Glenwood Springs Spa Taps Local Hot Springs Minerals for New Line

Yampah Wellness Spa has launched its first in-house skincare line, built around mineral compounds sourced from the same hot springs that have anchored Glenwood Springs' tourism economy for more than a century.

Spa director Holly Vantassel says the product line, which includes mineral-infused masks and soaking salts, grew out of years of guest questions about whether the hot springs' mineral content could be bottled and taken home. "People soak here for an hour and ask on their way out if they can buy something like it," she said. "We finally built something to answer that."

Turning a Tourism Draw Into a Retail Product

Developing the product line required working with a water testing lab to identify the specific mineral profile of the springs before formulating shelf-stable versions suitable for retail, a process Vantassel says took nearly a year longer than initially planned. The spa worked with a small Colorado-based cosmetics formulator to translate the raw mineral data into finished products.

Early sales have been strongest among tourists purchasing the products as souvenirs, though Vantassel says a growing share of repeat customers now order directly online rather than waiting for their next visit. The spa has begun shipping the mineral soaking salts to customers across several states, a distribution channel it didn't have before the product line launched.

Adding Value Beyond the Soak

For a business whose core offering — access to natural hot springs — is difficult to differentiate from competitors with access to the same geological feature, Vantassel says the retail line has become an important way to build a distinct brand identity. "Anyone can offer a hot springs soak in this town," she said. "Not everyone can offer our specific mineral formula in a jar."

The spa is now developing a subscription option for its most popular products, aiming to convert one-time tourist purchases into recurring revenue.