By Kristen Nowak Winn

Accent Editor

CEDAR FALLS — In the first breath of morning, the sun stretches over a field of wildflowers and sumac, bringing life to the quiet retreat that rests on the other side.

It’s a view that calls for pause after the first night at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, about 160 miles south of Medina County in the Hocking Hills region. The air is crisp yet still, and you can’t help but notice what’s on your mind:

The Spa at Cedar Falls in the Hocking Hills allows visitors to relax with a full line of spa services.
(Robert Winn | Special to The Gazette)

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Nothing.

It startles you at first. Absent of stress, quietude wraps around you.

This is no place for techno junkies, except for those who dare to unplug. Televisions disappear. Cell phones hopelessly search for signals. Here, the closest resemblance to time is the simple sway of hammocks that rock back and forth like a pendulum.

But this is the purpose of The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls’ intimate setting — to provide a place where the mind can let go, rejuvenate.

“The whole area is just a special spiritual area,” said Ellen Grinsfelder, who owns The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls with her husband, Terry Lingo. Grinsfelder’s mother, Anne Castle, opened the property in 1987.

When Castle died in 1991, Ellen and Terry continued her dream of providing a place of respite for people who wanted to step into nature.

“I think she’d be really proud of what we created,” Grinsfelder said.

The result is a humble Hocking Hills haven that has grown in its 22 years, but its peacefulness remains steady.

Grinsfelder says repeat visitors, including some who remember her mother, will be the first to point that out.

“They’ll say, ‘You’ve grown, but the feel has not changed,’” Grinsfelder said.

Each of the inn’s nine rooms brims with antiques to create a country bed-and-breakfast touch.

Twelve cottages play hide-and-seek in the woods across the street, perfect for couples hoping to hibernate during the winter.
Girlfriend getaways also have become popular, with cabins that hold up to four guests.

And in January, the inn will open its Gathering Place, a meeting room for visitors to hold events.

But the real invitation to relaxation is at The Spa at Cedar Falls.

After savoring a bowl of the inn’s famous granola at breakfast (the talk of the campfire the night before), we wandered down to the spa, snuggled among the trees in one of the property’s original cabins.

The transformation was complete in May 2006.

The spa offers a full line of services, including massages and mud wraps, as well as several holistic treatments, such as reiki and emotional freedom techniques.

The couples massage is one of the most popular, said Randall Wellman, the spa manager. Housed in a quiet sunroom in the back of the cabin, partners find peace in the solitude of the woods. It’s a chance to connect with the earth, as soothing music intertwines with the whisper of pines.

Occasionally, squirrels that dance on the rooftop interrupt this calming flow, but you don’t mind.

The heated blanket beneath you keeps you warm and safe; your muscles relax as every pressure point touched releases energy.

The peak season in Hocking Hills may be fall, but Grinsfelder says colder nights in the upcoming months shouldn’t discourage guests.

“Winter is my favorite season,” Grinsfelder said. “It’s like a fairyland down here.”

Winn may be reached at 330-721-4053 or kwinn@ohio.net.

Pair it with: zipline canopy tour

Mention the Hocking Hills Canopy Tour to anyone afraid of heights, and you might get a flat out “no.”

The only one if its kind in Ohio, the three-hour experience takes adventurers high into the treetops, where you’ll soar through a course of eight ziplines and three skybridges. No need for experience, or even much bravery — just the ability to trust the equipment and your guides.

That’s the beauty of the tour, which opened in April and has extended its season to weekends through November. Unlike some extreme adventures, this one doesn’t take much skill and is suitable for all ages.

Once you’re properly strapped in your harness and gear, you’ll start out at ground school to learn the proper positions and braking techniques.

After a 1.5-mile drive into the woods with your group, get ready for some of the best nature views along the Hocking River.
Any nervousness disappears by the end of the third zipline, nicknamed “Screaming Eagle,” as confidence climbs to new levels as you continue the course.

Tours in November begin from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The cost is $75. For more information, visit www.hockinghills
canopytours.com or call 740-385-9477.

Adventure Inn at Cedar Falls

Pair relaxation with adventure in one of The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls’ new packages.

This includes two nights stay in a room or cottage, breakfast and a bag lunch both days, one picnic basket dinner, bottle of wine and a five-course dinner for two.

You can also select two of the following adventures per person, and the inn will make the reservations for you: zipline canopy tour, rock repelling and skeet shooting. To really unwind, you can also add a spa to your package; price is extra. Weekday price is $705 for a room and $865 for a cottage. Weekend price for a room is $745 and $925 for a cottage. Not valid on holidays.
For more information: Log on to www.innatcedarfalls.com or call 800-653-2557. Gift certificates available.

Getting there: From Medina County, take I-71 south. Take U.S. Route 33 east around Lancaster to state Route 664. Turn right; drive 9.5 miles to state Route 374. Turn left. The Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls is one mile on the left.

Dining: At The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, breakfast is included with your night’s stay. For dinner, the restaurant offers five-course dinners prepared with local ingredients. Stop in for lunch, or ask for a picnic basket dinner to go.

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