Outdoor lifestyle: In hot water

Jo Dion of Henderson lost the use of her legs in 1975. Now, using a wheelchair and in her senior years, Dion needs physical therapy every day, and she needs it in water.

Public facilities proved too hazardous and private gyms proved too inconvenient, so Dion and her husband, Tom, acquired a backyard spa about six years ago. They now consider it "indispensable" for her therapeutic needs.

In the privacy of their back yard, Jo Dion can do her underwater leg exercises and tone her muscles. The Dions both add that the spa is the most entertaining item in their home.

Las Vegans typically own spas to fill their recreational agendas. Spa owners valleywide consider them an ideal companion piece to their swimming pools, or a relaxing place to unwind after a hard day, according to Jim Alexander, president and owner of Renaissance Pools & Spas.

"Thirty years ago, spas were somewhat unusual," he said. "But today, it's become a very common thing to have in your home.

"It's like a lot of things you didn't think you necessarily needed, but the enjoyment of being able to jump into a hot tub of water has led to the market increasing."

Alexander has been selling spas locally since 1991; last year he sold more than 100.

Since the market is competitive, he added, homeowners can obtain a spa for an "artificially low price." Prices start at $12,500, complete with decking.

Also fueling the market are seniors who need spas for medical reasons, Alexander said.

"There are a lot of people who are retiring and coming into Las Vegas -- many people in that age bracket have arthritis," he said.

"At the same time, the market spans from the young, single guy who wants to invite the girls over to the guy who's over 70 years old and wants to ease the pain of being alive for 70 years."

Jerry Anzalone, manager of Anthony & Sylvan Pools in Las Vegas, sells about 600 pools a year, and estimated that 400 to 450 of them have a spa attached. He referred to spas as a "popular item," especially during the summer months.

"In the summertime, the sun is out and it's beating down on the pool and the spa," Anzalone said. "The temperature of the spa might get up to 90 degrees, so it winds up being a perfect situation. Then, after sitting in the water, the body temperature drops. After getting out, 100 degrees doesn't feel so hot, so homeowners can even save money on their air conditioning bills."

Homeowners also have a choice of spa materials. Concrete is the least expensive, according to Alexander, but also the least durable. Fiberglass is a step up from concrete, and lasts considerably longer.

However, Alexander took special pride in his company's ceramic composite spa material, which also contains fiberglass, vinyl esters and natural resins. Alexander's factory workers first encountered the material in Australia nearly a decade ago, and he then purchased the technology and secured a licensing agreement to manufacture ceramic pools and spas in the United States.

"If you put one of these spas in the ground, and come back 10,000 years later, it would still be there and still be intact," he said. "It is nonbiodegradable. You could pour pure acid on the product and it wouldn't affect it."

Jo Dion chose the ceramic model for its longevity, since she uses it daily. It can also accommodate Bobo, her 2-year-old Great Dane, who helps Dion in and out of the spa with the aid of a harness. Bobo also takes a keen canine interest in the hot water, as he always jumps in and enjoys a dip with Dion.

She specifically chose the pool/spa combination, adding to the versatility of the unit.

"I can get in and play with our grandkids, which I wouldn't be able to do elsewhere," Dion said. "Going out to the lakes or to swimming areas, I can't get my chair up to the water's edge.

"And, I can just get out and have fun with the rest of my family. It's been indispensable -- it's been the center of our entertainment."

Dion said maintenance of her spa is relatively light.

Alexander commented how maintaining a spa can be easy, especially compared to a 30,000-gallon swimming pool. He expects spas will continue to rise in popularity.

"I think they'll become more of a standard item," he said. "I think the reason would be something similar to owning a garage. People like them, people benefit from them, and there's value in them. People want a certain amount of luxury in their homes and this is a luxury that is affordable."

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