alpenglow by courtney parkhill. est. 2008, our story.
In 1987, my mom started her own bakery called “Sweet Bouquets,” where she created edible cookie and chocolate floral arrangements. She was ahead of her time, and people weren’t quite ready for her trailblazing ideas. Her small business only lasted six months, but it was inspiring to watch her pour her heart and soul into entrepreneurship. Looking back, I know that’s where I got my spark. Even though her business eventually closed, I was so proud of her! The bravery it takes to risk everything for your dreams is remarkable. She was a visionary, but the timing and demographic weren’t right. Today, with chains like Edible Arrangements across the U.S., I know she would have soared as a business owner if the circumstances had been different.
Debra raised me as a hardworking single mom, putting in 60 hours a week at Alpha Beta, a grocery store in Canoga Park, California. She commuted about an hour each way from our trailer park in Canyon Country, near Valencia (where the famous oranges come from!). I was an original valley girl and a Madonna wannabe, like all the other teens my age. After a visit to Boulder, Colorado, to see my aunt (Mom’s sister), my mom and I both caught the bug and decided we would move to Colorado, too. She started saving every penny, and we dreamed of driving a pink Bronco and living in a little Victorian house that we could fix up together.
Before this dream could come to fruition, tragedy struck—my mother was taken from me when she was hit by a drunk driver. It was the worst day of my life, and it still doesn’t feel real as I write these words. I was 13, and I didn’t really understand where she had gone. It made no sense. My little creative mind crafted a story that she was tired from working too much, so she decided to go live inside the moon and watch over me. I could talk to her whenever I needed. It took over 20 years of therapy to navigate being a motherless daughter and to figure out how I would find my way through life without her. Becoming a born-again Christian and giving my life to Jesus was, quite frankly, the single most important experience that saved me. Before Him, I was a boho vagabond running from my broken heart as a 90’s model with eating disorders and low self-esteem. After Him, I found hope in myself and others.
When I was 32 years old, I felt called to move to Colorado. It was my mother's dream, and I had to realize it for both of us. I had $700 in my bank account and moved into a tiny studio apartment in the foothills with a view of Pike’s Peak. I started working various esthetician jobs to make ends meet—Villa Sport and Tuscany Day Spa (IYKYK). Then one day, I woke up with a vision in my mind. I would start my own business, and the name "Alpenglow" landed in my head immediately. I remembered how the mountains would glow rosy pink and orange, often bringing me to tears from their majestic and breathtaking beauty. I made a list of everything I needed to start, and it totaled $5,000. I had a tiny mutual fund that I’d forgotten about from my mom, and when I checked, there was exactly $5,000 in it! This was a sign that she approved and was going to help me start my small business.
I opened the doors to Alpenglow Skin Spa in 2008 in downtown Colorado Springs, just a couple of blocks from El Taco Rey. I had a small attic suite in an old Victorian with brown shag carpet. The day I opened my doors, the RECESSION HIT! Yikes! The timing of it all. I rationalized that even if I went out of business like my mom, I was one of the brave ones for even trying in the first place. Not long after, I was standing in line for food stamps—something I’d never done before. Even my mother had too much pride to use them, even though we definitely needed them. Nothing against food stamps if you use them, but I heard a voice inside that said, “You should leave and see how I’m going to work this out for you.” God always had my back, and He miraculously started flourishing my business with an abundance of customers. I started advertising on Craigslist for $59 facials, and word of mouth spread like wildfire. I lived on ramen for the first six months until I started getting fully booked and began to profit. It wasn’t much, but I was able to stay in business!
Fast forward to today, almost 17 years later, and I’m still in business! Praise God, and thank you to our loyal customers and clients. I’m the Owner and Esthetician of Alpenglow Skin Spa, LLC (my facial spa) and the Founder of Courtney Parkhill Skincare (my skincare line). Although I’ve had several different locations and pivots, I’ve never once gone out of business or sold my business to anyone. I’ve taken a couple of sabbaticals, but I’m ready for a new era, getting back into the treatment room again this winter at our FOREVER location. We’ve built a resort-style spa suite into our home and will start accepting established clients and referrals sometime before Christmas. I cannot wait to share this relaxing haven with you guys!
If you’re an original and you’ve read my whole story, it’s because of YOU that I’m still here! I love caring for your skin and teaching you everything I know so that you can maintain a healthy glow throughout your entire life.
I’m inspired by meaningful connections with my clients, alpenglow sunsets, wildflower season, spa music, and seeing your eyes light up when you catch your glowing skin in the mirror after a facial. I hope you enjoyed learning a little about how our business came to be and the blessings behind our longstanding faith and resiliency.
Feel free to say hello and let me know how your skin is doing by texting me at 505-819-3478.
Also, please pre-book your facials on my services page. I’ll have limited availability and a certain number of spots that I will hold for my VIP’s, when they’re gone I’ll have to start a waitlist :)
Hope to see you soon & thanks for reading.
Courtney