Outings: Truth or Consequences

Tap into Tranquility

Thanks to its plentiful mineral springs, Truth or Consequences has been called the most affordable spa town in America, and it’s just that—a weekend of relaxation and recuperation—that brings me on this short trip, worlds away from my fast-paced Albuquerque life.

This low-key resort town of about 7,000 people some 140 miles south of Albuquerque on I-25 was formerly known as Hot Springs, and today is home to several refurbished 1950s-style motels that tap into the geothermally heated mineral waters beneath downtown T or C, and pipe it into soaking tubs for their guests to enjoy. The Sierra Grande Lodge and Spa is the Cadillac of these, with its luxe sleeping accommodations, restaurant, and a spa menu that includes scalp massages with warm oil, aromatherapy massage, and reiki. Built in 1929, the Sierra Grande was bought in 1991 by Serge and Guy Raoul, owners of Raoul’s restaurant in New York City, who handsomely modernized it. The brothers brought with them an undeniable urban sophistication that now resonates throughout the adobe structure.

Inside, the rooms’ décor is cowboy chic without being over the top. The sunlight filling the spa’s spacious treatment room allows the mind to drift into a state of tranquility. But it’s the hot spring below that’s the true gem—waters from the earth’s belly as hot as 115 degrees, which warm the soul and are thought to have healing properties. Just a 30-minute soak will leave you feeling rested and rejuvenated, and your skin and hair silky smooth.

During my visit, I’m fortunate enough to find the outdoor tub unoccupied. Under the clear desert night, as the water covers my body and its warmth consumes me, my muscles loosen—almost immediately, I feel a sense of relief. Soaking in the surrounding darkness, I sit still, staring off into the cosmos.

From $99 nightly for two, including private mineral bath; 501 McAdoo St., (575) 894-6976, http://sierragrandelodge.com—Brandon Call