It’s ‘Snowing’ At Fontainebleau Las Vegas And Other Luxury Spas

16.12.2023 - 16:51 / forbes.com

Snow isn’t completely unheard of in Las Vegas as the desert valley gets occasional flurries. But a cutting-edge spa amenity—a “Snow Shower”—at the brand new Fontainebleau Las Vegas means that flurries will fall all year round, a welcome reprieve when temperatures on The Las Vegas Strip hit the triple digits during summer months.

Taking a cue from ski resorts, spas around the world are making their own snow and unleashing the flurries on guests in snow rooms and showers, a trend that’s in the same realm as cold plunges, which are majorly trending as interest in hot-cold therapy increases. The Lodge at Woodloch, a Destination Spa Resort in Hawley, Pennsylvania pioneered the snow trend here in the United States, and several other high-end resorts around the world, from Dubai to the Maldives, have snowy spa experiences.

Newly opened this week on the north part of the Las Vegas Strip, the two-level 55,000 square-foot Lapis Spa at Fontainebleau Las Vegas features 44 rooms for massages, facials, and body treatments, plus cold plunges, a nail salon, and a “penthouse spa” for small group experiences.

But one of the most interesting amenities is the frosty “Snow Shower,” which is chilled at 14 degrees Fahrenheit and features a snow machine that disperses fluffy snowflakes. It’s a nice way to cool down after a heated treatment, and, unlike the outdoors, there’s a heated floor that keeps your toes nice and toasty and melts the snow as it lands.

In the Poconos, The Lodge at Woodloch, has an entire snow room, which is the first of its kind in the United States. In the Snow Room, compact, dry snow and crisp, cold air allow you to cool down in a gentle way. The spa uses technology from TechnoAlpin, an Italian company that creates snowmaking systems and guns for ski resorts but also has a line of indoor snowmakers created for spas, brand experiences, museums, amusement parks, and more.

“The Snow Room is designed to emulate the serene beauty of nature, reminiscent of a tranquil snowy forest,” says Nancy Deaton, spa director at The Lodge at Woodloch. The idyllic room has benches, snow-dusted trees, soft lighting, and a snowy forest mural.

“Cooling down is one of the most important processes in the sauna routine and should be done as quickly as possible,” Deaton says.

Temperatures in the snow room range from 14 to 23 degrees Fahrenheit so that the body gradually cools down from head to toe.

Limited research has been published on hot-cold therapies, though it's a topic that’s gaining more interest and studies suggest embracing the cold-water therapy can help with mental health and aid in muscle recovery.

Taking deep breaths in the snow room can help clear respiratory passages, she says. She also recommends spa-goers try a