Healthy waters

SOAP LAKE — Melinda Henry, the general manager of the Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort, said that the resort is the last business in town able to pipe water from Soap Lake for use in the resort’s facilities.

“Our main thing is we offer the mineral water from the lake in all the rooms,” said Henry. “The other properties and businesses do not have mineral water access currently. The system failed, the city system failed in 2021 at the end of the year. We assumed the mineral water rights, because that's our business, basically, especially in the offseason.”

Henry said one of the reasons the system failed was because the mineral water is very harsh on plumbing.

“And so we went through the long, horrible process of assuming the mineral water rights from the city, and they want us, in our contracts, to create a system for all to use, but we're not sure how we're going to accomplish that, and the city acknowledges that that's a difficult thing to accomplish,” Henry said.

Other businesses in town are attempting to renovate and repair their piping, Henry said, but as it stands the resort is the only one up and running with lake water.

Henry, who grew up in Moses Lake, said she has been in her position at the resort for five years.

“I didn't even know about this place. I moved to King County for 11 years to go to college and art school and everything, and I moved back here and I just kind of stumbled across it,” she said. “I was originally hired as the event coordinator for the resort and I kind of just requested the opportunity to run the resort when the seasonal management ended in 2018, and here I am, so definitely a nice surprise.”

Henry explained how the resort became a conglomerate of three different properties, one —  the Inn at Soap Lake — even dating back to 1890. 

“What happened was in 2016, ownership purchased the Inn at Soap Lake, and then within a couple of months, the property next door was like, ‘Hey, you want to purchase my property?’ So ownership purchased the property next door and immediately turned the three properties into one big resort,” Henry said. “That's a lot of the times why I get people saying that we're quirky, or that we're strange, but we're a fun kind of strange, because it's very much three different lodging styles all morphed into one big resort, all having access to the same amenities.”

Those amenities include private beach access, jacuzzis and hot tubs, mud baths, outdoor recreation, saunas, watercraft rentals, outdoor courtyards and barbeques and more.

Henry said the resort’s clientele includes travelers from all over, but many from the Pacific Northwest.

“They will come here because they thoroughly believe in the healing waters,” she said. “It's just not as strong as it used to be, unfortunately, but it still does work. A lot of people will compare it to an Epsom salt bath and that is a very good comparison.”

    The front of the Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort lobby. Melinda Henry, the resort’s general manager, said there are a few different lodges and buildings, some dating back to the late 1800s, that have been formed together over time to create what is now the Natural Spa and Resort.
  

The resort’s plans for the future include various new facilities, including a new spa with infrared capsules, massage chairs and hot yoga, as well as other additions such as a game room. Henry said. She also said those plans will not be limited to visitors.

“Another thing that we're working toward for 2024 is day use, or even a membership, so you can come and pay a day use fee and enjoy all the amenities my resort has to offer,” Henry said. “There will be restrictions on days. Clearly, we're not going to have outside guests here on the weekend. But Monday through Thursday, we plan on opening it up for day use.”

For Henry, interacting with the guests is her primary motivation at work.

“My favorite part about the job is meeting all the wanderers and the travelers and the music makers,” she said. “It's just great meeting all the different types of people. We have people who come from all across the world, not just the surrounding states. We have people coming from California, New York, I had somebody come from Europe the other day, and it just blows my mind.”

    General Manager of the Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort Melinda Henry, pictured, said that she has been in the position for five years.
  

Henry said that despite her job being a surprise, it was a welcome one. 

“I am not going to complain,” she said. “I plan on retiring from here, and it'll be a good career until I'm ready to start traveling myself.”

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. Download the Columbia Basin Herald app on iOS and Android.

    The exterior of one of the Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort’s log cabins, which the resort’s General Manager Melinda Henry said were constructed in the 80s.