• Avalon Springs
    • Avalon Springs site plan

Avalon Springs Healing Retreat & Eco-Village

Middletown, CA

Avalon Springs is an experiential learning environment, anchored by a healing hot springs retreat center and eco-village, located on 318 acres of rolling hilltop land in Lake County, California. Ten natural springs grace the property, including hot springs for bathing and drinking springs with therapeutic minerals including Lithium and Magnesium. The site operated as "Howard Hot Springs Resort" from the early 1900's until 1974.

The Retreat Center includes a renovated and expanded lodge; new bathhouse, changing rooms, spa facilities, and lodging units to replace existing; as well as new meeting halls, library, and associated buildings. A natural canyon, the new site plan features a watercourse that is both a landscape feature incorporating water from the springs and a channel for stormwater flows. The transformation and modernization of the facilities will improve energy efficiency and connect the spaces with the spectacular surrounding landscape. Proposed exterior materials include rock, straw bale with an earth-cement finish, and natural and salvaged wood.

An 'Eco-Village' for employees and timeshare guests is planned for the east side of Big Canyon Road, adjacent to an extensive food-producing garden. At full build-out, the Eco-Village will have 30 dwelling units and a Community Hall with communal kitchen and dining room, 15 guest and/or intern bedrooms, daycare facilities, office space, a new agricultural pond, gardens and a network of paths and roadways.

Avalon Springs aligns the most advanced green technologies, systems and philosophies to become a living template for an abundant economic, social and environmental future.

Building type
Design Team

Project Manager: Andy Wojnoonski
Landscape and Permaculture Design: Exos Design