Mel Zuckerman

Melvin “Mel” Zuckerman, industry legend and founder of iconic US wellness lifestyle brand Canyon Ranch, has died aged 94 years. Revered as one of the early pioneers of the wellness movement, Zuckerman opened the flagship Canyon Ranch property in Tucson, Arizona, in 1978 to help people rebalance their minds, bodies and spirits. He believed in an integrative approach combining holistic methods, treatments and evidence from both western and eastern healing practices. Zuckerman’s health philosophy emphasised the importance of exercise, a nutritious diet and investing time in nurturing one’s mental wellbeing. Born in 1928, Zuckerman came to health and wellness later in life after being diagnosed with asthma as a child and told to avoid physical activity. Once he reached his 50s, Zuckerman felt burnt out and unhealthy while working as a real estate developer and decided to visit a weight loss retreat in California. Soon after, Zuckerman and his wife liquidated all their assets, bought a 42-acre dude ranch in Tucson and launched the first Canyon Ranch destination in 1978. The Zuckermans transferred ownership of Canyon Ranch in 2017 to John Goff, who had been a patron and an investor for two decades. However, the couple remained involved, living on the property and interacting with guests. In 2023, the brand has three destination wellness resorts in Tucson, Lenox (Massachusetts) and Woodside (California) respectively, as well as a day spa and fitness centre in Las Vegas, Nevada. It also has plans to create a facility in Texas.