Events
At the turn of the Twentieth Century, a large pavilion situated next to the pool facility brought weekend music and dancing events during the summer months. One hundred years later, WellSprings continues to attract thousands each year to daily classes, weekend workshops, weekly retreats, and night time entertainment.
The facility is comprised of several separate venues, contributing to the diversity of events that can be staged at WellSprings:
The Front Lawn
A canopy of black locust and towering columnar poplars shade a two acre lawn, typically used for teepee and tent camping. Campers are moved to outlying fields during night time concert attractions when popular artists perform on an elevated stage, or during weekend events and fairs that attract thousands to WellSprings. With a capacity of one thousand guest and one hundred vendors, the Front Lawn has witnessed four Native American Powwow’s, ten World Peace and Prayer Day events, several Ashland Community Fairs, two Ashland Country Fairs, and the Southern Oregon Barter Fair.
The Back Garden Meadow
In a park like setting, Wildcat Gulch meanders past vegetable and herb gardens, the Mikvah, Buddha Skywall and Goddess Temple, before opening onto a two acre field that accommodates exclusive parties and events. The exclusive nature of the Garden Meadow attracts weekend concerts and festivals, as well as weeklong retreats and workshops, oftentimes devoted to the subjects of permaculture design, ecological restoration, and environmental science. The natural setting invites private weddings, family reunions, and the like. The Garden Meadow is under the auspices of the Health Research Institute.
The Community Room
The Community Room was constructed in 2005 as a multipurpose environment to house weekly events as well as weekend workshops. Situated adjacent to the swimming pool, the reflection of sunlight on the water’s surface transmits an ocean of dancing images on the ceiling of the 1500 square foot room. The spacious room is equipped with a floating floor, full length mirrors, and a foam mat floor which attract a diversity of events, including yoga, modern dance, belly dancing, Aikido and other martial arts. Persian carpets are popular for a number of classes, including meditation, kirtan, and tantra. The construction of the room takes advantage of sacred geometry, thereby facilitating the even transmission of sound and light. Weekend workshops are popular and can comfortably accommodate forty or fifty people, whereas musical events have attracted more than one hundred to the Community Room.
The Casbah Stage
Situated next to Café Namaste and the Tea Room, the Casbah is a spacious pavilion covered by a tall circus tent. The room measures forty feet by eighty feet and accommodates parties as large as two hundred persons. Daytime use includes outdoor dining and an internet café. During night time events, restaurant guests experience a dinner show on the spacious Casbah stage, equipped with modern lighting and an advanced sound system. After hour acoustical musicians perform at a multi-level fire pit that comfortably seats sixty.
Breakout Rooms
A number of indoor and out-of-door breakout rooms are situated on the WellSprings campus, including the Tea Room, the Goddess Temple, the Seamana stage, and Apple Island.
Amenities and Features
A number of special features make WellSprings an attractive environment for events, retreats and workshops. First and foremost, it’s the water. The spa provides relaxation and refreshment before and between classes and, with the spa open until midnight, late night soaking allows attendees to relax after hours. Situated on the bike path and public transportation route, WellSprings is positioned one mile north of Ashland, allowing workshop goers to take in a Shakespeare play or a meal in town after the day’s event. For those who decide to remain on site, Café Namaste offers evening meals as well as catered meals, upon request. An outdoor kitchen situated in the Garden Meadow accommodates those who prefer to prepare their own meals. A number of accommodation features, including car camping, RV hookups, tent camping, teepees, and domes offer affordable housing to workshop attendees. Finally, the facility is equipped with tables and chairs, as well as audio-visual equipment, on request.
Centrally located between Portland and San Francisco, and situated one half mile off the interstate (I-5), WellSprings is easily accessed by car or bus, and the Medford International Airport is situated just ten miles away.