Woodhouse Day Spa Granger

Romance Meets Relaxation

Writer / Angela Cornell
Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

Getting a massage or a facial can be one of the best ways to relax. The Woodhouse Day Spa in Granger, which is part of a national elite franchise, offers more than 70 superlative services. But that’s not all.

“It’s not only about the services – the massages, the facials, the nail services that you’re getting here,” says Owner Anastasia Tapper. “It’s the experience. It’s the whole package that you get here at the Woodhouse.”

As an entrepreneur at heart, Tapper has always wanted to own her own business, but she didn’t want to own just any business. She wanted to provide a service that would make people feel happy and relaxed. What better way to do that than through a spa? After becoming an esthetician, she decided to open the Woodhouse Day Spa in Granger. 

Everyone who works at the spa contributes to Tapper’s vision.

“You come in and get that opportunity to do what you love to do,” says Lead Masseuse Julia Rubio. “You can do what you can to give them that full experience of either relaxation, if that’s what they’re looking for, or therapeutic help to ease pain and discomfort. You really get that freedom with the Woodhouse to use your knowledge to help people.”

The Woodhouse experience begins as soon as a client walks through the door.

“You come into this tranquil zone and you feel relaxed just as you open the door,” Tapper says. 

Customers are escorted to a changing lounge where they are given a soft bathrobe and comfortable slippers. They are then taken to the relaxation area to wait until their masseuse is ready.

“We have a fireplace, some snacks and chocolate for you to enjoy while you’re sitting and waiting or filling out the paperwork,” Tapper explains. “We do offer complimentary wines, champagnes, mimosas, hot teas, coffees and spa waters, to your comfort level.”

Services include standard massages, but many are as exclusive as they are exquisite, like body wraps and body scrubs.

One such service is the French-originated Vichy shower. During this treatment, the guest lays down on a special massage table while being sprayed with water from healing mineral hot springs. Often this treatment is paired with a body scrub, acupuncture, or a facial like a mud mask or scalp massage. Beyond relaxation, those who struggle with arthritis, congestive complaints, digestive issues like bloating and water retention, or other ailments often find relief. 

“It helps with your lymphatic system and gets your circulatory system moving, so it really helps to increase the benefits of any kind of detoxing treatment that you do,” Rubio says. “It’s really relaxing and therapeutic. It’s an amazing service to get.”

The Woodhouse offers more than 20 different facials. Two of the most popular are HydraFacials and dermaplane facials. The HydraFacial is one of the top cleansing facials offered at the Woodhouse.

“It’s like a carpet shampooer for your skin,” says Heather Fisher, an esthetician at the spa. “It’s really a perfect description. It gets everything out of the skin – all the debris. Then in the back of the machine there’s a collection cup and you can see what comes out of your skin, so you have that instant gratification.” 

This service is available in 50- or 80-minute sessions. A guest who takes the longer facial receives added benefits like lymphatic drainage and LED light therapy, which will either help with increased circulation or will treat and prevent acne, depending on which LED color the guest chooses.

Dermaplaning is on the cutting edge of spa therapy. It’s also a recent addition to the Woodhouse menu. This 50-minute service deeply exfoliates a guest’s face while simultaneously removing vellus hair with the latest in sonic exfoliation technology. Even those with acne or rosacea complaints can enjoy this relaxing facial.

For guests interested in getting a facial but who aren’t sure which would be best, Fisher and the other estheticians are willing to help.

“If someone doesn’t know where to start with a facial, we can book them a basic facial and then we can better design a skin-care journey for them to get the results they’re looking for,” Fisher explains. 

For those who want to take a bit of the Woodhouse home, many of the products used are available for purchase. These exclusive products come from around the world. One of their most popular and most frequently used is BABOR, which comes from Germany.

“It somewhat compares to the Mercedes,” Tapper says. “They’re one of the elite cars. BABOR is one of the elite brands in Europe for skin-care.”

Fisher concurs.

“You get phenomenal results and the quality you’re getting is phenomenal just because it’s a European skin-care line,” Fishers says. “There’s a huge list of ingredients that they’re not allowed to use, so the quality of their products is better.”

The Woodhouse also offers packages like the VIP package. This signature, year-long package entitles a guest to their own relaxation room and robe, as well as discounts on retail products whenever they come in for services. VIP guests also get a bottle of champagne and a charcuterie board during their visit.

“It’s basically elite and exclusive perks,” Tapper says. “You get a little bit more to just splurge.”

Whether a guest is looking for a place to get their nails done for the weekend or massage therapy for a chronic condition, the Woodhouse exists to provide an experience that will help them relax and heal physically and mentally. 

“You kind of forget about the world that’s left out there when you step into our doors,” Tapper says. “It’s just about you. You just spoil and pamper yourself, and forget about all the problems, all the intensity that’s out there. Now that we’re facing COVID and all the issues that came with it, I feel that stress release is a number-one priority. If you can find just an hour – if not weekly, biweekly or monthly – for yourself, it’s just definitely the treat that is much needed.”

Visit the Woodhouse Day Spa at 1012 East University Drive in Granger. For more info or to schedule an appointment, call 574-893-8038 or visit woodhousespas.com. To stay informed on their newest services, follow them on Facebook or Instagram.