Wilderness Retreat and Nordic Spa — Local services in Kingsville

Reviewing here as the half of the couple who was brought here as a birthday surprise outing…. And also as an individual who is naturally skeptical of any activity involving immersion in ice water in the middle of winter… it is fantastic, and I highly recommend it.

The facilities are great - the fact that it is all wood-stove heated gives a natural feel that aligns well with the private forest setting. The buildings and structures are simple and solid. Comfortable, clean and fresh.

The welcome is excellent, the explanation thorough, and then you are left to do what you like. The idea, of course, is to cook in the sauna, take a cold plunge, and then equalize your temperature in a cycle that can be repeated as quickly or as slowly as you please. But there are many different options, so you can adjust to your preferences … outside of the sauna and cold tub there is a hot tub, open fire pit, indoor and outdoor lounge chairs…. Whatever suits you.

Limiting this to two people makes it quite intimate, and with a generous 2.5 hour time slot it is possible to truly relax. There is no hurry as you try the experience. The friendly staff do come by to refuel the various stoves regularly, but they work (very successfully) to be utterly non-obtrusive, unless you have a question or a request, of course.

For those worried about the cold-dip part: I was a complete newbie, and it really is possible to cook enough in the sauna to be able to briefly immerse in ice water, and even wander about in the snow, while feeling entirely comfortable. Shocking? Yes. Possible? Also yes. Invigorating? ALSO yes. Fun and relaxing? Absolutely.

The owners are expanding the business, and genuinely seek feedback. It is wonderful to see people constructively approaching something they truly enjoy and believe in, and I wish...

I spent an amazing winter morning in February at this Nordic spas and it was nothing short of sublime.

A fresh 2" of snow had fallen overnight and I was greeted by friendly and accommodating staff at the check-in, who gave me a golf cart ride down to the Creekside spa on account of the walking path being a bit slippery due to the fresh wintery conditions.

The setting in the woods was so peaceful. The woods were animated with all the little creatures of the forest including a pair of brilliant blue jays who rejoiced in song.

All the facilities were very neat and clean. The water temp in the hot tub was the exact right temperature which is impressive for being a wood-fired unit - not an easy task (kudos to the highly skilled staff) The sauna was the highlight - such an amazingly soothing heat simply melts the tension in the muscles away. The ice bath was exactly what it is named, hahaha. Invigorating, to be sure!

The relaxation room was quite a nice place to reset between Nordics cycles as was the outdoor firepit. Chill spa music was provided as was a quality BT speaker to pair with my phone for use in the hot tub or sauna.

The staff was mindful not to be intrusive and were quick when popping by to monitor fuel levels for the sauna and hot tub.

I will definitely be returning and give this operation full marks for a unique and...

Such an amazing experience!

My husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary enjoying the beauty of Kingsville and Pelee Island just this past weekend. We were able to book an appointment at Wilderness Retreat and Nordic Spa on Saturday morning just before returning home. It was TRULY amazing and a perfect calming experience to end our mini vacay together.

Our host, Skyla was attentive and had everything ready for our arrival. She had the fire lit, calming spa music playing (which paired perfectly with the nature sounds of this beautiful wooded location), sparkling juice (which was refreshing and actually tasted great!) on ice, and comfy towels and robes waiting for us. Both of us were cold plunge first-timers, but now we are hooked! I completed three rotations at 8-15 minutes in the sauna, 30-90 seconds in the ice bath, then rotated my rest time between the oversized hammocks, reading and nature watching on the porch or by the fire. Skyla even had a natural body wash available for us to use in the outdoor shower.

We fully intend to return when we visit the Kingsville area again and encourage anyone interested in (or even mildly curious about) the Nordic spa experience to give it a try. Thank you Skyla for making the final hours of our anniversary celebration...