Maple Grove is located within the historic scenery along the Bear River. This was originally a homestead passed down through multiple generations. They closed for business in 2018 with a very uncertain future. In 2019, myself and others dove into the preservation of this magical 45+ acres of land. We took great pride and were determined to preserve the land restoration as well as the philosophical agreements to the community. Viewed as a land restoration project, we took our time to carefully clear the decades of accrued trash and debris. 

 We wanted to ensure that we had a footprint that was as minimal as possible so it would bring the space back with a strong foundation that let the property shine. We thought long and hard about what man-made structures do we remove, restore, rebuild, and lastly, what do we introduce? The design of this was to adapt to the land by designing reusable spaces.

We wanted to keep the integrity of the property and build a system to operate the space that felt like this was not overwhelming to the infrastructure. One of the buildings that we kept and chose to restore was the main reception lodge that also doubles as our public market and bath house. We also have the river house and our staff house. It allowed us to get creative, so over the winter we studied where to go next and what can come out to really ensure that this retreat always focuses on allowing ample space for our guests to always feel comfort, individuality, and safety without feeling like a corporate resort. This way our guests can take advantage of that quick hike into these magical places and feel like you are somewhere else.

Any gift anytime, nobody needs more stuff! Data is strong, that items doesn’t offer happiness, and is a part of the anxiety of stress within children and adults. If you, or someone you know, is really having that sensation of physical, emotional, and social atrophy, then we challenge you with this NEW EXPERIENCE! Get uncomfortable with two days of digital detoxing you and your family! 

  Personally you can come at any time, yet I think there is something breathtaking with the hot springs, and snow! We also offer a rotating calendar of growth-oriented retreats, so be sure to check our website calendar for those updates.

Two things we were deliberate on within our design decisions here: 

 First, our core business is for those who come for a few hours, maybe a night stay, workshops, or participate in retreats. Upon check-in we encourage everyone to go to the hot springs. We worked fiercely hard on encouraging that we made an unconstrained space for the mineral waters to really shine in a non-commercial setting. This allows for anyone coming here to enjoy their own space or insert themselves into a more social setting. We didn’t over design this area to keep the natural surroundings.

  The second, is our setting for our social atmosphere. No wifi, or cell service to encourage our guests to get connected to the natural surroundings and ditch the phone.

  Our guests connect in three ways:

  1st- You get into a real inner state of wellness by disconnecting. Instead of looking through the lens, you are observing nature in a way where you connect to why, what, and how you are feeling in that moment. Noticing things you would tend not to see otherwise.

 2nd- There is a vulnerability when you visit the pools. We pride ourselves on not allowing the design of this property to ever feel overwhelming or crowded within these communal pools. Here you have the option to get outside your comfort zone and visit the communal pool, where you meet with people from all walks of life. It’s truly a melting pot of people and what comes from these meaningful and rich conversations, is that they are not rooted within the normal division you may find in your day-to-day routine. You remove that phone and you find the richness to connect with other people as it forces you to be present.

  Guests come from all over the world and often stay for two nights. With this cohort of guests, within 1-2 days, kids make friends; adults make professional connections; new moms are able to share a hardship or frustration and be counseled through the experience. People often speak about work-life balance not being sustainable for mental health, or peer-to-peer mentorship, all while being in the comfort of a non-hierarchy balance. These pools are a non-commercial setting that calls for more interaction and balance!

  3rd- Within this off grid land you can find a potent connection to the natural ecosystem. It is not uncommon to be the only person at some point of the day in the entire pool area watching a barn owl and a moon rise. Mental and social experts have long identified stress and anxiety reduction within this wild connection to the pools and this natural outdoor setting. Safe, social and interconnected!

  We encourage that the atmosphere be united and designed with ensuring an interior and exterior experience that is restful and connected. We identified boundaries to align an experience that makes you feel like you just stumbled upon this wild outdoor location to hang for the next few evenings. This also takes into consideration the staples for comfort; no, not the TV! We held off on certain things that you would see at a commercial resort to eliminate those amenities and really build into you being present in the moment, hearing the fire crack or even an animal call in the night. just being nestled in the warmth of the bedding, by the fire within a cozy yurt where you are captivated by what you are reading!

  Comforts Eliminations –

  Ultimately, we believe that our spaces are restful and restorative. This comes from personal experience of this tight consumer connection that predictable setting, we as humans are atrophying in three areas. Socially – We surround ourselves with the same economic class and same stage of life. Simply because we seek comfort.

  Physically – We seek comfort within our homes, so when we go to a resort or hotel, we expect to have those same comforts. That expectation doesn’t challenge you to disconnect, and we need to reconnect with what our brain and our bodies need.

  Intellectually – We no longer pressure test our beliefs, thoughts, discomforts.

  We offer restful, not comfortable, living arrangements here that draw on you emotionally, socially and physically, offering that awakening. We challenge your atrophy to stretch your muscles in a communal setting, meeting and interacting with other walks of life. We want you to rest so well that you don’t even think about power, or your phone. We reduce your anxiety with simplistic decor, providing you with warmth from a stove to gather around in the morning or evening. You prepare your food in a format of cooking you do not do at home, again no connectivity.

  Here we want you to interact with the natural environment and explore waters of different temperatures. Challenge yourself to sit in boredom and silence and ask yourself how to relax and have a thoughtful conversation with no real agenda.

  SOOOO GOOD FOR KIDS and ADULTS. There’s so much to do and the option to jump into as much as you want. People actually just need to rest. Working a few muscles to REST. We are not wired to slow down and rest, yet here we really have worked hard to ensure that you do in ways you didn’t know you needed!

Natural mineral bathing has two primary sources of healing wellness: 

 First, every day your body is absorbing toxins within every product you use, or any moment in the elements. The pools offer your body the chance to truly detoxify with a wide variety of positive health benefits. Exploring the mineral sources is amazing because each is entirely unique.

  Second, the physical and emotional benefits of non-sulfur lithium hots springs offer trace benefits. Lithium physical experience has long been known to support mental and physical health. As a business, we commit ourselves to have our sense of “enough Ness”. We feel grounded as a business in the line of the experience, as we are not compromised by the balance of the attendees here. We serve up peace, predictability, safety, and are committed to it in development, building, etc. There are still a lot of projects coming down the pipeline, for example, New Stone Shelters. The design philosophy and how that plays a role in the smallest footprint is something we take very seriously. We don’t want to overwhelm the experience, while being committed to the natural property.

The biggest take away from this experience, is that we all benefit from the natural healing spaces that are totally uninterrupted from distraction and communication. New people, new designs, new experience at the root of mental and social wellness. 

 We take the best stab we can to offer that peaceful inherent space that is naturally in design, tradition and natural experience. Our hope is to keep you grounded every season, and with each season offer something new.

We are designed for a group for your community 10-40. There are 28 beds and other spots offered as well. We have even closed to the public for the full offering of rented space.  

 We have hosted a 30-foot Yurt for women’s groups, celebrations, yoga training, or even corporate companies. Again, we are very committed to not over book, so every three months we open the next schedule. We are open to the public, but we offer our customers the best options available. For large private groups, we also offer a scheduling block.

The best time to stay is mid-September – October. Those times offer warm days, cool mornings and nights, and beautiful nature. Although we are open all four seasons, each is equally as busy all year. In winter, you might be cross country skiing to hot springs and the swans arrive. Although spring is very similar to fall with deer descending, growth is starting to happen. Summer is like a beach with the hot springs, 70-degree water at the reservoir, and dipping in the hot springs in the morning and night.  

 We are so lucky here and offer the classic Idaho lake vibe where it is all about hiking, exploring, and enjoying all that we have to offer!

We just released the winter season scheduling block! Every year we host what we call “ALT BLACK-FRIDAY FUNDRAISER”. Sound baths, yoga, pop-up marketplace, artisan goods and all the proceeds to the Yoga Fest are donated back to the Bear River Cultural Site with story telling that night.  

 This is truly the opposite way to spend Black Friday! Just a stone’s throw from Jackson Hole, Salt Lake City, Idaho Falls, Pocatello. It’s the perfect day trip for you and if you are coming from further away, we highly recommend staying a few evenings!