One of the City’s Most Historic Structures Turns 90 - Spa Commemoration Open to Public
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2018
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One of the City’s Most Historic Structures Turns 90
Spa Commemoration Open to Public
Virginia Beach, Va. – A legendary sentinel of the Virginia Beach community turns 90 on November 11. Located in the city’s North End neighborhood (further north of the Cavalier Hotel even) sits another historic gem that also helps make Virginia Beach even more spirited. This Nov. 11, the Association for Research and Enlightenment invites the public to participate in an Open House commemorating the building formerly known as the “Cayce Hospital of Enlightenment” with an Anniversary Celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Listed among this City’s “50 most significant historic properties,” today the stately structure is home to the A.R.E. Health Center & Spa, the Cayce/Miller Café featuring Café 67, and administrative offices; it also has an unrivaled ocean-panoramic perch over the entire member-supported, non-profit A.R.E. campus. Open to the public seven days a week at 215 67th Street, the building has a history as fascinating as the man who conceived it. Two years after it opened, the Great Depression forced the hospital’s closing, and the property was sold. Ownership and operation changed hands many times, and the building had incarnations as a beach club, a hotel, quarters for military personnel during World War II, a Shriners clubhouse, and even a summer stock theater.
It took until 1956, a decade after Edgar Cayce’s death, for the A.R.E. to regain ownership of the former hospital—and it has since continuously remained in the organization’s hands.
Since the hospital was re-acquired, the campus has grown to include a Visitor Center, an Education Center building, and a press production building. In 2014, the hospital building underwent a major restoration and renovation, including to the A.R.E. Health Center & Spa spaces. Along with updated Spa spaces, Café 67 was added, which now serves a seasonal, local, and healthy menu and ocean views.
During the Nov. 11 Anniversary Open House at the Spa, spa services will be halted so visitors can enjoy tours of the building and sample complimentary hors d’oeuvres created by Café 67, as well as enjoy two free talks in the Copeland Dining Room. At 12:30 p.m., Judith Stevens presents “Hospital of Enlightenment: Edgar Cayce Comes to Virginia Beach;” and at 1 p.m., John Van Auken offers “Edgar Cayce 101: An Introduction to the Readings.”
The A.R.E. Health Center & Spa, Café 67, and the A.R.E. Bookstore & Gift Shop will join the festivities by offering anniversary specials good only Nov. 11.
Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) founded the non-profit Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) in 1931, to explore spirituality, holistic health, intuition, dream interpretation, psychic development, reincarnation, and ancient mysteries—all subjects that frequently came up in the more than 14,000 documented psychic readings given by Cayce, who died in 1945. The mission of A.R.E. is to create opportunities for profound personal change in body, mind, and spirit through the wisdom found in the Edgar Cayce material. The Virginia Beach headquarters is a popular site for locals and tourists with free daily lectures, a Health Center & Spa, the Cayce/Reilly® School of Massage, an extensive metaphysical library, a meditation garden, a stone labyrinth, and a bookstore and gift shop. The campus is also home to Atlantic University which offers two masters degrees (Transpersonal Psychology and Leadership Studies) through an online platform, as well as continuing education and certificate programs. Through A.R.E.’s many programs, services, publications, and membership outreach, individuals from all walks of life and religious backgrounds are provided with tools for personal transformation and healing at all levels—body, mind, and spirit. For more information, please visit EdgarCayce.org.
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