Entry No. 46 — the Columbus file — filed under: soak
LÖ-LU Sauna
A Finnish-inspired, wood-fired community sauna experience housed in a historic former church. Founded by Wade Litt, the space features a wood-fired Kuuma stove, a homemade bucket shower, and benches made of Douglas fir.
The story
Forget corporate day spas with synthetic lavender mist and glass water dispensers. Tucked inside a historic former church on South 4th Street in Merion Village, LÖ-LU Sauna operates on an older, stripped-down philosophy: wood, fire, water, and people sitting together in a heated room until everyone agrees to cool off.
Founded by Wade Litt—an economist who pivoted hard into traditional Finnish heat culture—the space is centered around a heavy-duty Kuuma wood-fired stove. The interior features custom Douglas fir benches arranged to capture true löyly, the enveloping steam released when water strikes hot rocks. There are no silk robes or plush slippers here; cooling down means stepping up to a homemade bucket shower that dumps unceremonious cold water directly overhead.
What it's like
You will smell woodsmoke and warm fir before you even take your seat. The vibe inside is relaxed, unpretentious, and shared—you'll be sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with locals taking turns ladling water over the rocks. The catch? Community sessions fill up fast, so you need to book your slot online well before you walk up to the old church door.
The move: Book a community sauna session, brave the homemade bucket shower together, and relax on the Douglas fir benches while enjoying the authentic löyly (steam).
- 📍 Merion Village
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 1408 S. 4th Street, Columbus, OH 43207
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Book Loft of German Village — Just a mile north in German Village, balance the intense steam session by wandering through 32 air-conditioned rooms of maze-like bookshelves.
- Ebb & Float — If you want to trade wood-fired communal heat for total sensory deprivation, head downtown for a quiet soak in body-temperature Epsom saltwater.
- The Kiln Room — Keep the heat-and-craft focus going by heading south to check out community clay work in the industrial studio spaces at The Fort.
Good to know
How is the sauna heated?
LÖ-LU uses an authentic wood-fired Kuuma stove, which produces the damp, heavy heat and steam (löyly) central to traditional Finnish sauna culture.
Do I need to make a reservation ahead of time?
Yes. Spots for community sessions are limited and booked online via their website before you go.
How do you cool off between rounds?
Instead of a tiled pool or commercial shower bay, LÖ-LU features a custom, homemade bucket shower built for quick cold rinses between heat cycles.
Where is LÖ-LU located?
It operates out of a historic repurposed church building at 1408 S. 4th Street in Columbus's Merion Village neighborhood.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: lo-lu.com · Official site · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21