Located in a serene valley between San Diego and Los Angeles, Golden Door features 600 acres of native hills, meadows, citrus groves, and bamboo forest. Guests can enjoy 12 mountain or meadow hikes of varying challenges on 25 miles of private trails, as well as seven state-of-the-art gyms, two swimming pools, a Watsu water therapy pool, two labyrinths, a lighted tennis court, and five acres of bio-intensive gardens. The resort was originally designed and inspired in the style of a ryokan – a traditional Japanese Inn with Koi pond and manicured gardens – and has recently added a new pollinator garden featuring native flowering plants that provide food and habitat for butterflies, sweet bees, bumblebees, moths and hummingbirds. 

All guests at Golden Door receive a personal program interview and up to four sessions with a personal trainer, as well as a choice from more than 40 fitness classes, mindfulness and improvement sessions, and evening programs and lectures. The on-site spa includes a bathouse with Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, as well as nine skincare and body care treatment rooms. 

Meals are based around fresh produce grown on the on-site bio-intensive farms, which include an organic vegetable garden, citrus groves, avocado groves and hens that produce fresh eggs. Guest stays also include nutrition education classes, a weekly cooking class, and a celebratory alfresco group lunch or dinner on the farm. 

“The main goal of Golden Door is for our guests to experience transformation and healing during their stay, and to take home tools that they can implement in their lives,” says Kathy Van Ness, COO of Golden Door. “We saw so much synergy between our goals and the philosophy of Healing Hotels of the World, and we knew it was a perfect fit. Joining Healing Hotels of the World will help us reach even more guests around the world, and spread our message of healing and transformation.”

With just 40 private rooms and a staff to guest ratio of 4:1, Golden Door prides itself on helping guests meet their specific goals and needs during their stay. The company is also dedicated to preserving and enhancing the tranquility of its unique location, and to helping make an impact beyond its borders; 100% of its net profits go to philanthropic causes like helping to end child abuse and transforming young lives.

“We are thrilled to welcome this iconic location as the newest member of our group,” says Anne Biging, CEO and co-founder of Healing Hotels of the World. “Golden Door is known and respected around the world for the decades of work they’ve done bringing healing and health to so many guests. We couldn’t be more happy to welcome them to our Healing Hotels family.”