Entry No. 12 — the Savannah file — filed under: outdoor
Savannah Ice Tub Club
Started when a Gulfstream engineer named Peter bought a stock tank and a bag of ice on New Year's Day 2024 and posted an Instagram invite — twenty strangers showed up and never really left. Now the club runs recurring pop-ups built around an eight-person, wood-fired barrel sauna that its founders say is the only one of its kind in Savannah: water gets ladled onto hot rocks for real steam (not electric heat), then everyone plunges into ice tubs while a local DJ spins and vendors set up folding tables.
The story
On New Year's Day 2024, a Gulfstream engineer named Peter bought a galvanized stock tank, dumped in a bag of ice, and posted an open invite to Instagram. He expected maybe a couple of friends to show up and question his sanity. Instead, twenty complete strangers turned up on his doorstep, submerged themselves in near-freezing water, and refused to let the idea die.
What started in a driveway evolved into Savannah Ice Tub Club—a mobile contrast-therapy pop-up built around ice tubs and an eight-person, wood-fired barrel sauna. Unlike the dry electric saunas tucked into commercial gyms, this unit runs on raw firewood and water ladled directly onto scorching rocks for actual heavy steam. It’s equal parts wellness ritual and guerrilla parking-lot gathering, complete with local DJs dropping beats and vendors hawking goods from folding tables.
What it's like
You’ll usually find them set up in the outdoor yard at Starland Yard or popping up alongside local spots like Service Brewing. Events typically start on the ground with 20 to 30 minutes of guided breathwork and yoga side-by-side to quiet your racing mind. From there, you take turns slipping into the ice tubs—talking each other through a full 2.5-minute plunge—before scrambling shoulder-to-shoulder into the wood-fired barrel sauna to thaw out. Bring a towel, dry clothes, and prepare for a surprisingly chatty, sober-friendly crowd cheering you through the cold shock.
The move: Show up to a Thursday-evening Ice Tub Club pop-up at Starland Yard together, do the 20-30 minutes of guided breathwork and yoga side by side, then take turns talking each other through the 2.5-minute ice-tub plunge before warming back up shoulder-to-shoulder in the barrel sauna.
- 📍 Starland District (recurring event site: Starland Yard)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 2411 De Soto Ave, Savannah, GA 31401
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Graveface Records & Curiosities — Cross De Soto Avenue right after your plunge to browse taxidermy coon arms and obscure vinyl while your nervous system settles down.
- Sulfur Studios (ARTS Southeast) — Located just a block away in Starland, you can follow up an intense physical shock with a quiet stroll through 20 working artist studios.
- Cosmic Corner — Pair cold-induced mental clarity with a three-minute walk down the street to explore spiritual supplies and ritual tools.
Good to know
Where does the Ice Tub Club usually meet?
Their primary recurring pop-up location is Starland Yard (2411 De Soto Ave), though as a mobile club they frequently guest-host at other local spots, including brewery events and riverfront sessions.
Do I need experience with cold plunges or breathwork?
No. Every session includes 20 to 30 minutes of guided breathwork and yoga coaching before anyone touches the water, and members guide you through the plunge itself.
What makes their sauna different from standard gym saunas?
It's an eight-person wood-fired barrel sauna—the only real wood-fired one operating in Savannah. Real steam is produced by ladling water over hot rocks rather than relying on electric heating elements.
Is alcohol involved at these events?
While pop-ups often take place at outdoor food and venue spaces like Starland Yard, the club's core experience is sober-friendly and focused strictly on sound, soak, movement, and recovery.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Instagram · servicebrewing.com · sweatpals.com
last checked: 2026-07-20