The Albany Sauna was built in 1934 by Finnish immigrants whose vision was to replicate the natural steam saunas they used in their native country.

The design was based on the very first Finnish saunas, which were developed more than 2,000 years ago.The rocks in these early saunas were heated by wood fires that vented through the sauna room.

The smoke permeated the room; hence the term savusauna or "smoke sauna". The soot produced in these smoke saunas was even thought to be a healthful type of charcoal that resisted bacteria!

In the early twentieth century this sauna heating system was modified to utilise a chimney to exhaust the smoke from fire to the outdoors. This enabled the sauna room to be used more directly after the rocks were heated and, because the furnace was completely enclosed, the rocks retained their heat longer.

The design of the furnace at the Albany Sauna is an exact replica of this "chimney-type" authentic Finnish Sauna.

The four saunas at the albany Sauna are centered around a brick chimney furnace that is heated every morning for 5 hours before we open. Throughout the rest of the day the heat retained by the natural spring rocks(inside the chimney) create the hot clear steam that makes this type of sauna a unique and beneficial experience. The steam penetrates and warms the body to aid in simulating skin circulation, helping the respiratory system(especially if one has cold), cleansing and detoxing the body of pollutants and relieving general muscular aches and pains.

In the 1970's, the current owners extensively remodeled the building and added three outdoor redwood hot tubs, two massage rooms and a large reception area.