Soap Lake finds resort spa possible
SOAP LAKE — The City of Soap Lake received the results of a three-month feasibility study on a planned $3 million spa and wellness center Thursday night, and the results were promising, according to Barney and Worth Inc. which conducted the study.
As a company, BW specializes in community planning and feasibility studies and was hired by the city to execute an exhaustive and objective study of the proposed project.
"What we were asked to do was come and find out if it's feasible to build and operate a spa at a profit, and we found out the answer is yes," said Jason Robertson, who works for BW and participated in the investigation. "But the city will need some capital investment."
Robertson added, "Like any project, you've got to look around for private investors and people who invest in this sort of thing."
Because the project is based on community wellness and economic development, public agencies might be interested in supporting it, Robertson said.
The library of the Soap Lake High/Middle School was filled to capacity Thursday night as eager residents gathered to hear the study results.
Dr. Reinhard R. Bergel of Heat Spa-Kur Therapy Development Inc., also made a presentation as part of the feasibility study.
Bergel, who is originally from Salzburg, Austria, has been a professional consultant for 12 years in the use and development of health and therapy spas in the United States, Europe, Japan and Iceland.
Bergel's presentation focused on the science of health-through-water and he offered suggestions and ideas that he thought would fit best regarding the city's proposed spa and wellness center.
"The environment, the water and the whole ambiance of the area is perfect. This is an opportunity to really set a precedent of the new generation of wellness centers," Bergel said after his presentation. "What you see in the design of integrating the spa with the lake is what you need."
While integration with the lake itself is a definite for the planned spa, incorporated the mud from the lake, famed for its health benefits, is questionable.
Despite the history of using mud from the lake, Bergel said harvesting the mud to be used at the proposed spa would require a sterilization process because it is infested with bacteria. He added, however, that it was possible to eliminate the bacteria without destroying the mineral content.
In addition to bacterial concerns, the potential to use Soap Lake mud at the proposed spa would also likely require an environmental impact study by the Environment Protection Agency and other agencies.
According to Bergel, he has never seen a project that has been completely community driven. He sees the project eventually becoming a reality and boosting the economy, because the city residents have gotten involved and promoted the recreational and therapeutic value of the lake.
"We will do it, it's just how," Bergel said. "And the ecology will not be destroyed. The only pollution I can see is people overrun by popularity, hopefully."
Two associates from Bernardo Wills Architects PC unveiled their drawing of the spa and wellness center during last night's presentation as well. Their proposed draft version showed a resort spa with three specialized pools that blends with and utilized the existing landscapes.
BWA also designed the Grant County Advanced Technologies Education Center at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake which officially opened in January.