Chuck Baraw made a smart choice. As CEO and owner of Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, he researched spa traditions from around the world before integrating a spa into the landscape of this iconic Vermont resort. The outcome is a surprisingly refined spa experience tucked into the quiet mountain village of Stowe.
When Baraw and his team added the spa to the family-owned resort in 2003—building on the foundation his parents, Beatrice and Stuart Baraw, set when they opened a modest motel on the property in 1963—they brought design lessons learned during their pre-construction research. One thoughtful decision was to separate the spa and the fitness center into different wings of the main building. The reasoning is simple: a spa is meant for relaxation while a fitness center is for exercise, and the tone and atmosphere each requires are distinct.
I arrived at the spa reception on a warm, overcast summer afternoon, expecting a pleasant experience and eager to try an Ayurvedic treatment. The lobby and spa shop matched what you might expect from a rural resort spa, but once I rounded the corner into the inner sanctum, the environment shifted. Several guests wrapped in plush robes relaxed on lounge chairs in a hush of calm—some flipped through magazines or sipped herbal tea, but most simply rested. I changed in the locker room, put on a robe and settled into a lounge chair to await my therapist’s call.
The Spa at Stoweflake offers many classic treatments alongside a few regionally inspired options—Vermont Maple Sugar Body Polish and a Green Mountain Coffee Body Treatment among them. What truly sets the spa apart, however, is its selection of Ayurvedic therapies, introduced in 2005.
Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old healing system from India, grounded in the idea that each person has a unique energy pattern composed of three doshas—vata, pitta and kapha—that should remain balanced for optimal health. Disruptions such as stress, poor diet, or environmental changes can disturb that balance, producing discomfort or illness. Ayurvedic treatments are designed to restore equilibrium through tailored therapies and oils.
I chose an Abhyanga-Garshana session. Garshana is a dry lymphatic massage performed with silk gloves; Abhyanga is a warm herbal oil massage. The silk glove portion is intended to stimulate lymphatic flow, enhancing the skin’s ability to absorb therapeutic oils. Regardless of the theory behind it, the 80-minute treatment left me feeling genuinely relaxed and centered.
Balance is a recurring theme throughout the spa. One distinctive feature is the on-site labyrinth—the only one I’ve seen at a New England spa. Labyrinths are meditative paths; Stoweflake’s is a classic seven-circuit design formed by hedgerows, herbs and other plantings. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has no dead ends: visitors follow a winding route to the center and back out again to promote clarity and calm rather than confusion. The labyrinth was designed and is periodically maintained by Dr. Patrick MacManaway, an author and holistic therapist who also practices geomancy and dowsing, and who comes to tune its energy. That level of attention signals the resort’s genuine commitment to holistic practices.
That commitment extends to the spa’s treatments and the resort’s broader wellness focus. The Spa at Stoweflake is not an afterthought added to capitalize on a trend; it’s a purpose-built destination created with thoughtful intent and attention to detail. Whether you come for Ayurvedic therapies, regional body treatments, or simply to walk the labyrinth and unwind, the spa offers a tranquil retreat that complements the natural charm of Stowe.
Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
1746 Mountain Road
Stowe, VT 05672
tel 802 253 7355