Located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Wellspring Manor & Spa was created as a sanctuary for deep rest.
Through thoughtful design, cultural grounding, and a measured approach to wellness, it invites guests into an experience centered on ease, belonging, and renewal.
The five-suite manor is co-owned by Lisa Alexander and her husband, Kevin Alexander, who is also the founder of the Lake Arbor Jazz Festival. Together, they have built a retreat grounded in intention rather than spectacle, prioritizing how guests feel during their stay and long after they leave.
In this conversation, Lisa reflects on the vision behind Wellspring Manor & Spa, the details that define the guest experience, and what it takes to build a hospitality space rooted in care, culture, and integrity.
What inspired you to create Wellspring Manor, and what gap did you see in the hospitality and wellness space when you launched?
Wellspring Manor was created to offer rest that feels intentional, beautiful, and culturally grounded. I saw a gap for a wellness-forward retreat that centers care, design, and belonging without pressure or performance.
Wellspring is a sanctuary for individuals who appreciate beauty, give generously, and require a space that truly restores.
What signature moments or details do guests highlight most about their experience?
Guests often speak about how quickly they feel at ease. They highlight the warmth of the design, the quiet rhythm of the space, and the sense of being genuinely welcomed.
Many leave talking about deep rest, thoughtful spa experiences, and moments of stillness that linger long after they return home.
How do art, culture, community, and wellness influence the atmosphere and experiences you have created for guests?
Art invites reflection, culture brings depth, and community fosters belonging. Together, these elements create an atmosphere that feels soulful and grounding, where wellness is experienced naturally, and guests can slow down, connect, and simply be.
Wellspring Manor & Spa is also home to one of the largest private collections of Black art in the DC region. Access to the collection is free, making it available not only to guests but to the broader community as well.
This commitment to shared cultural access reinforces the manor’s role as a space for connection, reflection, and care beyond the retreat experience itself.
In spring 2026, you are introducing The Wellspring Table. What inspired this new culinary experience, and what can guests expect from it?
The Wellspring Table is rooted in the tradition of gathering, where food expresses care and the table invites connection.
Led by a collection of exceptionally talented local chefs, guests will share seasonal, thoughtfully prepared meals designed to spark conversation, community, and meaningful connection. It nourishes both body and spirit, honoring the quiet power of being together.
What advice would you offer to other entrepreneurs looking to build a hospitality or wellness-focused business of their own?
Build from your values and lived experience. Protect the integrity of your vision, attend to the details that shape how people feel, and trust that authenticity, especially in Black-owned spaces, is powerful and enduring.
Wellspring Manor & Spa offers a clear example of what intentional hospitality can look like when care, design, and cultural grounding are treated as foundational rather than decorative.
By centering restoration and belonging, it sets a standard for wellness spaces that value depth over excess and presence over performance.
To learn more or plan a visit, book your stay at Wellspring Manor & Spa.
