Fort Worth Gets a New Pampering Palace: Obsessed With Texas, Hiatus Spa Just Keeps Growing

Fort Worth is joining the pampering party. Hiatus Spa & Retreat, the luxe Texas day spa with five other locations, has revealed plans to open a new Fort Worth spa this spring.

The new Fort Worth location, at Crockett Row, will join the other Hiatus spas in Dallas, Austin, Plano, San Antonio and Houston. Designed by Austin-based designer Karen Kopicki, the spa will feature 14 treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite and hydrotherapy, a nail therapy lounge with four zero-gravity chairs, an inviting relaxation area, and separate men’s and women’s dressing rooms.

We were a bit curious about whether these trendy new services aren’t just for the “self-care” movement, so we asked Hiatus Spa cofounder Sheila Garrison about them.

The hydrotherapy services come from a long tradition of water-based relaxation.

“The therapeutic use of water has long been a central part the spa experience,” Garrison tells PaperCity. Though people have been ‘taking to the waters’ for thousands of years, the concept of hydrotherapy and its benefits can still be quite foreign. Some of the benefits include reducing general muscle tension, relieving pain, boosting the immune system and rehabilitating injured muscles, among others.

“It just feels good! At Hiatus, all of our spa services begin with a warm water foot-cleansing ritual. New guests are surprised to find just how relaxing even a momentary warm foot soak can be, helping to draw the mind back into the body and present moment, and mentally prepare the guest to receive a great spa treatment.”

As for the zero-gravity chairs, they provide a sense of weightlessness designed to spur immediate relaxation. They were inspired by NASA research to adjust the body to a Neutral Body Posture, the position naturally assumed when the body is unrestricted by gravity and totally relaxed.

“Our zero-gravity chairs are one of the highlights of a Hiatus nail service, and when paired with noise-canceling headphones, warm blankets and a soft eye pillow, make for a truly unique experience,” Garrison says.

Fort Worth’s evolution almost demanded its own luxury pampering retreat.

“We knew Fort Worth needed to be on the map if we wanted to stay true to our passion of being a true Texas brand,” Garrison says.

One thing that helps set Hiatus apart from other day spas is its subscription model, called H-Circle. H-Circle members choose one signature “Essential Service” each month, which can include the Signature Massage, Tailor-Made Facial, One & Only Mani-Pedi, Body Glow or the Body Wrap.

The membership is $69 per month and also includes special discounted pricing on all treatments and 10 percent off all retail products.

“We saw an opportunity in the market to make truly great wellness accessible to everyone through a subscription-based day spa,” Garrison says. “We know that regular relaxation is part of a healthier, happier lifestyle, so we came up with the Hiatus concept to make taking care of yourself easy, affordable and fun.”

After five successful locations, Garrison has learned a thing or two about what Texans want out of a spa experience.

“Listening to our guests is top priority for us, and they love being able to customize every experience. From selecting a personal aromatherapy to choosing a foot soak or hot towels to our variety of add-ons, there are ways to make any service just how you like it,” Garrison says.

“We also created the Hiatus app for quick and easy booking, and have recently added digital intake forms that can be completed in advance so our guests can start relaxing the minute they come through our doors. We want the overall experience to feel fun, personal and stress-free from start to finish.”