The Marsh will be closing at the end of 2022. Following the death of Founder Ruth Stricker and the Covid 19 pandemic, The March changed ownership and structure, and was unable to keep financially viable.
About The Marsh
The Marsh is a health spa resort in Minnetonka, Minnesota based on the philosophy that fitness involves mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Founded in 1985, the property includes a medically-based fitness center, lap swimming and warm water therapy pools, group exercise and Pilates studios, full-service spa, meditative spaces, restaurant, boutique, and six overnight guest rooms. Their offerings include over 50 group fitness classes, therapeutic massages, one-on-one health consultations, and a physician-led lecture series. The Marsh Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.
The Marsh is a membership-based resort. Individuals and families can join as long-term or short-term members with a contract and monthly fees. The Marsh is also open to the public with certain restrictions and payment options. Its six guest rooms are available to members as well as the public. It is not an all-inclusive resort. Although membership includes most group classes and use of the training center, services like spa appointments, personal training, weight management programs, speaker series, dining, and childcare are extra.
Accommodations
The Marsh offers six overnight guest rooms clustered in one wing of the facility. Room types include King, Queen, and Twin Handicap Accessible rooms, with amenities such as:
Private bath
Refrigerator
Coffee maker
Free Wi-Fi
Overnight guests at The Marsh receive member pricing on all resort services and programs, including spa services, pool usage, group classes, and restaurant reservations. Guests also receive a complimentary continental breakfast.
Fitness
There is a strong focus on indoor fitness at the Marsh’s 67,000 square foot facility. This includes group classes, personal training, Pilates, and swim lessons. Full class schedules are posted each week, and include things like:
Body Pump
Step
Yoga
Nia Dance
Tai Chi
Barre
Indoor Cycle
GRIT
Cardio Bounce
Aqua Jog
The Marsh occasionally offers outdoor activities, such as group bicycling rides around the nearby lakes, as well as golf swing improvement sessions.
Food
The Marsh has one restaurant on location, (aptly named The Marsh Restaurant), offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Dining locations at the restaurant include the indoor Moon Terrace dining room, the outdoor patio, and the walk-up café counter. All dining options are open to members as well as the public.
The menu touts whole ingredients and simple preparations. It is not, however, calorie restrictive or designed to follow a particular type of diet, as guests will decide for themselves which food choices meet their nutritional needs. Due to this, visitors seeking a weight-loss focused FitStay may want to choose a more nutritionally structured alternative.
The menu at The Marsh Restaurant offers many gluten free and dairy free items, and most dishes can be requested vegetarian.
Extras
A unique feature at The Marsh is the resort’s lecture series and educational events. In the past, these seminars and workshops have been led by physicians, authors, physical therapists, athletes, farmers, and healers. Topics have included weight management, remedies for chronic pain, posture, meditation, and mindfulness.
This FitStay also offers a full-service day spa, including massages, acupuncture, and full salon services.
The Marsh Kids Club child care accepts children 6 weeks to 12 years of age, available when parents are using the Marsh facilities. Swim lessons are also available to children, but these services come at an extra cost.
Location
The Marsh is located on marshlands in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a 20 minute drive from downtown Minneapolis. Outdoor recreation and fitness in the area includes swimming, canoeing and kayaking at nearby Shady Oak Beach, as well as ice skating at the local arena.
Travelers to The Marsh will fly into the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), roughly a half hour from The Marsh campus. The Marsh does not provide transportation, so air travel guests will have to rely on Uber, Lyft, or taxi service to make their way to the retreat.
Pricing
The Marsh is primarily a membership based health resort. For program guests, overnight room rates change with the season, but typically average $125 per person per night. The Marsh is not an all-inclusive FitStay; fitness classes are included, but guests should expect to pay for meals and extra services, such as spa and salon options and some seminars.
Summary
The Marsh is a membership based health resort primarily focused on indoor fitness activities and total body wellness. Their philosophy is a commitment to provide a community environment inspiring a healthy attitude toward life. Guests looking for an inexpensive indoor fitness option in the Midwest may wish to check out The Marsh. However, travelers preferring an all-inclusive option or greater weight-loss focus should examine other options.
