New contrast therapy spa brings Nordic wellness to Park City

Avanto, opening Mar. 1 will be offering nordic inspired wellness services including sauna and cold plunges. Photo: Avanto // JC Real Estate Media

Two young Utah entrepreneurs are bringing Nordic-style contrast therapy to Park City with the March opening of the area's first dedicated cold plunge and sauna spa

PARK CITY, Utah — A new wellness facility introducing Nordic-inspired contrast therapy is slated to open in Park City’s Kimball Junction area by Mar. 7.

Avanto, the Finnish word for “a hole cut in the ice for winter swimming,” will offer cold plunges and traditional dry saunas through monthly memberships. The spa will be the first in Park City dedicated exclusively to contrast therapy.

 

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Founders Cayden Ottley, 27, & Philippe Mousques partnered with Josh “Red Beard” Stuart of Discovery Channel’s “Diesel Brothers” to bring the concept to life.

“Cold plunging in the Provo River was literally the only thing that worked to soothe my aches and help me get to practice the next day,” said Ottley, a Utah native who discovered the benefits while recovering from jiu-jitsu training in 2021.

The facility will feature a large community dry sauna maintained at 200 degrees Fahrenheit and two cold plunge tubs set at 45 and 55 degrees, with one capable of reaching 32 degrees. Research supporting the spa’s approach includes a Finnish study tracking over 2,300 middle-aged men for 20 years, which found that those using saunas 4-7 times weekly were 67% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

Beyond the physical benefits, which include a 250% increase in dopamine production and a 29% reduction in stress hormones, according to studies cited by Ottley, Avanto aims to foster community. “We’re big believers in creating new connections, and in our own lives, we’ve found that time spent in the sauna or plunging is one of the best ways to get to know people,” Ottley said.

Located at 1612 W. Ute Blvd., Suite 108, Avanto is offering the first 20 members 20% off for life, and anyone else who signs up before March 7 will receive 20% off for the first 3 months. Use the promo code “FOUNDER” at checkout. For more information on passes and services, visit Avanto’s website.