Soap Lake resort showcases recent updates

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Natural Spa & Resort recently added several new additions to its facilities, including new spa and heat therapy devices, renovated rooms and more activities, said the resort’s owner Sherry Xiao.

A first wave of additions and renovations began last year, with additions to the resort’s spa capabilities, she said

“It’s an infrared heat spa, not like a regular spa, this is more, really like heat treatment. We have different kinds of infrared heat,” she said. “The main spa room is actually made up of, like, heated tiles.”

Xiao also said the resort has new individual infrared spa cabins with specific infrared treatments and sound capabilities, with your head outside of the capsule.

“You can sit in your own cubical and talk to your friends and you have a half sauna. So that's kind of the whole idea. We had the first edition last year,” she said.

Another major renovation included constructing a new non-spa room with heated tiles.

“This year, we added another larger scale, basically a multifunctional room,” Xiao said. “You can do hot yoga, because it's also the same heat on the floor, with the same product.”

The room also has acoustic panels, so it can be used for corporate meetings, musical events, birthday parties, personal or corporate events, trainings and other activities, Xiao said.

“So that's added event space. We also have the (Lakeside) Bistro and the banquet room,” she said. “So now we have a few event spaces to offer to our guests and to the community.”

The resort hosted a community appreciation event in November to showcase these new additions to the Soap Lake community. 

“We also have a new addition, like a new hotel,” Xiao said. “We had it permitted last year, but the interest rates are getting high, and we’re watching our rates a little bit, but if all goes well, we were hoping they can start that next year, a new hotel addition.”

The resort currently includes three hotels or inns of different origins, including the Inn at Soap Lake, a building that was constructed in the late 1800s, all combined into one resort compound.

Other additions and features include massage chairs, outdoor hot tubs, beach access, recreational equipment, and updated indoor and outdoor gym and exercise equipment. General Manager Melinda Henry also said the resort may potentially allow day passes for Soap Lake community members to access the facilities soon. 

In addition to the renovations and updates, another change taking place at the resort is its switch from an independent resort to being part of the Choice Hotels franchise group. 

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. 

    A newly added infrared heat spa and sauna room at the Soap Lake Natural Spa * Resort.
  

    An individual spa capsule at the Soap Lake Natural Spa & Resort. Resort owner Sherry Xiao said the first wave of renovations began last year.
  

    Outdoor exercise equipment at the Soap Lake Natural Spa & Resort. The resort also features an indoor gym.