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Spas, on the other hand, typically only offer private treatment rooms where guests receive individual services, which tend to be isolating.
Although bathhouses usually provide treatments like massage and body scrubs in addition to shared pool and sauna amenities, spas rarely have communal areas.
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Congratulations! This booking is not required for your first visit but highly recommended to get the most out of your Bathhouse experience.
If you're new to the world of bathhouses and spas, you might think they are one in the same.
Whether it’s a rejuvenating stay at the Urban Cowboy Lodge or a rustic escape at Scribner’s Lodge, these destinations offer the chance to experience the best of what the Hudson Valley has to offer—without sacrificing privacy or comfort.
The move from public spaces to private wellness experiences reflects a broader cultural shift in how we view LGBTQ+ sexuality and community.
You can do hard things.
6. Repeat. These platforms provided instant connections and opportunities for discreet encounters, reducing the need for physical spaces. Breathe through the pain. Become the pain.
4. Commit to at least 15 minutes of exposure in the sauna.
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Try a “body scan” to fully be in the experience. Focus on your breathing. Head straight into the cold plunge or continue on your own journey through the bathhouse.
Already booked? As society became more accepting of LGBTQ+ identities, the allure of secretive spaces like saunas faded, and nightlife in queer clubs and bars took over as social hubs.
While gay saunas may no longer be as prominent in New York City, the desire for wellness and community experiences hasn’t vanished—it has simply evolved.
However, bathhousing is not necessarily a “relaxing” experience in itself.
Rates & Specials
For decades, gay saunas and bathhouses were the heart of the LGBTQ+ community, providing spaces for connection, exploration, and sexual freedom.
Find everything you need to know before you go on our “What to Expect” page.
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There can be some overlap, but there are very different intentionalities, philosophies and intended outcomes between the two.
We think of bathhouses as facilitating transformation, leaving you better off than when you arrived.
You survived the heat.
6. Congratulate yourself for completing a successful plunge!