By Hannah Barricks
Photography courtesy of Ash Spa
The elevator doors close softly behind me on the second floor of Bowie House Auberge Collection in Fort Worth’s cultural district. The dulcet-toned room I enter seems another world from the buzzy cocktail party I left moments ago in the hotel’s Mulberry Room. Now, directly above it, the hush around me is not silence, exactly — just warm and calm, with the faint, grounding scent of steam and botanicals in the air. On a round table at the room’s center is an impressive three-stalked orchid, bent and heavy with dozens of perfectly round, white blooms.
This is Ash Spa, an oasis deliberately set apart from the city that surrounds it.
Greeting me at the orchid, the spa’s director of wellness and retail, Mary Kate Piotrowski, tells me how they opened alongside the hotel in December 2023 as a modern wellness sanctuary inspired by the strength and simplicity of Texas barns.
“Ash Spa is created as a destination for guests to rediscover balance and well-being,” Piotrowski says. “Every detail of the spa, from design to treatments, is intentional.”
That intention is immediately apparent upon entering the serene space on the hotel’s second floor. Five treatment rooms anchor the spa, joined by a steam room, sauna, fitness center, boutique and a quiet relaxation lounge that feels more like a private refuge than a hotel amenity. The space reflects Bowie House’s signature blend of refined Western elegance and modern luxury, but here it tilts softer, warmer and restorative.
And in January, we could all use a little R&R.
“Ash Spa is centered on renewal, offering treatments and experiences that restore energy, promote relaxation and support overall wellness,” Piotrowski says.
It is also timed to Fort Worth’s most kinetic season. Rodeo month brings long days, late nights and relentless energy.
“The pace of the rodeo season creates a real need for recovery,” Piotrowski says. “Ash Spa becomes the perfect counterpoint — a serene, luxurious environment to unwind, reset tired muscles and prepare for whatever comes next.”
My own reset begins with the spa’s Qi Beauty Facial — the most-requested treatment and the reason I’m there — swathed in a fluffy white robe and sipping a juice I preordered in the empty lounge. My facial technician, Julia Crim, arrives in the lounge quietly and guides me to the treatment room. Once I slip between the sheets of the esthetician’s table, she gently knocks before reentering the room to begin my treatment, explaining each step as she goes. Julia also provides me with skincare suggestions after examining my face and inquiring about my own routine. She recommends limiting glycolic acid after seeing mild irritation around my nose and suggests replacing it with a gentler lactic acid. Her encouragement and transparency put me at ease and allowed me to engage more fully with the experience.
The Qi blends advanced skincare with energy-based work, using 24-karat gold-coated micromagnets placed gently across the skin for a final look Julia calls “the galaxy.”
“The Qi Beauty Facial delivers an ultra-luxe fusion of science and energy work designed to awaken your skin’s innate renewal process,” Julia explains. “The micromagnets stimulate static magnetic fields, encourage subdermal fluid movement, boost circulation and visibly reduce inflammation.”
As the treatment unfolds, warmth spreads evenly across my face, followed by an unexpected sensation of lightness — not just on the skin, but throughout the body. The effect is both physical and mental, a combination that leaves the mind as relaxed as the muscles.
The results are immediate: calmer skin, softened features and a noticeable glow that feels earned rather than cosmetic.
“The treatment restores energy flow and supports skin vitality, making it a true reset for body and mind,” Julia says.
If it sounds new-age or “kooky,” I encourage you to test the Qi’s efficacy for yourself, with results that intensify over time and with repetition. And, my hand on a Bible, when I examined my face the next morning, my under eyes were frozen when I smiled, as if from fresh Botox. As a 35-year-old who thought she had tried it all, I was impressed. Even more so when I found that my girl, Julia, conveniently sent me home with samples of the products she used in a goody bag so that I could keep up the routine (at least for a little while).
Ash Spa does not stop at facials. Another popular treatment is “Ashes,” a restorative body therapy that combines percussive compression, acupressure and manual lymphatic drainage. Guests describe the feeling afterward as a profound lightness — what Piotrowski calls “a new lease on life.”
Another standout is “Deep West,” a head-to-toe deep tissue experience inspired by Western bodywork traditions. It integrates acupressure, stretching, cupping and heated pads to address chronic tension from the scalp to the soles.
“It’s our love letter to American deep tissue bodywork,” Julia says. “It’s designed to release deep-seated tension using advanced West-inspired techniques.”
There is also a growing interest in lymphatic and buccal massage, signaling that guests are embracing wellness beyond traditional spa services.
Throughout my time at Ash, what stands out most is not just the technology or the luxury but the personalization. The staff calibrates each experience to the guest, whether that means deeper pressure, quieter space or slightly longer recovery time in the lounge afterward. It is the kind of high-end service that feels intuitive, not scripted or pushy.
“Ash reflects Bowie House’s refined, Texas-inspired aesthetic with a commitment to thoughtful, personalized service,” Piotrowski says. “Every guest experience is curated for comfort and luxury.”
The woman overseeing that consistency each day is Piotrowski, herself. Ensuring that the spa functions with the rhythm of a restorative retreat rather than a bustling hotel amenity.
“Ash integrates elements inspired by Fort Worth’s charm and its wellness community to create a space that feels elevated and grounded in place,” Piotrowski says.
Rather than relying on generic spa formulas, the treatments are designed intentionally for the lifestyles of North Texas guests — from rodeo competitors and performers to business travelers and locals navigating demanding schedules.
Seasonally, guests gravitate toward hydration, circulation and full-body renewal experiences, particularly during the winter months when skin and muscles are under greater stress.
For those looking to build wellness into weekly routines, Ash also offers a standing incentive: the Spa and Spritz promotion. Every Sunday through Thursday, beginning at 4 p.m., guests receive complimentary sparkling wine and $50 off select services.
When my treatment concludes, I linger in the relaxation lounge a little longer than I had originally planned, reluctant to leave the quiet.
“When guests leave Ash Spa, we hope they carry with them a deep sense of renewal — feeling lighter, calmer and genuinely cared for,” Julia says. “Ash is designed to be an oasis amid the energy and hustle of Fort Worth.”
That intention extends beyond the spa itself. Bowie House continues to expand its offerings with wellness, culture and community in mind, including future culinary series, fashion partnerships and rotating art experiences.
“Ash Spa blends authentically warm hospitality with Texas-inspired design, cutting-edge treatments and curated luxury experiences in a way that is unmatched in Fort Worth,” Piotrowski says.
As I step back into the hum of the city and signal the valet, refreshed and unhurried, the contrast to how I entered is unmistakable. Ash Spa is not meant to replace Fort Worth’s energy — it is meant to balance it.
And in a season defined by both rodeo dust and fresh beginnings, that balance feels like exactly what renewal is supposed to be.