Two Paths to Redwood Mountain Spa

Kelly Ralston was 16 when a car accident left her in constant pain. She says the pain specialists she saw offered medication, but she wanted to try another approach. So she went to an acupuncturist instead. He did more than treat her.

"He saw the healer in me," she says.

She trained under him for more than three years, learning massage and bodywork he'd gathered over 30-plus years of traveling the world. When she began seeing her own clients, her experience with pain helped her understand theirs. Over the years, she's worked with professional athletes, cancer patients, and plenty of neighbors. Asked which clients have stayed with her, she finds it hard to single anyone out. "They are more than just clients; they became my friends."

Alongside that work, Kelly held onto a dream she'd had since high school, when she was training as a manicurist: a spa of her own. For a long time, the idea waited while she did other work, including running Mama's Way, her cleaning company here in town which she ran for seven years before the pandemic. Then a small spot on Highway 9 came up for rent.

"I just simply said yes," she says. She'd built one business in Boulder Creek already and believed her community "would once again support me." Kelly describes it as "dreamt and designed by me, hand-crafted by my amazing husband." It's "small but mighty," she likes to say, "peaceful, clean, and calming."

She also knew who she wanted working beside her. Thirteen years earlier, Ashleigh Noce had worked at the preschool Kelly's son attended, and Kelly had heard "so many wonderful things about her" ever since. "She was my first call when I decided to open the spa," Kelly says. Ashleigh was pregnant then, so Kelly waited.

For Ashleigh, Kelly's invitation offered a way back to work she already loved. She'd originally pursued skin care for a practical reason: she needed a way to support her family. She worked at a preschool by day and served tables at night, raising her kids on her own, and, as she puts it, "I knew that it was never going to be enough." A friend at Paul Mitchell told her she could become a waxer in six months, or 600 hours.

"I figured if I could become good at waxing, I could take a lot of clients and make enough to support my family on my own," she says. "I had no idea that I was going to accidentally stumble on my passion for skin care."

Before the pandemic, Ashleigh had built a lash-extension clientele at her own studio. Then she moved to Campbell during the pandemic and lost most of her clients here. When she came back to Boulder Creek, she had just had her youngest, and she wasn't sure how to start over. Kelly's offer was still waiting for her.

"I remember feeling so incredibly flattered," she says. She knew "it would be the perfect opportunity." "By the grace of God, she waited for me, and I couldn't be more grateful."

Kelly sees it from the other side. "She is seriously the yin to my yang. I adore her," she says. "I owe a lot of my success to her."

Inside the spa

The award-winning day spa opened in August 2024, bringing Kelly's massage and bodywork and Ashleigh's skin care services together in one small space. One of Kelly's favorite features is the oversized soaking tub, where a visit can begin with hot tea and time to unwind before a facial or massage.

"You leave feeling like you're floating," she says.

Ashleigh offers facials, waxing, brows, and lashes, but her approach starts with listening. A small detail in conversation can help her understand what someone needs from their visit, whether it's help with a skin concern or simply time to relax.

Those connections give something back to her, too. "What I love about my work is that while I am taking care of other people and making them feel pampered," she says, "I am secretly filling my own cup."

She has another recommendation for anyone settling in for a facial: "My scalp massage is also pretty melting!"

Kelly knows most people file a spa visit under luxury. She files it under self-care. "I always say if you don't take a break, the universe will make you."

Kelly also wants the spa to be a place where people discover other local businesses. She hosts pop-ups that bring them together for an evening, helping introduce their work to new clients. "I say if I can get one more person in the door, I'm winning," she says, though for her it's as much about helping those businesses find new clients. "It's a great opportunity to offer something different and to have a good time with new people."

Boulder Creek Questions

What does your perfect day in Boulder Creek look like?

Kelly: "Isn't every day in BC perfect?" She adds that even the bad days here have a silver lining.

Ashleigh: "It's blankets by the river, a picnic lunch packed, and the kids' feet in the water."

What's your favorite local hidden gem?

Kelly: "If I told you it wouldn't be hidden, right?"

Ashleigh: "Aside from Kelly's beautiful tub, I find myself at Jenna Sue's whenever I need coffee or a bite in between clients. She's got it all!"

What advice would you give a new neighbor?

Ashleigh: "Buy a generator for winter and come join our local town events. We have so many wonderful people for you to meet!"

Kelly: "Go to community events, meet your neighbors, and join our community; you won't regret it."