Empeiria Sauna House stars the custom-built mobile steam sauna, with outdoor space to relax with friends. (Photo: Hailey Evans)
By Libby Nichols
Move over, food trucks. Saunas are the next big thing on wheels.
Empeiria Sauna House is a new, mobile wood-fired sauna and cold-plunge experience that pops up on Saturdays a the Des Moines Biergarten at Water Works Park. Inspired by Scandinavian sauna culture, the concept blends wellness and community into a uniquely Des Moines experience.
The name, Empeiria, comes from the Greek word for “experience,” which is exactly what friends and founders Trevor and Danielle Masten and Leah and Anthony Gianaras (pictured, left to right, in a photo by Morgan Kelly Photography) hope people feel the moment they step inside the cedar-paneled sauna. Before they were business partners, the couples were neighbors who bonded over cold plunging in their backyards. As their daily rituals brought them closer as friends, they wanted to share the experience with the others.
“We wanted to build something we would genuinely love ourselves,” Danielle said. “And if we were going to do it, we wanted to do it really well.”
The team chose Water Works Park as their first location because it’s surrounded by biking and running trails and a growing outdoor wellness culture. They saw an opportunity to create something that feels equal parts recovery space and social gathering.
“It’s perfect after a run, a bike ride or just meeting up with friends,” Leah said. “You can sauna, take a cold plunge, and then hang out afterward”
From the wave of steam created by the wood-fired stove to the shock of the ice bath afterward, the entire experience is designed to feel immersive, grounding and restorative. Contrast therapy, rotating between heat and cold exposure, has grown rapidly in popularity for both physical and mental wellness benefits. The practice is known to boost circulation, reduce inflammation, accelerate muscle recovery and promote relaxation.
For the founders, the appeal goes beyond wellness trends. Sauna culture is deeply embedded into everyday life in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Scandinavian-influenced places like Minnesota. Saunas are places to slow down, connect and reset.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a major athlete doing the cold plunge for recovery or someone looking for a relaxing moment in the sauna. We want it to be inclusive. [Wellness] doesn’t have to be hard or take long. Just come as you are,” Leah said. She’s seen strangers become friends while chatting in the sauna, and friends build deeper connections while cheering each other on in the cold plunge.
Unlike infrared saunas commonly found in gyms or spas, Empeiria’s sauna is heated entirely by a small wood-burning stove and lined with cedar, pictured left, creating a softer, steam-filled heat that feels and smells more traditional. A Duluth company named BW Sauna custom-built it to retain heat efficiently while remaining fully mobile.
The owners say that mobility is one of the most exciting parts of the concept. While they’re starting at Water Works, they envision additional pop-ups around the metro, collaborations with athletic groups, private events, memberships and even appearances at birthday parties, bachelorette weekends and recovery-focused community events.
“There’s really nothing else like this in Des Moines right now,” Danielle said. “People are craving experiences that help them slow down and feel good.”
Libby Nichols is the creator and founder of Meet DSM. She also writes about local businesses and events for dsm magazine.
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