Mendo Sauna's story began in '06 when a boy from the central California coast met a dreamer and dancer from the Lost Coast of northern Mendocino county: a place where a simple 20-mile drive can mean a 50* temperature change (+/-.) Paul grew up at a natural hot springs his family owned and operated. His adventurous spirit took him mountaineering, surfing, and skiing all over the globe until one summer, he found himself in Northern California habitually "Beating the heat" by driving to the coast where Elika's family owned and operated a small country store. They tried to play it cool but their spark grew as they discovered in one another a similar sense of humor, ethos , and a shared appreciation for retro Subaru wagons, both having driven them in their youth. (Paul even drove one from Tahoe to Panama the year before they met!) Since then, all of their greatest adventures have included each other: from backpacking and camping, to road-tripping and international couch surfing, to starting a family, and now Mendo Sauna- their love for each other and shared values have stoked each others undying love and enthusiasm for the life they’ve built together.

Their partnership has always hinged on combining their ability to enjoy adventure, creature comforts, friends/community, and creativity. They have traveled and made friends in some of the world's most beautiful destinations while keeping deep community roots in Mendocino County, where they have hosted friends and shared plenty of local magic.

Paul also delights in turning Elika's creative whims into reality. In 2013, after attending Burning Man for several years together, and with the help of many good friends, they converted their 80's Southwind motorhome into a three-story Art Car/mobile performance venue and people mover called "What's in the Box." They operated from a cozy home base theme camp offering a shady oasis and chilled homemade herbal soda waters to overheated and weary Playaneers.

After their most extraordinary collaboration ever, the birth of their daughter in 2015, they began to focus more on domestic improvements and endeavors, and borrowing inspiration from many people, places, and cultures, they dreamed of a mobile wood-fired sauna. When the whole world came to a halt in 2020/2021, all the pieces for their Sauna dream came together: a 1960s vintage Miley horse trailer (in excellent condition), a highly rated, American-made Finnish-style sauna stove, and many salvaged and locally sourced pieces of redwood, which Paul milled into boards with the help of a friend and his eternally supportive mother-in-law, Katie. Many hours of dreaming, planning, and building later, A Sauna Was Born. When you book with Mendo Sauna, you're not only supporting a local family with deep roots and connections to this remarkable community, but you'll get to experience part of what makes this region so magical: kind locals, natural beauty, and the relaxing, refreshing experience of Wood Fired Sauna + Cold Plunge therapy.