Chopra to open spa off U.S. 36

Westminster wellness center is part of $40 million development. The Ayurvedic-healing guru's popularity is likelyto boost the economy along the U.S. 36 corridor.

Denver Post/October 11, 2005
By Margaret Jackson

Deepak Chopra is opening a spa in Westminster.

The 17,000-square-foot Rocky Mountain Chopra Center & Spa will be part of Ananda, a $40 million residential and retail development that will include 60 condominiums adjacent to the Westin Westminster Hotel & Conference Center.

"We went out looking for an amenity for the hotel, but I think the hotel is going to be an amenity for the Chopra Center," said Tim O'Byrne, who is developing the project. "They are truly a destination attraction. People go there just for their services."

Chopra is scheduled to be onsite Thursday to unveil the project.

The inspirational author's first center, the Chopra Center for Wellbeing on the grounds of La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., was the first wellness center in North America to integrate modern Western medicine with Ayurveda, the 5,000-year- old healing tradition of India.

The center provides medical consultations, Ayurvedic body treatments and therapies and health-enhancing workshops.

The condos will range in size from a 600-square-foot studio, starting at $200,000, to 4,000- square-foot, three-bedroom pent house units at more than $1 million.

Oz Architecture of Boulder is the architect on the project.

Condo owners will be able to take advantage of hotel services such as room service, maid service and dry cleaning.

O'Byrne said he already has debt and equity in place for the project. He declined to name the local bank that is handling the debt. Investors that have been involved in O'Byrne's previous projects are investing in Ananda.

The spa could improve occupancy.