akela - spa of deadwood

I have been to Akela twice now. Without exaggeration I received the best massage I have ever had during this last visit.. The facial and pedicure were just as amazing! I could see a difference in my skin immediately following the facial. I can't say enough about the atmosphere of the spa.. warm, relaxing and inviting. The staff at Akela make you feel like family. I will be going back as soon as I get a chance!

I have been to Akela Spa several times since they opened. What a wonderful place! The staff are pleasant and informative. The facials are very in depth and leave your face feeling wonderful. The pedicures are great especially for tired feet and the massages are out of this world. We are soooo lucky to have such a world class place in the Northern Black Hills!!!

I spent the day with my sister-in-law at the Akela Spa....what a high class venue! We were greeted by several attentive staff who went above and beyond to take care of us! We enjoyed a full day of services and the lunch and wine was delicious. The luxurious robes were amazing as well as all the soft linens used throughout the massages! It was a day full of pampering by a fantastic staff. This was the first time I had ever had a facial or a pedicure. I can't keep talking about how great it felt! One of the best experiences I've ever had! We waited in the relaxation room for our massage therapists before our massages which were healing and relaxing. I really appreciated the hot moist towels applied to my face and feet! Also a first experience for me was the infrared sauna in the gardens, I felt so cleansed afterwards! Spending a day there where I can relax and get a facial, body massage and pedicure was so good for my soul. Truly the best spa experience I have ever had... Thanks Akela Spa and the staff! One of the BEST things I have ever experienced in my life. Brenda

My husband and I came to this spa to try something different. Wow we should have stuck to what we know. The staff was unfriendly and the massages were terrible. We were suppose to get an hour and a half deep tissue massage. I told my therapist two different times to use more pressure...she just said ok and Never changed the pressure. If we are going to pay the insanely high prices for an hour and a half deep tissue couples massage we should get what we asked for. Very disappointed.

A girlfriend and I treated ourselves to holiday pedicures at Akela Spa. It's well located just off the highway in Boulder Canyon with nice views of the surrounding hills. The lobby is quite small with limited seating so no place to sit to fill out the information sheet (my only complaint). The building has been beautifully remodeled in soothing colors, natural tile and complimentary décor. We were given a brief tour of the outdoor hot tub and sauna areas before our pedicures. The nail technicians were pleasant and professional. Nice selection of polish. They provided some more information services available at Akela. A small selection of wine was available during the pedicure. The massaging chairs were awesome...with a nice variety of settings. I left with 10 happy toes! Will plan to return to try some of the other services available.

We spent the afternoon each receiving a full massage. The robes were nice and they provided slippers as well. We did not use the sauna or hot tub, we weren't sure if there was an up charge for these services. I can't remember the girls name who gave me my massage, I would like to request her on my next visit. It was a very relaxing afternoon.

I wasn't sure what to expect since this Spa was fairly new, but I loved it. Its pretty clear the owners didn't skimp on the luxuries (the robes in particular are incredibly soft) and it shows. I splurged (while hubby golfed) and got three services -- the scrub/massage (90 minutes), facial and medi-pedi. Each was better than the one before! I ate lunch outside, enjoying the beautiful scenery in between my appointments. The staff are very well trained and friendly (but not overly so). If I lived near there, I would be using it all the time.

The facial was really great! It was the first time, and was every bit as I had hoped it to be. The smooth gliding oiled hands around my face and neck was very relaxing.The body polish was interesting. I didn't know what to expect, but when she rubbed each part of the body with an exfoliating wash, followed with a hot towel, and then massaged the skin with some great oils, it gave my skin a great feeling. But the thing I was most impressed with was the neck massage. My poor old arthritic neck has always given me a lot of trouble, but the next morning my neck felt the best it has for a long long time. That alone would make me come back again.

The afternoon I spent at the Akela Spa was lovelier than I had ever anticipated. The staff was friendly and welcoming and the robes, sandals, towels, and all of the furnishings of the spa were luxurious. Very surprising since it was in a rustic setting in the Black Hills! I had a facial that could have lasted all day, as far as I was concerned. The body polish felt good but it was the massage that followed that was to die for. One thing that impressed me enormously was the fact that everyone respected the middle-aged female modesty issue. No body parts were required to be exposed that might make someone uncomfortable. I would go back to the Akela Spa in a heartbeat!

The new Akela Spa has been touted as a world class spa attraction since it opened a short time ago. Maybe you would agree if you have never been to a spa before. My grand daughter came to visit and I wanted to give her a special treat by taking her for a massage. Normally I would have made appointments at Mystique Edge in Rapid City but since Akela is new we decided to go there.Fist of all when I booked the appointment the receptionist asked if we wanted to use the garden area for an additional $15.00 apiece. This seems unusual as I had never been charged for using a hot tub before but I thought maybe this was a exceptional experience so I agreed. When we arrived the receptionist didn't seem to know what to do with us. We did arrive a few minutes early and I thought maybe she would show us around since we had never been there before. Instead we were shown the relaxation room. In the brochure it says snacks are provide in the relaxation room.There was only a dish of Hershey's Kisses and another of mixed nuts.She pointed out some paper Lipton Tea bags we could use if we wanted to make ourselves tea. For better tea there is a $2.00 charge and you cannot take your cup to the hot tub area. Then we went to the lockers where she gave us robes and slippers. She pointed out the door and told us that we could go out to the hot tub though those doors. Later we found out there was a sauna area that we could have used also. One hot tub was being used by a couple so we had to uncover the other hot tub ourselves. When I was ready to get in the hot tub I removed my slippers and robe but there was no place to put my robe so I had to move a few feet back to hang my robe on a hook. It had been raining and when I turned I slipped on the wet path and fell. I knew my toe was hurting but went ahead and used the hot tub for a while before the massage.I have no negatives about the massages. They were nice massages with pleasant young women performing them. When I went to leave I told the receptionist that I wanted them to know I had fallen so if I suffered any after effects they would know I reported it. I was told I should have had my slippers on and that the sidewalk shouldn't be slick.I knew this was going to be an expensive experience when I booked it so I can't complain about the price. I would like to say since I have been there, it isn't worth it. The location is beautiful, the spa has the perfect atmosphere but the service is lacking.They are not superior in any way so that is why this attraction gets a good rating from me. Oh...yes, I thought maybe I would get a follow up call to see how I was doing after my fall. Nope.