oyote Moon Resort and Spa has a long history. Built on 30 acres in the Tucson mountains, it was a stagecoach stop in the 1850s, a haven for the stars of the 30s and 40s and now it has evolved once again, into a place of healing for the gay community and their friends.

Opening in December, the resort is a labor of love for Joe Studer, owner and general manager and the visionary who created the concept.

"For 30 or 35 years, gays have been battling, fighting for equal rights, fighting AIDS, dealing with their families. It's time for healing and renewal," he said. Studer notes that gay gatherings and travel have traditionally been known for "a lot of sex, drugs and booze," a style generated by the desire to make a splash, to be visible and glamorous. "But it's really not what everyone wants, by any means," he adds. "After a few years of that, you're looking for something else, something with more substance and renewal."

Many others have caught fire from the idea, and Studer sees the resort developing beyond his dream. "So many people have come into this project working heart and soul," he said.

He was in healthcare for 20 years, starting as a nurse, but found it was not the type of healing in which he wanted to be involved. Now he has recreated his dream, with a holistic health program combining conventional and Asian medicine with a medical director who has spent 10 years at Canyon Ranch. He foresees 20-25% of guests coming with some sort of medical problem, from knee replacement to cancer or AIDS, and the programs and lectures are designed to be as nourishing to these guests as to those who come for relaxation and time for contemplation.

Studer is bringing together everything from cranial sacral massage to pedicures, tennis, creative arts classes and horseback riding. "It's about getting to the heart and soul of who you are," he adds.

All food served at the resort is organic, even the meat, as they capitalize on the large organic gardens and suppliers in Tucson and other western regions. They also will have a line of organic products created by The Aroma Tree, a Tucson-based aromatherapy company. The products are called Two Spirits, a name that represented homosexuality among Native American tribes. "Homosexuality was viewed almost as a third sex among them, and these people often were revered as more compassionate and intuitive than others," he added.

The entire experience will be seamless, although it will be customized for each guest in putting together the diverse elements. "It should take you to a different place," Studer says. The Aroma Tree's motto reflects Studer's philosophy: "Where the mind goes, the body will soon follow."