The term “taking the plunge” is often associated with getting married, but here at Watercourse Way we take it quite literally. Watercourse is well known for its private hot tub rooms, some of which include a sauna or steam room and a (gulp!) cold plunge. The plunge is a small, circular tub filled with icy cold water, usually about 54 degrees or below.
Participants of the 2014 Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge brave the frigid waters.
Cold-water plunges have been used since the days of ancient Greece and Rome. There are therapeutic benefits to the circulatory and immune systems. Athletes often use cold plunges or ice tubs to quickly alleviate joint pain and muscle soreness. But perhaps more than anything, taking a dip in the cold plunge is simply exhilarating.
Few appreciate that chill-fueled vigor as much as participants of a “polar bear plunge,” an organized group event often held to raise money for charity. One of the most popular polar bear plunges is the Maryland State Police-sponsored PlungeFest, an annual event held at Sandy Point State Park in Maryland that benefits the Special Olympics. PlungeFest draws thousands to Sandy Point’s frigid waters, where timid and eager dippers alike don bathing suits and costumes for a good cause. It’s a place where cold and caring go hand in hand.
The cold plunge in room Nine Bats at Watercourse Way.
PlungeFest will be celebrating its 19th year this upcoming January. A similar event held March 8, 2014, at California’s Big Bear Lake raised more than $150,000 for the Special Olympics. Seems the benefits of a cold plunge can be more wide-reaching that just the circulatory and immune systems. And at Watercourse, we have plenty of rooms to help you chill out during a hot summer season.
Are you ready to get your feet wet…?
— Tyler Hanley
Watercourse Way staff