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26 DAYSPA | APRIL 2014 SPA HOPPING Grand Geneva's WELL Spa oozes luxury with an outdoorsy vibe. Gentle Warrior Once the site of lavish decadence, Wisconsin's WELL Spa & Salon at Grand Geneva manifests a robust and accessible brand of rejuvenation. By Katie O'Reilly Wisconsin may not be the fi rst place that comes to mind when one thinks "wellness getaway." But, considering today's increasing tendency to embrace an "everything-in-moderation" ethos, the well-mea- sured style of the Dairyland isn't so far-fetched. In fact, it holds great appeal for spa-goers who prefer extra-friendly guidance and unpretentious luxury. It's these—plus opportunities to enjoy Himalayan salt-in- fused massage, outdoor adventure, and superb cheese and beer—that beckoned me to experience the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. The Marcus Hotels property is set on 1,300 bucolic (and often snow-covered) acres in Lake Geneva, a quaint, Alpine-esque town tucked between Chicago and Milwaukee. The area has long been known as a gathering place for boaters, skiers, snowboarders— and Playboy bunnies. That's right: Grand Geneva oc- cupies the site of media mogul Hugh Hefner's fi rst- ever Playboy Club & Resort. Between 1968 and 1982, a rabbit-headed gold Playboy key gained guests entry to the rooms at this Midwestern mecca of recreation, entertainment (Bob Hope and Sonny & Cher are just some of the big names who've performed here), and food and drink served by young women garbed in iconic, satin bunny costumes. Although the resort's former "bunny dorms" are now occupied by maintenance crews, the 60s-era leg- acy lives on in Grand Geneva's Frank Lloyd Wright-style S p a H o p p i n g 4 1 4 . i n d d 2 6 Spa Hopping 414.indd 26 3 / 7 / 1 4 9 : 4 4 A M 3/7/14 9:44 AM