to celebrate a wedding, proving that The Elms is an enticing destination for any traveler.
Beyond the dedicated wellness areas, The Elms offers healthy dining options, too. We had a delicious dinner at Three Owls, which features fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including herbs grown on the property. We also took advantage of room service for breakfast. Full disclosure: The chocolate chip pancakes my children scarfed down were not particularly low-calorie, but they sure filled them with joy, which is yet another form of wellness. My husband and I opted for healthier fare. Café Soterian, in the hotel lobby, is another great place to grab a healthy nosh before starting your day.
The hotel rooms also bring an element of wellness and fun. Comfy beds with pillowtop mattresses, nourishing minibar snack options, full-sized eco-friendly bathroom amenities, and more made our accommodations enjoyable. Other fun activities included the self-guided Hall of Waters tour, a spooky paranormal tour (The Elms is said to be haunted, but my visit was blissfully ghost-free), and live evening music in the lobby. We also rounded out our night with scrumptious s’mores by the fire.
At the end of our visit, we continued to admonish ourselves for not making it out to The Elms sooner. Thank goodness there are plenty of reasons to return. The spa is slated for a remodel in Q1 of 2027, and a full guest room renovation is also on the horizon. Consider this our first visit—but certainly not our last time “taking the waters.”
