A new Finnish-style sauna and cold plunge is seeking to open in the Bluemont neighborhood this winter.
Sauna Jungle, previously known as Arlington Sauna, has filed a building permit at 5210 Wilson Blvd with the goal of opening late this year or in early 2027.
Co-founder Steven Hu, who began scouting locations in Arlington with his wife, Kira, late last year, told ARLnow that he envisions two saunas — one at 175 degrees, the other between 185 and 200 degrees — plus three cold plunges set to 40, 50 and 60 degrees and cold bucket showers.
“It’s definitely a new concept, but Kira and I are excited to make progress and share this new cultural and wellness experience with everyone,” Hu said.
Hu intends to install decor to match the wellness spot’s name, “with the vision to design the space as an indoor plant jungle, introducing forest bathing concepts as a wellness environment, where the hot sauna is at the center of it.”
He noted that Finnish-style saunas differ from infrared saunas, with heat generated from stones or electric heaters and steam rising from water thrown on the rocks.
Sauna Jungle’s website advertises subscriptions ranging from $99 to $130 per month.
The sauna will be located in a merged retail bay previously home to a dry cleaners and an office for the Arlington Soccer Association. Hu said he imagines some people working the sauna into their weekly routine, and he picked a spot near the Bluemont Trail to make it easier for customers to walk or bike to the sauna.
“Kira and I are super excited about the adventure,” Hu said. “We’ve gotten over 2,000 people signed up on our waitlist since we put ourselves out there last year and hope to bring them together over a common passion of authentic Finnish sauna experiences.”
