about
FOUR DECADES OF CHANGING LIVES
Since opening our doors in 1986, Cal-a-Vie Health Spa has grown alongside the world of wellness itself. Through four decades of changing ideas, emerging practices and new discoveries, our purpose has remained deeply personal: helping each guest restore the mind, body and spirit through meaningful care designed to last well beyond their stay.
Today, our 40th anniversary is both a celebration of where we have been and an invitation to what comes next. We honor the generations of guests and team members who have become part of the Cal-a-Vie Health Spa story, the traditions that continue to define our retreat and an enduring belief that true wellbeing is found in movement, nourishment, rest, connection and time devoted entirely to yourself.
CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF WELLNESS, BEAUTIFULLY LIVED.
Welcome to Cal-a-Vie
A Haven of Health
Voted North America’s #1 Destination Health Spa by Travel + Leisure, Cal-a-Vie is an award-winning fitness and health spa retreat in scenic Vista, California. Owners Terri and John Havens modeled our property after a passion for historical antiques, family trips to France, and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
WE CHANGE LIVES
MISSION
MISSION
To restore and elevate the mind, body, and soul through deeply personal, luxurious care that promotes longevity and stays with you long a er you leave.
VISION
VISION
To be the world’s finest luxury wellness retreat — the standard against which others are measured and the destination of choice for the most discerning guests.
VALUES
Our History
Terri and John Havens fell in love with Cal-a-Vie Health Spa on their first visit in 1998, immediately sensing something special about it. They were enchanted with the spa’s intimate size, classes, and romantic Southern California location. The couple became owners on July 1st, 2000, and began crafting their vision for its future together. Since then, they have transformed the 200-acre property into a French countryside-style paradise, winning top awards from Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure year after year. They continue to offer guests a tranquil haven filled with beauty and life-changing wellness experiences.
The Chapel and Meditation Center was originally the Chapel at the Convent of the Carmelites in Dijon, France. The convent was constructed over several centuries, beginning in the 16th century and continuing through the French Revolution in 1789. The entire Convent was demolished in 1978, except a few historically significant buildings, which were carefully reconstructed for use as Cal-a-Vie's Meditation Center and officially opened in 2006.
The Havens purchased the L'Orangerie from the Convent of the Carmelites in Dijon, France, to complement the 17th-century French Chapel. The 400-year-old limestone greenhouse originally protected orange trees during cold months. Later, the building was adapted as a dining hall for the religious community and a place for social gatherings. Keeping in harmony as a social venue, the L'Orangerie at Cal-a-Vie Health Spa will welcome celebrations for years to come.
The Parish House was originally built circa 1715 in the heart of France’s Burgundy country. The Parish House was built as the priest's residence, adjacent to the Parish Church. The Havens shipped the building from France and reconstructed it on the current site surrounded by the fabulous panoramic vistas of Cal-a-Vie. Reconstruction was completed in June 2018, and the Presbytere was opened for guests to enjoy the distinctive estate wines of Chateau Cal-a-Vie.
The Chapel, Circa 1615
The L’Orangerie, Circa 1710
The Parish House, Circa 1715
