December 20, 2025

FLOATHAUS BRINGS NORDIC HEAT — AND ICY PLUNGES — TO MUSKOKA WHARF

GRAVENHURST — Put another log on the fire. It’s getting cold — and that’s exactly the point.

A new lakeside sauna experience has officially opened at Muskoka Wharf, adding a distinctly Nordic twist to local wellness offerings.

‘Floathaus,’ a wood-fired sauna perched on the shore of Lake Muskoka, invites guests to warm up, open their pores and then take the plunge into the lake — or the snow — for what owners say is the ultimate natural reset.

The sauna is the latest feature added by Allison Torie Clark and business partner Kelly Bos at Mind and Body, their physiotherapy, wellness and mental health practice overlooking the harbour.

**Allison Tory Clark and business partner Kelly officially welcomed everyone to ‘Floathaus” this afternoon, a unique Canadian sauna experience on Lake Muskoka. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com**

After a soft launch last winter and a successful summer run on another Whard dock, the pair marked Floathaus’s pre-Christmas opening Saturday with a ribbon cutting alongside Mayor Heidi Lorenz, including a mini market that drew steady foot traffic through the afternoon.

“It’s a fun, casual way to enjoy Lake Muskoka year-round,” Tory Clark said, as couples rotated in and out of the sauna and cold water.

From Tofino to the Wharf

While saunas are often associated with the Nordic and Scandinavian countries, the idea for Floathaus came closer to home.

“We were looking for something else — it was so cold here,” Tory Clark explained. “And we wanted to add a little more space, because this area was so under-utilized.

“And then I saw this concept in Tofino, B.C., and said, ‘This is what we should do. The water is right here beside us.’”

The mirror-doored sauna hut comfortably fits six or more people and is heated by a wood fire that brings interior temperatures to between 160 and 210 degrees Fahrenheit. Users can control the heat and add steam for a traditional sauna experience.

There’s also the opetion of nestling into the built-in hamock basket at the end of the dock – particularly comfortable in summer.

Call ahead, and the fire will be stoked before you arrive.

“If you really want it hot, we’ll put another log on,” Tory Clark said with a laugh.

**Have a sauna then jump into the lake for dip to close those pores.**

Wellness — the Muskoka way

Mind and Body has operated at Muskoka Wharf since March 2020, offering what Tory Clark describes as an “all-wellness” mix of physiotherapy, Pilates, yoga and workshops. Floathaus expands that philosophy outdoors, making year-round use of the waterfront.

Health regulations aren’t an issue, she added.

“The health unit doesn’t get involved with saunas,” she said. “And the summer was oddly busy — because it’s already a sauna outside,” she joked. “But it’s kind of something fun to try.”

Rates are designed to keep it accessible, whether visitors come solo, as couples or with a group of friends.

On the social side, six to eight people can share the double-benched, two-sided seating. Private bookings are also available for those who want the hut to themselves — with room to squeeze in a few extra friends if you’re comfortable getting close.

And for the truly brave?

“There’s always the snow,” Tory Clark said. “It’s the Canadian way.”

FAST FACTS | FLOATHAUS

Location: Muskoka Wharf, outside Mind and Body, Gravenhurst
Experience: Wood-fired lakeside sauna with cold-water lake plunges
Temperature: Approximately 160–210°F (user controlled)
Capacity: 6–8 people (social sauna); private bookings available
Rates: About $1 per minute — $35 for 35 minutes per person (discounts for longer sessions)
Open: Year-round
Bookings: Call ahead recommended so the fire is ready