KOS Sauna opens New York's first public floating sauna on Saratoga Lake

KOS Sauna has launched a cedar-clad floating sauna moored at the Lago by Druthers marina on the northwest shore of Saratoga Lake, bringing a Nordic hot-cold ritual to Saratoga Springs. The vessel, named Marka, is built for social sessions and private bookings, and it offers a Finnish-style experience with temperatures topping 200°F and an immediate plunge into lake water as part of the Nordic Cycle.

Sessions run in 90-minute blocks and seat up to 15 people. Visitors can choose communal sauna sessions or reserve the space privately for groups of the same size. KOS lists year-round operation with hours Wednesday through Sunday, 7am to 10pm, and includes access to the sauna, a roof terrace with lake views, shared and private changing rooms, a ladder plus accessible stairs for the plunge, and drinking water drawn from Saratoga’s mineral springs. Guests are asked to bring a bathing suit, two towels (one for sitting, one for drying), flip-flops or water shoes, and a refillable water bottle. Reservations are handled via the KOS website and gift cards, memberships, classes, and custom events are available.

Founder Kate Butchart said, “As a newly forged dual Norwegian-American, I am grateful to bring the best part of Norway home to upstate New York.” The project was designed with Norwegian architect Bjørnar Skaar Haveland, who operates a similar community-driven floating sauna in Bergen and helped shape Marka’s aesthetic and community-first layout. The name KOS, pronounced like “cozy” without the ‘y’, references “the simple, warm pleasures of life shared with others.”

KOS positions itself as more than a novelty; it leans into social sauna culture and the rising interest in outdoor hot-cold wellness rituals. The experience emphasizes communal time, a pause from screens, and immersion in nature rather than the windowless, artificially lit spas more common in urban settings. KOS also pledges that 10% of fees will fund seed preservation and biodiversity, and offers personal memberships with session discounts, monthly events, and guest passes.

Accounts differ on the exact opening timeline: KOS celebrated a grand opening in January, while other reporting describes an earlier fall opening, which suggests the operation may have staged a soft launch before formal ceremonies. Practical details not yet public include pricing, technical heating specifications, and the mechanics of the 10% funding program.

For readers: KOS adds a year-round option for hot-cold rituals just three hours north of Manhattan, combining a 200°F+ sauna, a lake plunge platform with stairs and ladder access, and rooftop lake views. Expect social sessions capped at 15 people, bring the recommended gear, and book online if you want to try the Nordic Cycle this season.