Bucket List Material: Virginia’s Iconic Omni Homestead Resort
From soaking in mineral-rich hot springs to unwinding at a newly renovated spa, Virginia’s Omni Homestead Resort is the ultimate retreat for relaxation and reinvigoration. Ready to recharge in style? Image: Omni Homestead Resort & Spa
Rising above the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in Hot Springs, VA, the Omni Homestead Resort & Spa has long drawn visitors seeking relaxation and reinvigoration without sacrificing luxury. A destination for those seeking a return to the days when “resort casual” meant more than just flip-flops, cargo shorts, and a Tommy Bahama shirt, the Homestead is in the midst of a nearly $200 million renovation to preserve its own brand of casual elegance for a new generation of travelers — and much of the investment has been dedicated to health and wellness.
THE DETAILS
From attentive service upon arrival to the stately Great Hall that welcomes lodgers, it’s immediately apparent that you’re in good hands. Toss the car keys to the valet (since you’ll be walking and riding shuttle buses for the rest of your stay) and take a stroll down the gorgeous colonnade while you check out the main building’s common areas.
Be on the lookout for thoughtful details, from colorful local butterflies worked into the carpeting to the mural cycle just off the lobby. The artwork traces the area’s history — beginning with the first Indigenous residents who discovered the curative natural hot springs, through the construction of the first spa in 1766, and Thomas Jefferson’s 1818 visit to “take the waters.” It continues with the resort’s growth and expansion over the centuries.
The Presidential Lounge features portraits of the 24 U.S. presidents who have visited the property, and it’s a great place to enjoy a craft cocktail or take advantage of the resort’s innovative mocktail program as part of your health journey.
The historic 1923 theater, located off the main lobby, is a fun family activity, complete with a concession stand offering snacks.
THE WINE PROGRAM
Virginia has established itself as a notable wine producer over the past couple of decades, winning awards for vintages from more than 4000 acres of grapes planted across the state. The Homestead serves Virginia wines across the property, including at a unique Virginia Wine Experience conducted in the resort’s intimate tasting room.
The property’s Chief Sommelier Quynh Cohen is also a trained yoga instructor, and she leads an entertaining “Poses & Pairings” class that combines introductory yoga with wine tasting. It’s decidedly unserious and a lot of fun for any ability level!
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Thanks to a series of natural hot and warm springs on the property at the Homestead, pool activities are a popular part of any visit. Allegheny Springs is the resort’s two-acre water park (fed from the springs) that features a lazy river, water slides, a family pool, and a water play zone. Portions of the attraction are open year-round, but may close temporarily due to extreme weather conditions.
The springs pump water from miles underground to the surface, bringing minerals that are picked up along the way. The springs are rich in curative elements like calcium, sulfur, and magnesium, which contribute to skin health, relaxation, and overall wellness. The Geothermal Octagon Pool at the Serenity Garden maintains a pleasant temperature year-round, ideal for a full soak or simply dipping your feet.
The Homestead has also developed a line of bath salts designed to mimic the chemistry of its waters, allowing you to enjoy them in your home tub. A new line of complementary take-home products is currently in development.
While trying to hit a round ball with a crooked stick isn’t everybody’s idea of relaxation, golfing at the Omni Homestead Resort is a rare treat. And the breathtaking mountain views from the two courses might be enough to convince you to leave the scorecard in your golf bag and count the memories instead of your strokes!
There’s hardly a flat area to be found along the rolling fairways of The Cascades Course, so flight paths can be a little unexpected. That makes Sam Snead’s 1934 accomplishment on the course all the more impressive. The golf legend — and former Hot Springs resident — shot just 27 strokes over nine holes, scoring a three on every single one.
The clubhouse for The Old Course is just a short walk from the resort’s back door, and the course boasts the oldest continually-used first tee (since 1892, when it was only a six-hole course). While it’s not quite as challenging as The Cascades, The Old Course is a tremendous track that offers memorable vistas of the Homestead.
Other outdoor options include trail rides on horseback, as well as hand-led rides for kids and carriage rides. A new pickleball facility offers the chance to try out or improve your skills at the latest sports craze, and hiking, biking, and fly fishing opportunities are available for booking through the resort’s outfitter.
For a special hike, join a trained naturalist on a twice-daily, three-hour excursion through the Cascades Gorge adjacent to the golf course. This preserved nature area is only accessible with a guide, but the chance to witness thirteen different waterfalls while learning all about the local ecology, geology, and hydrology is fascinating!
THE SPA
A centerpiece of the Homestead’s renovations has been the property’s investment in a modern spa facility. More than just a collection of treatment rooms, the spa promotes the Homestead’s “Five Pillars” of health: Nutritional, Intellectual, Social, Educational, and Physical.
Enter through the peaceful Serenity Garden with its Octagon Pool, infinity pool, whirlpool, and River Reflexology Walk (there are rounded stones to stimulate your soles and your soul!). An outdoor sauna and chilly deluge shower provide hot and cold options, and a delightful little cafe offers healthy snacks.
Inside the spa, guests check in for services and access the fully appointed locker rooms. Both the men’s and women’s locker rooms feature Aqua Thermal Suites, a series of showers, hot and cold treatments, saunas, and steam to relax you and cleanse your system. Private and public relaxation rooms are available to enjoy some downtime before or after a massage or body treatment.
The spa building also features a modern fitness facility and indoor pool.
THE WARM SPRINGS
The highlight of any visit to the Homestead should be a dip in the Warm Springs Pools, the attraction that first drew visitors to the area centuries ago and gave the town its name. Four natural springs pump water into the two bathhouses, providing an astonishing 1.7 million gallons per day of mineral-enriched 98° water for floating and soaking.
Floating is easy thanks to the fifteen minerals found in the water (along with the provided pool noodles). So all you have to do is lie back and feel the gentle tickle of bubbles seeping up from between rock fissures on the floor of the bath. At different times of the day, the Warm Springs Pools offer Family Soak time, Adult Co-ed Soak time, and gender-separated, swimsuit-optional Soak times, so plan your visit accordingly.
The bathhouses feature open oculi in the roofs, exposed to the elements, so it’s not uncommon to experience rain, snow, or fog during your soak. But it’s all part of the fun! The opportunity to watch clouds drift lazily overhead while lying back in perfect buoyancy is the kind of relaxing experience that will stay with you for a long time.
Other offerings include Signature Experience Private Soaks (by reservation only) and Saturday Sound Baths. The latter is a fully immersive session, with gongs, chimes, and singing bowls filling the space with sound as you soak in the experience. Because the facilities are located in historic buildings, they’re intentionally a bit primitive and don’t include showers. But that’s by design — the therapeutic minerals are meant to linger on your skin for a few hours before you wash them away.
Happy travels!
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Chris Chamberlain
A rare Nashville native, Chris Chamberlain has been writing professionally for over 16 years. Chris loves to write about food, bourbon, and quirky history — especially in the South. Find more of Chris's work at the Nashville Scene, Resy, Fodor's, Tennessee Visitors Guide, Bourbon Plus, NFocus, Thrillist, and Eat This, Not That.