The Peoria Himalayan Salt Cave opened last February and I’ve been intrigued ever since I saw this report about it on WMBD by Melissa Rose. Then I got busy and kind of forgot about it till this piece ran last month in the PJ Star by Leslie Renken. I figure it’s time to go and check out the Salt Cave here in Peoria and then I know the perfect place to get some lunch afterwards!

The Salt Cave

The Salt Cave Is located in Pioneer Park in the strip mall opposite OSF. Let’s go in and start this salty afternoon!

The front room has some salt artifacts on display and for sale and I met Denise who was on duty for the afternoon. She told me one session lasts about 45 minutes, I paid the fee and we went to a room in the back.

There’s coffee and water and you can review the Cave Rules back here. You can’t take any electronic devices or drinks in the cave and there’s lockers to put them in. You also have to put on blue shoe covers which took me a little while to figure out, but when I got them on I was pretty proud of myself and Denise took a photo.

Here we go into the Salt Cave! There’s Himalayan salt piled on the floor and Denise told me that there’s 11,000 pounds of Himalayan salt in here. You sit back in a zero gravity chair and start to relax. Once the door is closed and the session starts, soothing music is piped in while pharmaceutical grade salt is pumped into the cave by a halogenerator. Denise has just shut the door and we’re going to start the session right...

Now! It’s really magical looking in here and you’re supposed to remain seated during the session, but I’m going to cheat a little to get some photos in here.

The mood is really relaxing and in the bottom photo you can see where the salt is being pumped into the room. Denise explained that inhaling this salt is known as halotherapy and as you breathe it in it cleanses and purifies in your lungs and body and can ease the symptoms of allergies, colds, flu, sinus pressure and can help people suffering from asthma. The salt also promotes relaxation and can reduce stress and pressure.

The owner of the Salt Cave is Nikki Wenzelspratt and she opened this after spending 21 years as a public school teacher. On her facecrack page she said it’s her goal "to bring a feeling of relaxation and wellness into the lives of as many people as possible.” That’s a nice goal. One 45 minute session in here is the equivalent of spending three days at the beach breathing in saltwater fumes. Spending three days at the beach in 45 minutes not only relaxed me, it gave me quite an appetite and of course the perfect place to have lunch after a session at the Salt Cave is...

Cracked Pepper

Cracked Pepper moved into the space that used to house Stan’s Liquors a while back, let’s go in and get a little lunch.

You order up at the counter and then they bring your meal to your table.

I love all the different pepper shakers on display in here.

I sat down and my lunch was promptly delivered to me. I got the White Cheddar Mac ‘N Cheese and it looks delicious! I took a bite and it was very tasty but it needs a little salt.

In addition to the healing powers and relaxation that comes from a session at the Salt Cave another great thing is that you can just hover your hand over a dish and give it a little salty boost.