Californian resort The Golden Door Spa, a pioneer in the US spa industry, has sold for US$24.8m (18.76m euro, £15.26m).

The sale is free of existing debt and includes ownership of the Golden Door brand with future resort expansion opportunities.

Founded in 1958, and rebuilt in 1975, the resort, 40 minutes north of San Diego, was inspired by Japanese hoijin – country inns designed to welcome weary travellers.

Resort features include indoor fitness areas, a tennis court, swimming pool and spa, water therapy pool, Japanese bathhouse, archery range, and organic fruit and vegetable gardens.

Rooms include antique Japanese art, a meditation shrine, ikebana flower arrangement and a complete spa wardrobe.

The Californian resort was one in a portfolio of destination resorts, which included spas in Utah’s Waldorf Astoria Park City to the Puerto Rican coast.