Brooklyn-born, Tahiti-raised Deborah Shekelly is often referred to as the “Godmother of Spa” and, at 102 years old, is a living legend in wellness travel. It all began in the 1940s, when Shekelly and her husband traveled to Tecate, Mexico and discovered a small, temporary cabin tucked away in the mountains of Baja California. The two transformed the location into Rancho La Puerta, a renowned fitness and wellness resort on the southern edge of San Diego, California.
Influenced by her mother, who was vice president of the Vegetarian Society of New York, and her experiences growing up in Tahiti, Szekely transformed the place into a bustling sanctuary with an emphasis on exercise classes, fresh ingredients, and nature. In 1958, she founded the luxurious, Japanese-inspired Golden Door Spa, which was a huge hit with Hollywood actresses looking to rejuvenate in the 1960s and ’70s. She held every imaginable position at the resort, from general manager to head chef, eventually spearheading the Blue Zones-inspired Hub, a 4,000-acre well-being utopia dedicated to longevity, vitality, and happiness.
Today, the ranch is run by his daughter, Sarah Revere, but when Shakeley isn’t celebrating his more than 100 years on Earth, he travels frequently from his home in San Diego, the only Blue Zone in the United States, to see plays and operas and go hiking with friends from Los Angeles to New York.
We spoke to Shekelly about her career in wellness, how it has influenced her perspective on healthy living, and the secret to her longevity.
What are your thoughts on wellness travel and how do you think it has changed over your lifetime?
Wellness travel is about movement, community and fresh, local food. It started with the awareness of the importance of food, then came great chefs and exotic experiences for healthy living. Today, buzzwords like regeneration, biodiversity and eco-friendliness are everywhere.
Now everyone calls it “wellness travel” or “luxury travel”. I call it survival. We need a different word for wellness and we need to address a wider audience. It really depends on what you’re looking for. I think the more social interaction and family you have, the more you can reap the benefits of a healthier life. I also avoided the word luxury when I was promoting the “luxury” The Golden Door in the 60s.
Apart from the ranch, have you traveled to any other wellness retreats yourself?
I haven’t been anywhere for a long time. When I started Golden Door, I looked at other retreats but nothing caught my eye. I started at Elizabeth Arden’s Main Chance, but it was more focused on beauty treatments. I was drawn to the focus on exercise and fitness. We didn’t have a pool then (and we still don’t), but we had a mountain to climb – a sacred mountain. So we became the first fitness facility to welcome international guests and offer 30 classes a day.
