The Yard: Sauna, Community, and Urban Hearth

Enjoy a one-hour guided sauna experience where steam, joy, and connection come together - part of the City Stories festival.

Experience The Yard, a vibrant urban sauna space in South Minneapolis where connection, restoration, and community take center stage.

Once home to an auto body shop and landscaping headquarters, this site has long been a place of work and utility. Today, it has been transformed into something entirely different: a modern-day urban hearth dedicated to the care of the human spirit. Rather than erase its past, The Yard builds on it—turning a space once used to maintain machines into one that restores people.

At the heart of The Yard is the Joy of Sauna. Here, that joy isn’t just a feeling—it’s something shared. As steam—löyly—rises from the stones, so does the sense of connection among those gathered.

This experience is structured as a one-hour guided sauna session, and guests will select a specific time slot when registering. Each session is communal in nature, creating space for both relaxation and connection.

Through guided sauna practices and time spent in the space, barriers soften, conversations begin, and community takes shape—all within your reserved hour.

Waiver Required:
All participants must complete the waiver below prior to attending.

Required Waiver

Know Before You Go

• A sampling of guided sauna elements may be included during your session
• This is a social, community sauna experience shared with other participants
• Bathing suit or sweat suit required
• Please bring your own towel(s) (2 recommended: one for sitting, one for drying)

Arrival + Amenities:

• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled session. We cannot guarantee entry for late guests.
• Guests are welcome to use the outdoor space, lounge areas, changing rooms, and restrooms during their session time

Children:

• Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult
• Ticketed reservations are required for all guests, including children
• A parent or guardian must complete a waiver for minors

Photography Disclosure

Rethos staff, volunteers and contract employees may document this event for future promotional materials, fundraising or advertising of Rethos as well as Doors Open and City Stories events. By attending this event, participants grant full permission to Rethos to use photographs, videotapes, motion pictures, or any other record of this event, for any legitimate purpose without any monetary payment.

If you prefer not to be photographed, please notify a member of the event staff.

About The Yard

The Yard is a South Minneapolis urban sauna space designed for connection, restoration, and community. Set in a transformed industrial site, it brings people together through shared sauna experiences rooted in tradition. It’s a place where neighbors gather, unwind, and build community—one session at a time.

About City Stories

City Stories is a multi-day festival celebrating the architecture, history, and cultural stories of the Twin Cities through tours, talks, and experiences across the region. This festival is produced by Rethos and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry's Minnesota Chapter. Buy tickets to other City Stories events here.