Mobile sauna asks park district to move back to spot near Gillson’s south beach

The owners of a mobile spa that debuted in Wilmette in late summer are asking the Wilmette Park District to consider relocating the business to its original temporary spot.

Campfire Social and Sauna owners Lauren and Brett Rudowsky addressed the Park Board on Monday, Nov. 10, to make their case.

As previously reported by The Record, the Rudowskys began operating Campfire Social and Sauna after their own positive experiences visiting a sauna in Evanston.

The sauna began operating after Labor Day, Sept. 5, in parking spaces near Gillson’s south beach. The location, though, was temporary as the park district cleared its summer equipment, park officials said.

Once “seasonal closeout was complete,” the sauna was moved to the location agreed to in its contract, Gillson’s main parking lot, according to JP McNamara, the district’s communications manager.

“The new spot offers improved sauna access and visibility, keeps the unit off the roadway for winter maintenance, and reopens one of the most accessible scenic viewing areas for beach and lake visitors,” he said in an email to The Record.

Speaking to the board on Nov. 10, Lauren Rudowsky commended the partnership Campfire Social and Sauna has had with the park district.

“As both residents of Wilmette and park district partners, we’d like to reaffirm our gratitude for the opportunity to operate in our beloved town,” she said. “We’ve been operating near the lakefront for the last two months, and the community response has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Rudowsky said users have said the sauna has helped them deal with a variety of ailments, including insomnia and inflammation, as well as helped them make new connections in the community.

“We understand that language in our contract has prompted our most recent relocation to the main Gillson Beach parking lot,” she said; “however, we request the opportunity to discuss alternate solutions to amend the contract.”

In addition to the Rudowskys testimony at the board meeting, the board packet contained seven emails from residents in support of Campfire Social and Sauna, with many asking the board to reconsider the recent relocation.

Wilmette resident Catherine Barton wrote in her email that the previous location provided an “absolutely breathtaking” view of Lake Michigan.

“The giant window of the Sauna overlooking the lake could be any gorgeous location in the world,” she wrote. “How lucky we are that this beautiful setting is in our hometown of Wilmette.”

Another resident, Carli Gernot, wrote that relocating the sauna will negatively impact social interactions.

“If the sauna moves to the main (Gillson Beach) parking lot, fewer people will walk by … fewer impromptu conversations will blossom, fewer chance interactions will happen, and simply, residents of Wilmette will miss out on opportunities to connect,” she said.

Lauren Rudowsky concluded her comments by saying she and her husband will continue working with park district staff “to come to a solution that works for all parties.”

“We appreciate your consideration and hope that our partnership will continue in a positive and collaborative direction.”

While the Park Board did not directly respond, Park Board President Patrick Lahey said if any commissioners have questions for the Rudowskys, they will reach out via email.

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