08/06/2026
Introducing our new manager: Jess Sturos. She was our first hire and now we are thrilled she is taking on the role of general manager.
“Growing up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Finnish culture was all around me. Coming from a long line of Finnish heritage, sauna wasn’t something we scheduled—it was simply part of life. Some of my earliest memories involve spending time with family in the sauna, and it’s been a tradition I’ve carried with me ever since.
When I moved to New Hampshire, I quickly realized how much I missed that part of my culture. So when I heard White Mountain Sauna Haus was opening, I didn’t think twice about applying. It felt like bringing a piece of home back into my life.
If you had told me years ago that I’d one day be managing a sauna house in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Looking back now, though, it feels like life has a funny way of bringing us back to the places–and traditions–that shape us.
I grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where Finnish heritage isn’t something you simply learn about–it’s woven into everyday life. Some of my earliest memories involve the sauna. Long before I understood its health benefits or the history behind it, it was simply what our family did. Saunas weren’t reserved for special occasions. It was where we gathered after long days, warmed up after being outside, shared conversations, and slowed down together. It wasn’t just a building–it was part of home.
As I grew older, I came to appreciate that a sauna represented something much deeper than heat. It taught me to pause. To be present. To embrace simplicity. In a world that constantly asks us to move faster, sauna has always reminded me there’s value in slowing down.
When I moved from Michigan to the East Coast, I found myself missing more than family and familiar places. I missed that connection to my Finnish roots. I missed the rhythm of the sauna culture that had quietly been part of my life since before I took my first steps. Then I heard that White Mountain Sauna Haus was opening.
I didn’t hesitate to apply.”
