Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Lachlan.
Hi Andrew, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up playing competitive sports and have always been interested in the various ways we recover and take better care of ourselves, generally. Throughout my own wellness and sobriety journey, I encountered and connected with various bathhouse cultures abroad. As an instant enthusiast, I became curious about what the American experience of a modern-day Nordic spa could look like. The combination of inviting facilities and the shrinking number of third places for people to gather was something I couldn’t ignore. After moving from the Bay Area to Asheville in 2016, I finally began to put my vision for Sauna House to work. Nearly seven years after we first opened our doors, we’re now operating in six cities across four states. The concept has matured over the years, but our simple mission has never changed – to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of the world.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Sometimes businesses are smooth; mine has never been that way. The impact of COVID on our business in at the end our first year of operation cannot be overstated.16 months of planning and investing, building, and 12 months of operations. Then, shut down. We had invested all our personal equity, so during COVID, we were forced to take loans from friends, family, and government programs. We lost millions over the course of that year, but taking that debt fueled my desire to grow something bigger and more resilient to external conditions. We rebuilt the business over the next four years, and by the time Hurricane Helene hit, we had steady cash flow from newer markets to help absorb the impact. Even as we faced more than a million dollars in losses again, the Sauna House team showed up every single day. Their commitment is the reason we made it through—once more.
Knowing that people believed in what we were building fueled our momentum. Today, we have six open locations, including our first-ever Sauna Garden in Austin, Texas—an outdoor, immersive experience unlike anything we’ve created before. And with multiple new locations slated to open in early 2026, each build will only continue to grow and improve.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What sets us apart from other concepts in the industry is our approach. Most spas are built for special occasions. We’re built for regulars. Our spaces are warm, minimal, and human-centered, making it easy to integrate thermal wellness into one’s weekly rhythm. We’ve taken an ancient Nordic practice and translated it into a modern, social environment that feels welcoming to first-timers and seasoned sauna-goers alike.
We’re best known for our three-part thermal ritual — heat, cold, and relaxation — and for the calming, communal mood we cultivate inside our spas. There’s no long menu, no luxury pretense, and no technology overload. Just the highest quality saunas and cold plunges, integrative massage, and beautifully designed spaces that remind people of the value in slowing down.
Brand-wise, we’re most proud of creating a wellness space that is elevated but easy, intentional but approachable, and deeply tied to community. We think of ourselves as the fast-casual of the spa world: high-quality, accessible, consistent, and designed for everyday use.
Something we’re particularly proud of is our design-build continuity — all our saunas are made here in Asheville, NC, with a local team of craftspeople.
We want readers to know that Sauna House is a place to reset on your own terms. This includes those seeking stress relief, better sleep, improved recovery, or a moment of calm amidst a busy week. It’s a modern take on holistic wellness, built for people who want self-care that’s simple, effective, and repeatable.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Resilience and a commitment to our mission have been the driving forces behind our success. We faced immense uncertainty through both the pandemic and Hurricane Helene, closing our doors and then fighting our way back—twice. We did it by prioritizing our community, staying true to our mission, and supporting the team that makes Sauna House what it is.
Pricing:
- Massage: $180/month
- 4 visits monthly: $130
- 8 visits monthly: $225
- 4 pack (drop in): $135
- 2 pack (drop in): $75
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saunahouse.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sauna_house/
