Happy Valley has something for nearly everyone – a town that attracts local central Pennsylvania residents, thousands of students from near and far, and world-class athletes – but some felt it was lacking a social wellness facility focused on rejuvenation and relaxation.
When Nittany Lion Wrestling Club members and Olympians David Taylor and Kyle Dake noticed gaps in health-related services in State College, they took matters into their own hands.
Taylor, a two-time Penn State wrestling national champion and two-time Hodge Trophy winner, also operates K2 Roots, a juice shop formerly located on Fraser Street, providing healthy food and beverages to community members and athletes in downtown State College. After nearly seven years of operating K2 Roots and integrating frequent visits to top-notch wellness facilities, Taylor and Dake teamed up to open Vitality Wellness Club in Happy Valley.
Taylor K2 Roots Fraser Street store to close And the new location held a soft opening for the public last week to coincide with the opening of Vitality Wellness Club.
The new K2 Roots location will offer a full menu of familiar favorites, including salads, sandwiches, paninis, juices and Rothrock coffee, while Vitality Wellness Club will indulge State College with wellness services such as sauna, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cold plunge, cactus water therapy, red light therapy, compression therapy, lymphatic drainage therapy and a cycling boutique.
“We’re not trying to replace medical care, [Taylor and Dake] “These people are super people,” says Amanda Warner, sales and marketing specialist for Vitality Wellness Clubs. “They just believe in the power of ancient natural remedies.”
The concept for Vitality Wellness Club was inspired by New York City’s Remedy Place, which aims to enhance health and wellness practices through human connection and self-care. During their time at Remedy Place, Taylor and Dake decided to put their own spin on the club, but a little closer to home.
K2 Roots and Vitality Wellness Club will be located in the former location of Bar Bleu on South Garner Street and will function as a “one-stop health shop” with all K2 Roots operations upstairs and a space for relaxation and rejuvenation provided by Vitality Wellness Club downstairs.
In the Wellness Club’s custom saunas, guests can experience the immune system, cardiovascular and mental health benefits of 170°-180° heat exposure in group or private sessions, while a 50° cold water immersion can reduce stress and inflammation and boost energy levels.
Cakun water therapy, or cocoon water therapy, is a 50-minute bathing technique that purposefully oxygenates cells and provides relaxation while improving mitochondrial production and skin health. Vitality Wellness Club’s Cakun water therapy machine is the third cocoon bath in the U.S. after New York and Las Vegas, enhancing State College’s wellness scene.
In addition to services such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and lymphatic drainage suits, Vitality Wellness Club hopes that people from all walks of life, from Penn State students to Ironman participants, can enjoy the club’s amenities.
“We definitely want to target the college crowd,” Warner says. “You’re already downtown, so you’re going to come to K2 Roots. Where else is a coffee shop that’s open until 9 o’clock? We want to be a really cool place for students to hang out.” [college students] I feel like the college age demographic has really gotten healthier and more focused on health.”
And as Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley gets ready to begin in State College this weekend, the Wellness Club will be offering a free cold pool to participants who present their race bib after the event.
K2 Roots and Vitality Wellness Club will have their grand opening during Art Fest from July 11-14, with temporary opening hours from 9am to 6pm daily until then. All Vitality Wellness Club services are available as single optimized sessions or daily and monthly packages. The club’s boutique cycle studio will be open for business after the grand opening, aiming to become one of the “hottest spots in town.”
“[Taylor and Dake’s] “People all over the world are living healthier,” Warner said. “We want to be a positive influence. We hope that instead of kids always going out and spending $100 at the bar, they’ll come here and spend the afternoon with us. We really want to be positive and healthy.”
