Nestled on a six acre lot of mature trees and serene gardens sits the historic Kingsholme Estate, a 165 year old homestead built by Kingsville founder, Colonel James King.
Constructed by King in 1856, the unique octagonal house served not only as his private residence, but also a resting place that welcomed weary roamers. King was known for his hospitality and would regularly open his home to guests from all around; whether they were survivors of the American Civil War or travellers passing through the area.
One of King’s sons, Dr. Sydney King, purchased the building in 1876. Shortly after moving his family in, he began treating patients in the home’s North Room, continuing his father’s legacy of service to the community.
What was once a resting place for those in need of shelter or care has now evolved into another kind of refuge, one for those seeking a tranquil escape from the stressors of the everyday grind: Estate of Health.
Estate of Health is a holistic wellness centre and yoga studio, offering residents of Kingsville and the surrounding communities a safe, comfortable setting to explore their path to wellness and find guidance and support through their journey.
“This building has been a staple in the community for a long time and has always been this place for wellness and healing,” explains Estate of Health Director Jordan Scott-Trepanier.
Jordan’s parents Jim and Heather Scott purchased the house in 2019, converting it from a bed and breakfast to a multi-discipline wellness haven; offering a variety of holistic services and features to help visitors restore, nourish, and revitalize the body, mind and spirit.
“We’ve lived in Kingsville for over 20 years and so we’ve always kind of admired the property,” says Scott-Trepanier. “The building went up for sale and my mom just really felt called to it; she just really wanted to protect it and preserve it and give it new life.”
The Scotts took possession in spring 2019, just as Jordan was beginning her career as a holistic healthcare practitioner. She had recently graduated from the International College of Holistic Studies in San Diego and returned home to create her own small business; attending wellness expos and working out of her house selling herbal teas and offering reiki, yoga classes, and Shamanic healing practices.
Scott-Trepanier says she got to know many other wellness practitioners in the area and found a common theme in her conversations: the need for a centralized space for her colleagues to practice and congregate.
“I had been networking in the community for the better part of a year and a half and it just kept coming up this message like, ‘a place is coming, a place is going to be here for us,’” she recalls. “There are so many of us who are passionate about Holistic Wellness but we didn’t have a space. My mom proposed this idea to me and the space just seemed to really lend itself nicely to these purposes.”
The Scotts went to work renovating the property to suit their vision, paying carefully attention to keep the charm and the historic features of the building while making it accessible for all, widening door frames for wheelchair access and adding a barrier free washroom. The team also added a solarium and outdoor day spa area including a hot tub, sauna, washroom and meditation room, as well as many healing gardens.
Scott-Trepanier notes that it was important for them not to modify the building itself too much, but rather to refresh the space with fresh paint, new carpet, and updated fixtures.
“It’s been a really big process of transformation here,” says Scott-Trepanier noting that supply shortages and pandemic restrictions slowed the work at times. “July 17th we opened to the public and about a month later we finally had our grand opening. Since then we’ve been really well received by the community and had great feedback from everyone.”
The centre provides many opportunities for guests to experience peace of mind, physical rejuvenation, and spiritual vitality. Amenities include a yoga studio, tea lounge, six healing treatment rooms, hydrotherapy area and pool, meditative garden spaces, and labyrinth.
Estate of Health is home to nearly 20 team members offering a variety of holistic services including reflexology, reiki, skincare, aromatherapy, meditation, cupping, Indian head massage, and numerous types of yoga.
They also make their own line of herbal wellness products.
“I’m an herbalist and I grow a lot of the herbs on site here that go into our teas that we retail, as well as our aromatherapies and our bath salts and scrubs.”
Whether someone is coming in to browse the boutique, join a class, or enjoy a treatment, Scott-Trepanier urges guests to take their time, explore everything the estate has to offer, and most importantly, be present and allow time for the healing process.
“We want people to come here and unwind, take a couple of hours out of their day,” she reflects. “There’s been a lot of thought and care and love put into the development of our gardens so we encourage everyone who comes here to come early, stay late, ground yourself in the gardens and have a cup of tea and connect with nature.”
As restrictions continue to ease, Scott-Trepanier says she looks forward to welcoming more visitors from around the area to experience the estate, whether it be through classes or treatments or by hosting retreats and other special events in the future.
“The biggest drive is to create a safe space in our community to move through the healing process and to grow and find support in likeminded people.”
