The spa that sits under the mountains

In White Sulphur Springs, Route 92 twists through thick expanses of pine trees and straightens out among rolling green hills, passing by long-since abandoned barns, quaint white farm houses and fields of cows.

A mile or two into the Monongahela National Forest, a door leading into the side of a mountain sometimes causes passing cars to tap their brakes and occasionally even pull off the road for a closer look.

One of these things is certainly not like the others.

Inside the underground mountain spa2 rounded cave-like domes emerge from under a grassy hill. Wildflowers grow from the roof. Other than a small sign tacked on the wall reading “Quiet Please, Session In Progress,” the spackled and modest mud-colored shell provides little insight into what may lie behind a weathered green door.

The Salt Cave and Spa building mirrors the owners’ philosophy in health and wellness: it comes from nature. Marius and Adriana Grecu believe the body already has all the tools it needs to heal itself, and their spa is dedicated to tapping into that potential.

The most unique service they offer is halotherapy, more commonly known as salt therapy. A large portion of the building is dedicated to a salt cave, a room composed entirely of Himalayan salt (16,000 pounds of it to be exact).

Everything you touch in the room is salt— from the floor to the ceiling. Himalayan salt is extremely pure because it has been maturing in the Himalayan mountains for approximately 250 million years. The main reason people use it, especially as table salt, is for its mineral content. It contains all 84 elements in our bodies.

Guests enjoy 45-minute sessions in the cave, which is equal to about 3 days by the oceanside as far as negative ion intake. Negative ions are said to counteract harmful positive ions (sometimes referred to as “free radicals”) emitted by computers, TVs, cell phones and other electronics.

This doorway leads you underground into a luxurious healing spaPeople suffering from allergies, asthma, respiratory conditions, bronchitis, Cystic Fibrosis, congestion and arthritis commonly benefit from halotherapy. The ancient practice has been around for centuries and is very popular in Europe, where some hospitals even use salt caves as a method of treatment for patients.

The owners and staff at the Salt Cave and Spa aim to educate and provide West Virginians with healthy living alternatives. Aside from halotherapy, the spa also features an array of natural services, including massages, clay body wraps, ion foot detoxes, aromatherapy, light therapy, yoga, facials and exfoliation treatments. Some services are offered on an FDA-approved biomat, which is sort of like a heating pad lined with amethyst crystals and tourmaline crystals. Biomats infuse the body with negative ions and are ultimately said to help with immunity.

The best part? The spa is located within the National Radio Quiet Zone, a federally mandated area that receives no cell phone service. Thanks to the quiet zone, a trip to this spa is truly an escape from reality.

Have you been to the Salt Cave & Spa?

Discover more WV relaxation >

This post was last updated on March 15, 2022