Entry No. 54 — the Kansas City file — filed under: soak
The Spa at The Elms
Located inside a historic 1912 Tudor Revival hotel in Excelsior Springs, this massive 28,000-square-foot wellness sanctuary is famous for its subterranean Grotto. The Grotto offers a guided thermal circuit where guests move between dry saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, and a Roman-style bath.
The story
Excelsior Springs built its entire reputation on subterranean mineral waters, and The Elms sits right at the historic epicenter of that soak culture. The current Tudor Revival structure dates to 1912—built after earlier wood-frame hotels on the site burned to the ground—and conceals a massive 28,000-square-foot wellness sanctuary beneath its grand brick and timber frame.
While standard hotel spas rely on cucumber water and soft lighting to do the heavy lifting, the underground sanctuary here leans hard on classic European hydrotherapy. The centerpiece is the Grotto, a subterranean bathhouse built specifically for contrast therapy—alternating intense heat with ice-cold shocks to reset your nervous system.
What it's like
Expect a sprawling stone-and-tile underground facility that feels completely insulated from the midwestern town above it. Access to the Grotto isn't a drop-in affair; you need a scheduled spa appointment, which grants you a dedicated 90-minute window in the thermal circuit prior to your treatment. Arrive early, change into your robe, and move systematically through the dry saunas, steam rooms, and cold plunges before soaking in the Roman-style bath.
The move: Take a scenic day trip to this historic resort, book a spa treatment, and arrive 90 minutes early to complete the Grotto's hot-and-cold thermal circuit together.
- 📍 Excelsior Springs
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 401 Regent Street, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Belvoir Winery & Inn — Pair your subterranean soak with a glass of local wine inside another sprawling historic compound 12 miles down the road in Liberty.
- Spectrum A New Age Shop — Continue your day-trip reset by browsing over 1,100 tarot and oracle decks at this hidden Northland shop.
- Penguin Park — Balance out the historic elegance of a 1912 bathhouse with a quick detour to walk among giant 1970s fiberglass animal sculptures.
Good to know
How do I get access to the Grotto thermal circuit?
Grotto access is granted to guests who reserve a spa service, allowing a dedicated 90-minute thermal circuit experience prior to their scheduled treatment.
What amenities are included in the Grotto?
The Grotto features dry saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools, and a Roman-style bath designed for hot-and-cold contrast therapy.
Where is the spa located?
It is located inside The Elms Hotel & Spa at 401 Regent Street in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, northeast of the Kansas City metro area.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: elmshotelandspa.com
last checked: 2026-07-21