Chimes Spa Retreat and Denmark Observatory Resort co-exist at the same location which has given rise to some confusion. They are independent businesses that commenced operations as Karri Mia Lodge and Karri Mia Bungalows, respectively, back in 1995. As Karri Mia Bungalows grew they changed their name to Karri Mia Resort whilst Karri Mia Lodge traded as Chimes at Karri Mia for two years to retain a connection and then changed to Chimes Spa Retreat once the Salon Spa had been constructed.
Karri Mia Resort has since changed its name to Denmark Observatory Resort.
The establishment of a restaurant at the same location brought the number of businesses to three. So the current situation provides:
The Observatory Restaurant - a public restaurant operating 7 days a week
Denmark Observatory Resort - providing self-contained chalet accommodation
Chimes Spa Retreat - a lodge providing luxury accommodation as an adult retreat.
A LITTLE ABOUT US
The land here was originally a farm.
After 18 months of planning we arrived here from Perth early in 1995 to for the build, and we opened the doors for the first time Christmas Eve 1995. Karri Mia Lodge (as we were known back then) was the first West Australian lodge/private country hotel to be awarded a 5 star rating and we won the Tourism Award in Accommodation in our first year.
The building was designed by architects Peter Overman & Mark Rietveld - family of Michelle. Although Chimes Spa Retreat is situated alongside Karri Mia Resort it was not part of the Resort. We are independently owned and operated.
On our 2nd anniversary of our business (Christmas 1997) we opened the East Wing which gave us 10 rooms instead of 7 rooms. We later added the 11th which is 2 bedrooms with separate living room, and bathroom (called Room For a Few).
After 2 years of running the business, in early ‘98 Kane decided he needed another challenge and so he bought 54 acres a few kilometres from here to develop our semi retirement business for when we sell and leave here.
Whispers Secrets and Rumours is the name of the business and ‘The Cabana’ which Kane built - was the first (and still the only) self contained holiday house in W.A. to be awarded 5 stars.While we are running both businesses now, the aim will be to sell Chimes and bottle some olive oil from our olive trees. And, oh yes, also to build our own dream home on the 54 acres.
To help create our own identity, in early 2000 we changed our name from Karri Mia Lodge to Chimes Spa Retreat with a view to creating the day spa facilities. Michelle has been a beauty therapist for around 25 years and was already prividing beauty treatments for the guests in what is now the reading room.. We wanted to expand to create more space and more choices... and so the Salon Spa was opened Xmas 2002.
We now are in the process of separating ourselves visually from the resort and have a green title instead of the strata title we always had. This means more land and a new separate road coming into Chimes from Mt Shadforth Road. We finally look separate from the resort as their road will no longer come around past Chimes and we will not drive through the resort.
Whilst we continue to embue Chimes with a sense of relaxation and serenity there are no plans to expand under our current ownership. That's not to say Kane is keeping still - he has started up two new businesses, one of which, Truffles, has its own website at:
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