Where the Stars Meet the Steam: The Magic of the Lilac House Hot Tub

Follow the Path to the Hot Tub....

When guests turn onto the long, tree-lined driveway that takes them upward to Lilac House, I suspect many of them are already thinking about one thing: the hot tub.

After hours in the car, I know I would be.

There’s something wonderfully comforting about knowing that, in just a little while, you’ll be settling into warm, bubbling water beneath an open sky. It’s one of those little rituals that tells your mind and body, You’ve arrived. You can let go now.

I’ve always loved hot tubs. Over the years I’ve soaked in them in every season, and I honestly can’t think of another amenity that changes so completely with the weather. Every season has its own magic.

Our spa sits in its own little garden sanctuary. It’s tucked away behind lush plantings, fencing, and a custom Corten steel privacy screen, so it feels wonderfully secluded without feeling closed in. As dusk falls, tiny solar lights begin to glimmer along the garden path while the spa itself glows with soft, changing colors. Guests often tell me that walking down that path in the evening feels like entering another world.

Spring may be my favorite. As darkness settles, the spring peepers begin their chorus. If you listen carefully, you can sometimes hear owls calling in the distance, too.

Summer brings warm evenings filled with fireflies drifting through the gardens. On clear nights you may catch a shooting star, and during meteor showers, you and your friends can keep tally of falling stars. Make a wish with each! (Everybody needs wishes.)

Autumn is quieter, cooler, and wonderfully crisp, drawing me out to see the blazing foliage in the early morning light. The trees seem to close in around the garden, making the spa feel even more intimate.

And then there’s winter.

Watching snowflakes drift into steaming water while you’re warm from your shoulders down is one of life’s small miracles. Add a full moon rising through the trees, and it’s a memory that stays with you for years.

If you’re an early riser, don’t overlook a morning soak. I love hearing what birders call the dawn chorus—the joyful explosion of birdsong that greets the sunrise. House Wrens, Bluebirds, Cardinals, Robins, Catbirds, and so many others seem determined to welcome the new day. It’s one of my favorite sounds on earth.

Of course, perhaps the greatest pleasure isn’t the scenery at all.

It’s sharing it.

A hot tub has a remarkable way of slowing people down. Phones get forgotten. Conversations wander. Families reconnect. Friends laugh about stories they’ve told for decades. Some of the happiest moments I’ve witnessed at Lilac House have happened with nothing more than warm water, good company, and a sky full of stars.

The Great Bathing Suit Debate

Now for one of humanity’s oldest unresolved controversies: bathing suit or no bathing suit?

I jokingly tell guests that we follow “California Rules” at Lilac House—which means no bathing suits in the spa. Before anyone panics, that’s entirely optional! Everyone should do whatever makes them comfortable.

There actually is a practical reason behind the joke. Swimsuits often carry traces of laundry detergent, fabric softener, sunscreen, lotions, cosmetics, and fragrances. All of those end up in the water, making the filtration and sanitizing system work harder and sometimes contributing to foaming.

Whether you wear a swimsuit or not, the most sanitary thing you can do is take a quick shower before getting in. The hot tub—and everyone sharing it—will thank you.

Keeping the Water Beautiful

Hop In!

As a retired physician, I admit I pay a little more attention to water quality than the average person. One of the things I especially appreciate is that the spa is filled with Lilac House’s own pure well water. Our well is tested to ensure its safety, and because it doesn’t come from a municipal water system, it arrives free of many of the chemicals routinely added during city water treatment. I think it makes for a wonderfully fresh soaking experience.

Our spa is professionally maintained, the water is changed regularly, and between guest stays it receives an enzymatic treatment designed to break down biological contaminants that ordinary sanitizers don’t always remove.

I also use a remote monitoring system that continuously tracks the health of the water, allowing me to identify potential problems even when I’m not at the property.

For everyday sanitation, I use the Frog® Ease system, which combines slow-release silver minerals with a much lower chlorine level than conventional hot tubs. The result is clean, clear water that’s gentler on the skin while still maintaining excellent sanitation.

For complete transparency, I also leave test strips right next to the spa. Guests are welcome to check the sanitizer level and pH at any time. Proper pH doesn’t just protect the equipment—it makes the water more comfortable for your skin and eyes and allows the sanitizer to work as effectively as possible.

A Few Thoughts About Safety

Hot tubs are wonderfully relaxing, but they deserve the same respect as any body of water.

Most adults should limit soaking to about 15–30 minutes when the water is around 104°F (40°C), especially if they’re not accustomed to hot water. If you begin feeling overheated or lightheaded, it’s time to step out, cool off, and drink some water.

Children are more sensitive to heat, so their soaking time should be much shorter, and they should always be closely supervised. As with any pool or spa, children should never be left unattended—not even for a moment.

When the spa isn’t in use, we keep it covered and secured with heavy-duty locking clips and safety straps. Wet surfaces can also be slippery, so taking your time getting in and out is always a good idea.

Up in the Air, my Junior Birdman!

My Hope

If there’s one thing I hope every guest takes home from Lilac House, it isn’t just photographs.

I hope they remember sitting quietly beneath a sky full of stars.

I hope they remember hearing peepers in the spring, fireflies in the summer, or snowflakes melting into warm water on a winter evening.

I hope they remember conversations that lasted much longer than they planned.

Most of all, I hope they remember that wonderful feeling of being completely present—sharing warm water, fresh air, and the beauty of nature with people they love.

To me, that’s what the hot tub at Lilac House has always been about.

There are few places where time seems to slow quite like a hot tub beneath the open sky.

Whether it’s listening to distant bullfrogs on a warm August evening, watching fireflies drift through the garden in July, seeing the full moon rise above the trees, or feeling snowflakes melt into steaming water in winter, every season offers its own kind of magic.

At Lilac House, our hot tub has become the setting for countless conversations, family memories, quiet moments, and nights spent simply looking up at the stars.

What’s your favorite hot tub memory?