Wild Rice Retreat

What Wild Rice Retreat does

Wild Rice Retreat is a privately held, founder-led wellness resort located on a 100-acre wooded property along the shores of Lake Superior in Bayfield, Wisconsin, near the Apostle Islands. Founded in 2018 by Heidi Zimmer and Martin Ebelhardt and opened in May 2021 after construction that ran March 2020 through March 2021, the property is built around Scandinavian-modern architecture designed by David Salmela. It operates 31 lodging units across three formats — standalone RicePod cabins, Nest luxury suites, and Treehaus treehouse-style suites — supported by a 9,500 sq ft Retreat Center, the Peace Pod yoga and meditation facility, and The Sanctuary with cedar Sauna Haus and Rain Room.

The business generates revenue across five streams: lodging-led resort stays (the primary stream, including two daily meals and amenity access), instructor-led guided retreats and creative workshops priced $75-$500 per experience, on-site dining at the Root restaurant (Ayurvedic-inspired, locally sourced cuisine), one-on-one wellness services such as massage, energy balancing, and HeartMath coaching at $120-$180 per session, and customizable packages and add-ons (notably the exclusive Harbor & Haven sailing package with Superior Charters and the Pup Package for pet owners). Three core customer segments are addressed: wellness-focused individual adults booking self-curated stays, creative retreat seekers joining instructor-led workshops, and corporate/group organizers running strategic offsites, weddings, and celebrations. Pricing is quote-based and varies by accommodation type, season, and package.

Distribution is primarily direct: a TravelClick-powered booking engine on wildriceretreat.com, phone reservations, and a corporate Request-for-Proposal process. Marketing relies on content (the website and editorial press), earned media (Condé Nast Traveler, Bazaar, Food & Wine, Forbes, The Today Show, Travel & Leisure), and organic social on Facebook and Instagram. Operational management is handled in partnership with Charlestowne Hotels, a third-party hospitality management firm. The company is planning a Phase 2 expansion branded 'Wild Rice Residences' for 2025-2026, signaling diversification into branded residential real estate alongside continued scaling of the core retreat experience.

Name

Wild Rice Retreat

Legal name

Wild Rice Retreat

Website

https://wildriceretreat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wild Rice Retreat is a Scandinavian-inspired wellness resort on Lake Superior in Bayfield, Wisconsin, offering 31 lodging units, daily wellness programming, instructor-led retreats, and corporate group bookings on a 100-acre property.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wellness Resort Hospitality

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Destination Spa Resorts (THAGAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE), Hot Springs & Nature Wellness Lodges (THAAAHAH)

Keywords

• Wellness resort
• Guided retreats
• Lodging accommodations
• Corporate offsite
• Holistic wellness

Headquarters

HQ city

Bayfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Lodging/Resort Stays: Primary revenue stream from 31 Scandinavian-inspired accommodation units including RicePod, Nest, and Treehaus options. Includes two meals per day, amenity access, and daily classes. Two-night minimum stay required.
2. Guided Retreats: Instructor-led creative and wellness retreats with lodging, meals, amenity access, and exclusive classes. Priced per workshop ($75-$500) and retreat package.
3. On-site Dining - Root Restaurant: Daily buffet meals included in stay: lite breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Bar serving wine, beer, craft cocktails, and non-alcoholic options available for purchase.
4. Wellness Services: Add-on one-on-one services including massage therapy, energy balancing, and coaching sessions priced at $120-$180 per session.
5. Packages and Add-ons: Special packages such as Harbor & Haven sailing package (sailing + lodging), corporate meeting space rentals, and offsite experiences like equine-assisted learning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wild Rice Retreat operates a year-round wellness resort destination on the shores of Lake Superior in Bayfield, Wisconsin, offering Scandinavian-inspired lodging (31 units across RicePod cabins, Nest suites, and Treehaus accommodations), daily movement and creativity classes, on-site dining at Root restaurant, wellness amenities (cedar sauna, Rain Room, Peace Pod yoga facility), instructor-led guided retreats, and customizable corporate and group event hosting.

Product overview

Wild Rice Retreat is a Scandinavian-inspired wellness resort destination on the shores of Lake Superior offering three core experience types: self-curated Resort Stays, instructor-led Guided Retreats, and customizable Group/Corporate Retreats. Accommodations span three lodging categories (RicePod standalone cabins, Nest luxury suites, and Treehaus treehouse-style rooms) totaling 31 units. On-site amenities include the Root dining restaurant, The Sanctuary wellness facility (cedar sauna, rain room), Peace Pod yoga/meditation space, and a 9,500 sq ft Retreat Center. The resort's programming is organized around three pillars: Nourishment (healthy dining, gardening, foraging), Expression (art, creativity workshops), and Movement (yoga, meditation, nature walks). Optional add-ons include one-on-one wellness sessions and offsite experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Root: On-site dining kitchen at Wild Rice Retreat, serving locally-sourced, Ayurvedic-inspired meals focused on whole foods.

Products and services

• Resort Stays Self-curated multi-night resort stays for adult guests (16+) featuring bundled lodging, two daily meals, access to wellness amenities, and complimentary daily movement, meditation, and creativity classes. Guests design their own restorative getaway with a two-night minimum stay.
• Guided Retreats
• Corporate Retreats
• Group Events (Weddings, Reunions, Celebrations)
• RicePod Lodging
• Nest Lodging
• Treehaus Lodging
• Root Dining
• One-On-One Wellness Sessions
• Harbor & Haven Package
• Pup Package
• Offsite Experiences

Quantifiable outcome

• Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2025: #3 Resort in the Midwest
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Superior CharterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership for Harbor & Haven Package offering captained sailing charters through the Apostle Islands combined with resort lodging. Includes two-day monohull or catamaran sailing experiences with island anchoring, complimentary dinghy access, and yacht linens. Package includes meals and amenities at Wild Rice Retreat.
• Unbridled Hope Equine Assisted Learning Center (UHEAL)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffsite experience partner offering equine-assisted learning sessions. Programs include horse-human connection practices, breathwork, and personalized equine activities. Solo/couple sessions (1.5 hours): $175/person; Group sessions (3-6 guests, 4 hours): $425/person.
• Lost Creek AdventuresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended kayak tour operator for Apostle Islands sea cave explorations. Offers guided sea cave tours, overnight kayak trips, SUP tours, and equipment rentals.
• Whitecap KayakminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended kayaking outfitter for self-guided and guided Apostle Islands adventures. Provides equipment rentals and expert guidance.
• Howl Adventure CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal bike and ski rental shop near Wild Rice Retreat. Offers full-service rentals including e-bikes, hybrids, fat bikes, road bikes, and gravel bikes with onsite trails. Adventure Club Brewing and taproom also available on-site.
• Bell Street GalleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDowntown Bayfield art gallery and sponsor of Plein Air Event at Wild Rice Retreat. Features over 40 local artists with artwork inspired by Madeline Island and Lake Superior.
• Charlestowne HotelscoreOthersCharlestowne Hotels logo appears on website footer, indicating they provide hotel management services. Charlestowne Hotels specializes in independent hotel management and development.
• TambourineminorOthersWebsite design agency credited in footer. Tambourine provides digital marketing and website development services for hospitality brands.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Miraval Resorts: Luxury destination spa and wellness resort operator offering all-inclusive retreats with lodging, daily wellness classes, spa, and wellness cuisine — a direct comparable on bundle structure and adult wellness positioning.
• The Standard Spa: Adult-focused wellness retreat concept within The Standard Hotels brand offering integrated spa, fitness, and programming alongside lodging. Comparable on adults-only positioning and integrated wellness programming.
• Canyon Ranch: Iconic destination wellness resort with multi-day programs spanning movement, nutrition, and expressive arts — the same three-pillar model WRR adopts. Direct comparable for adult wellness retreats with bundled lodging, dining, and programming.
• Lake Austin Spa Resort: All-inclusive destination spa resort on Lake Austin, Texas with bundled lodging, wellness programming, and dining. Closely comparable on capacity (~40 units), adult focus, and inclusive pricing model.
• Cal-a-Vie Health Spa: Small-capacity destination spa resort in Southern California with bundled lodging, fitness, spa, and wellness cuisine. Closest scale comparable to WRR's 31-unit inventory and all-inclusive pricing model.
• Mii amo (Enchantment Group): Destination spa retreat in Sedona, Arizona offering all-inclusive wellness experiences with lodging, movement classes, and spa. Comparable on adult-focused bundled wellness retreat format in a nature setting.

Regional players

• Sundara Inn and Spa: Adult-only destination spa resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Direct Wisconsin competitor in the upper Midwest wellness resort segment with bundled lodging, dining, and spa programming.
• Lumen Retreat: Wisconsin-based small wellness retreat offering nature-immersive programming. Regional competitor overlapping WRR's upper Midwest catchment area.

Broad incumbents

• Aman Resorts: Ultra-luxury global resort brand known for nature-immersive properties with integrated spa and wellness programming. Comparable on premium positioning and architecture-led design philosophy, though at much larger scale.

Others

• Charlestowne Hotels: Independent hotel management company that already manages Wild Rice Retreat. Comparable as a hospitality management services provider and as an indirect signal of WRR's positioning within the boutique independent hotel ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wildriceretreat
• Instagraminstagram.com/wildriceretreat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wild-rice-retreat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wild Rice Retreat