Charm, elegance, relaxation, and a touch of history: just some of the dreamy qualities of the New Buffalo Inn & Spa. Nestled along East Buffalo Street in New Buffalo, the royal blue awnings peer out from behind snow-dusted foliage in the winter, and pop against the delicate magnolia blooms and dancing mounds of beach grass in the summer.
The footprint of the Inn takes up two buildings, one for the Inn, one for the Health Spa, and a cozy backyard that invites you into leisure. Last month, the New Buffalo Inn & Spa celebrated its 28th year, and this momentous achievement deserves congratulations and all the excitement!
Lisa Werner, owner, operator, and proud local, purchased the building at 231 E. Buffalo Street in 1995, and opened for business in January of 1996. “My then-husband and I saw this old apartment building as the perfect lodging opportunity for the city of New Buffalo,” Lisa says. “Our town had a lot of properties that were in need of repair and restoration at that time.”
Built in the 1950s, with expansion in 60s, the future home of New Buffalo Inn & Spa once housed the Dr. Maria Holecek Dental Office. “People might remember going there as a child,” says Lisa.
Many upgrades and improvements have been done to the boutique hotel over the years, like changing decor and adding beautiful amenities– you’ll find a jacuzzi/ultra-jet tub and comforting fireplace in each room. Lisa just had a new hot tub installed in the hangout space of the backyard, and a new outdoor grill is next.
“New Buffalo is a tough area to have a business, due to seasonal visitors,” Lisa says. “Our area wasn’t always as populated or the desirable destination that it is today, but we continued to have hope for our small town and what it could offer. We are now open year round, due to the increase in winter tourists, but it definitely wasn’t always this way.”
Despite the changing economy, the pandemic, and the uncertainty of owning a small business in general, the New Buffalo Inn & Spa is popular, enjoyable, and offers so much more than a comfy place to stay. Their social media page offers special packages, like the Relax & Recharge Two-Night stay (available until March 10th), and serves a little like Harbor Country’s own promotional space, where Lisa gladly shares other local business events and specialties.
Photos by New Buffalo Inn & Spa
Partnering with local businesses to host events at the Spa, February 19th will introduce ‘Sound Healing’ with Velvet Skin Spa: an immersive and meditative musical experience. Listen to singing bowls, drums, chimes, and more, as the sound bath allows you to rest, relax, and recharge. Lisa is excited to host many more wellness-oriented happenings in the future.
The New Buffalo Spa offers massage therapy services, aesthetician services, hydrotherapy, reflexology, couples massages, and complete and utter relaxation. With the added quiet and unwinding during your stay at the Inn, you’ll never want to leave.
Visit the newbuffaloinn.com for more information, including reservations, packages, and photos of the rooms. Book your stay now, and truly experience what New Buffalo has to offer. Congratulations!
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
