Meet the 102-year-old healthy-living pioneer who was espousing ‘wellness’ long before it was a trend

An elderly woman in a red dress standing in tall grass with her arms outstretched (Credit: Rancho la Puerta)

Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, Kate Winslet, Jane Fonda, and Bill Moyers have all stayed at the famous Rancho la Puerta wellness resort and spa, an exquisite collection of mountain-edged casitas, pavilions, pools, and gardens on 4,000 acres in Baja California, Mexico. 

But the property’s biggest star is Deborah Szekely, who co-founded the ranch with her husband in 1940, and now—at 102 years old—is the embodiment of all the property aspires to deliver: health, longevity, and peace of mind.