John Wood and Rebecca Van Scyoc pose on the shore of Green Lake, where they have opened a new spa business, Solara Aevum Wellness & Aesthetics.
submitted photo
A new wellness center in downtown Green Lake is offering restorative therapies, aesthetic services and retreat experiences designed to help guests relax and focus on overall well-being.
Solara Aevum Wellness & Aesthetics, founded by Green Lake resident Rebecca Van Scyoc and her husband, John Wood, recently opened at 536 Mill St. with a mission rooted in personal experiences with illness, loss and recovery.
The reception area is designed to put clients in a relaxed mood before their sessions at the spa.
Roger Mathews photo
The concept grew out of Van Scyoc’s experiences caring for her late husband, Matt, during his battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. During that time, she witnessed the benefits supportive wellness therapies such as pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) and oxygen therapy had on his quality of life.
“It opened my eyes to the importance of caring for the whole person,” Van Scyoc said. “Not just treating illness, but supporting vitality, resilience and quality of life.”
Wood’s interest in wellness developed through his own experiences after losing his mother to cancer and later dealing with long COVID symptoms. After marrying in 2024, Van Scyoc and Wood realized they shared a vision of creating a place where others could experience the same sense of support and restoration they had found through wellness therapies.
That vision became Solara Aevum, a name inspired by Latin words meaning “light everlasting.”
The couple chose Green Lake as the home for the business because of its strong sense of community and natural setting.
Visitors check out one of the treatment rooms available at Solara Aevum Wellness & Aesthetics during the open house event in May.
Roger Mathews photo
“I raised my family here, and one of the things I’ve always loved about this community is that people still take the time to enjoy a sunset, gather with friends, spend time on the water and appreciate life’s simple moments,” Van Scyoc said. “There is a peace here that can be difficult to find elsewhere.”
After walking through some of life’s hardest experiences, Van Scyoc came to appreciate just how important those moments were.
“I wanted to bring the kind of exceptional wellness experiences and cutting-edge technologies often found in major metropolitan wellness destinations to the community I love most,” Van Scyoc said. “In many ways, Green Lake taught us the importance of restoration long before Solara ever existed.”
She said Green Lake’s natural beauty, slower pace and welcoming atmosphere align closely with the values behind the business.
Solara’s philosophy is reflected in its slogan: “One sanctuary, three paths to restoration.”
The approach combines wellness therapies, aesthetic services and retreat experiences under one roof. Van Scyoc noted the goal is to help guests improve their health, confidence and overall well-being while recognizing that restoration can take many forms.
A woman checks out the hyperbaric chamber at Solara Aevum Wellness & Aesthetics. The chamber floods the body with 100% oxygen to improve health.
Roger Mathews photo
“Sometimes people need to restore their energy and vitality,” she said. “Sometimes they want to restore confidence in their appearance. Sometimes they simply need a place to slow down, breathe deeply and reconnect with themselves.”
Unlike many businesses that focus primarily on either beauty treatments or relaxation services, Solara intentionally integrates both wellness and aesthetics.
“People don’t want to choose between feeling good and looking good,” Van Scyoc said. “Most of us want both.”
The center offers non-invasive therapies that proponents say support the body’s natural healing processes. Treatments include red light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, all of which are increasingly common in the wellness industry.
Van Scyoc said the business was built around therapies that work with the body rather than against it.
“When John and I began creating Solara, we weren’t looking for the newest trend or the most aggressive treatments,” she said. “We were looking for technologies and therapies that work with the body rather than against it.”
The location itself was designed to complement that philosophy. Overlooking the mill pond and drawing inspiration from Green Lake’s natural surroundings, the facility was created to encourage relaxation and reflection.
“Healing doesn’t only happen in a treatment room,” Van Scyoc said. “Sometimes it begins when we finally allow ourselves to pause.”
In addition to serving local residents, Solara aims to attract visitors seeking wellness-focused getaways. Van Scyoc believes the business can contribute to Green Lake’s growing appeal as a destination for restoration and retreat.
“My hope is that Solara helps position Green Lake not only as a place people visit for recreation, but as a place people come to restore themselves,” she said.
The business includes overnight accommodations through The Stay at Solara, enabling guests to combine wellness services with longer retreat experiences. The upstairs includes a three-bedroom unit with a kitchen, washer and dryer, antique furnishings and a vintage pool table, with space for families or small groups. A balcony overlooks the mill pond, where guests may enjoy a glass of wine while viewing the sunset.
The Solara Aevum Wellness & Aesthetic spa is located in downtown Green Lake, overlooking the mill pond.
submitted photo
Van Scyoc noted visitors range from local residents seeking health and wellness support to travelers looking for a restorative escape.
“One thing I’ve learned over the years is that many people spend so much time caring for everyone else that they forget to care for themselves,” she said.
Looking ahead, Van Scyoc hopes Solara becomes an integral part of the Green Lake community while supporting downtown vitality and local businesses.
She credited interior designer Susan D’Arcy, owner of Johnson & Black, with helping transform the concept into reality. Together, they focused on creating an environment intended to foster peace, comfort and restoration from the moment guests arrive.
Ultimately, Van Scyoc said the business was built from a deeply personal place.
“If there is one thing I hope people understand about Solara, it’s that this business was built from a place of love,” she said. “It was shaped by loss. It was shaped by hope.”
Her vision for Solara remains straightforward: to create a place where people feel healthier, happier and more hopeful when they leave than when they arrived.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place Monday, June 29 at 1 p.m. The public may attend.
For more information, call 920-807-0009 or visit solaragreenlake.com.