Six Senses plans another new US resort — and this one might make Hyatt’s Miraval sleep with one eye open

17.09.2024 - 15:33 / thepointsguy.com / Neil Jacobs

Six Senses continued its U.S. growth spurt Tuesday with the announcement of Six Senses RiverStone Estate, a wellness-focused resort slated to open in 2028 on a 1,200-acre estate 60 miles north of Pittsburgh in Foxburg, Pennsylvania.

One can't help but see this latest Six Senses expansion as a sign that the brand's parent company, IHG Hotels & Resorts, is hungry to expand its presence in the American ultraluxury sector and the wellness-minded luxury orbit. It's a space currently dominated by brands like Hyatt's Miraval and Canyon Ranch.

Six Senses resorts and hotels worldwide are known for embracing sustainability; the brand was an early adopter of the push to provide bath products in ornate dispensers in guest bathrooms rather than in mini, single-use bottles. These properties are also known for their wellness-oriented amenities via the Six Senses Spa network.

Six Senses RiverStone Estate sounds like it's taking health and wellness even further by offering more than 50 miles of trails and 7 miles of riverfront to explore at the confluence of the Allegheny and Clarion rivers. The resort will be anchored by a historic three-story stone mansion, and it'll see the addition of 77 guest rooms and 40 branded residences meant to offer a private country home lifestyle. This is Six Senses, after all, so don't expect this country home lifestyle to be anything like "The Simple Life."

"Beyond memories, guests want more purpose and a greater takeaway from their stay," Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs said in a statement. "We are very thoughtful about the art, and often the science, of exceptional experiences based on emotional hospitality. Six Senses RiverStone Estate will provide an enchanting canvas for new layers of wellness."

The property's 13,000-square-foot historic mansion — once a summer retreat for descendants of George Fox, the founder of the Quaker movement — and Victorian carriage house will be the centerpiece of Six Senses RiverStone Estate. Guest rooms and cottages will blend in with the sprawling property and be situated along riverbanks or under tree canopies. The Six Senses in development will also feature studios for an artist-in-residence program.

A planned 16,000-square-foot Six Senses Spa will reside within the restored stone walls of the Fox family's English garden. It'll offer a mix of indoor and outdoor wellness classes like Pilates, stretching, yoga and meditation. A 4,500-square-foot fitness center will offer a mix of injury prevention and muscle recovery treatments along with mental focus and motivation techniques to improve athletic performance.

Local produce and game will feature on the various menus throughout the property. Guests can expect to find a specialty restaurant, tasting bars from