Canyon Ranch Lenox Elevates Summer Wellness with James Beard Dinners and Bespoke Outdoor Experiences

Source: Canyon Ranch

Reported By: Matthew Kennedy

This summer, Canyon Ranch Lenox, recently named the #1 Spa Resort in New England by the Michelin Travel Guide, is reimagining the seasonal retreat with a slate of immersive programming that fuses outdoor luxury, award-winning culinary artistry, and deeply personalized wellness. Running from June through September 2025, the newly launched “Summer in Session” series transforms the storied Berkshires property into a dynamic center for restoration, exploration, and curated experience.

Set within a Gilded Age estate surrounded by the pastoral elegance of western Massachusetts, Canyon Ranch’s Lenox location is already revered for its integrative wellness model. With this new summer programming, the property extends its influence beyond the spa, bringing together a lineup of luminaries—chefs, performers, wellness leaders—against a backdrop that’s equal parts serene and stimulating.

In partnership with the James Beard Foundation, Canyon Ranch will host four exclusive Chef Supper Series dinners, each staged at sunset on the estate’s expansive lawn. The series brings some of the country’s most decorated culinary talents to the heart of New England for intimate, high-concept dining experiences that promise to match the property’s elevated setting.

James Beard Foundation Supper Series Schedule:

• June 19: Chef Sean Brock – Best Chef Southeast, 2010
  

• July 18: Chef Mike Bagale – Executive Chef of Alinea during its James Beard “Outstanding Restaurant” win, 2016
  

• August 21: Chef Charlie Mitchell – Best Chef New York State, 2024
  

• September 18: Chef Suzanne Cupps – 2025 semifinalist for Best Chef New York State

Each chef will bring their signature approach to wellness-inspired dining, aligning culinary innovation with the resort’s commitment to nourishment in every form.

“Summer in Session” is not just a seasonal calendar—it’s a redefinition of how outdoor wellness can feel. The new offerings invite guests to go deeper into nature and into themselves, with experiences ranging from aerial yoga suspended in the forest to sound healing under the open sky. Guests can book private spa treatments in outdoor canopies, enjoy tea and tarot readings among the trees, and cool off in rain barrel forest showers designed to amplify the senses.

The expansive 43,000-square-foot spa continues to anchor the Canyon Ranch experience, but the estate’s lawns, woods, and trails now serve as natural extensions of the wellness journey. Appalachian Trail hikes, forest meditations, and open-air fitness classes further immerse guests in the landscape.

Each week carries a thematic focus—Wild & Well Adventure Days, Summer Beauty Glow-Ups, and All-You-Can-Spa activations—ensuring no two stays are alike, and that the programming evolves as fluidly as the season itself.

Adding to the depth of the summer experience are appearances by some of the most respected voices in wellness and performance. Deepak Chopra, best-selling author and spiritual pioneer, headlines the season’s guest experts. He’s joined by Kira Stokes, renowned for her high-intensity functional training, and Courteney Fisher, creator of the popular “Fit with Coco” platform.

Music also finds its place in the program. Amy Grant, the Grammy-winning artist, will offer an intimate concert on the property in July—bringing a soulful touch to a weekend already designed for emotional resonance.

Since 1979, Canyon Ranch has set the benchmark for destination wellness, integrating nutrition, performance, mental health, beauty, and spirituality in one holistic environment. The “Summer in Session” series builds on this foundation by layering in new textures—more sensory, more seasonal, more spontaneous.

It’s a season of intentional indulgence and meaningful discovery, where Michelin-caliber dining meets forest bathing, and spiritual exploration is given as much priority as physical restoration.