Gay bath house new york
Gay Saunas in New York City
Introduction to New York City Gay Saunas and Bathhouses
Discovering a gay bathhouse in New York Town can feel like navigating a maze, especially when you realize the options seem surprisingly sparse in such a bustling metropolis. This is a shared puzzle many gay travellers find themselves trying to solve when they call on NYC. In this municipality, the gay sauna society diverges significantly from what one might find in European capitals like Barcelona, Rome, or Milan.
Why, you might ask? The landscape of gay saunas in New York City has been shaped by its history, particularly during the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, leading to the closure of many establishments. Yet, the soul of communal and intimate exploration among gay men has not dwindled. Instead, it has transformed, giving rise to alternative venues and vibrant events that capture the essence of New York's gay scene.
East Side Club, the city's lone traditional gay bathhouse survivor. From massage-based establishments masquerading as spas to the lively world of gay sex parties, Brand-new York City offers a plethora of choices for those looking to search their desires in a safe a
Continental Baths at the Ansonia Hotel
History
In the late 1960s, Steve Ostrow, an entrepreneur and former opera singer, wanted to elevate the gay bathhouse experience from what were then seedy spaces to an enhanced destination as a health club and spa. At the time, homosexuality was illegal and most New York City LGBT bars were operated by the Mafia.
In 1968, he leased the vacant 40,000-square-foot, multi-level basement space of the once lavish Ansonia Hotel (then rental apartments), which previously housed its Turkish Baths and swimming pool area. Ostrow predicted that his new enterprise would draw patrons away from other locations such as the well-established Everard Baths.
Ostrow initially created a space that he advertised as the recreation of the “glory of Ancient Rome.” It featured a disco sway floor, pool with cascading waterfall, sauna rooms, bunk beds in public areas, and small secret rooms. When it first opened on September 12, 1968, it contained 50 rooms and 200 lockers and operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Over moment, Ostrow added a cabaret and stage, restaurant, gym, l
Everard Baths
History
The legendary Everard Baths, one of the longest permanent of New York’s bathhouses, attracted same-sex attracted men probably since its opening in 1888, but, as documented, from at least World War I until its closing in 1986.
The building began as the Free Will Baptist Church in 1860. In 1882, it was converted into the New-York Horticultural Society’s Horticultural Hall. It became the Regent Song Hall in 1886-87, then the Fifth Avenue Music Hall, financed by James Everard. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Everard (1829-1913) came to New York Urban area as a young man, and eventually formed a masonry jobbing business that was successful in receiving a number of major city general works contracts. With his profits, he invested in actual estate after 1875, and built up one the country’s largest brewing concerns. (He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.)
After the Music Hall was closed by the City over the sale of beer there, Everard decided to conserve his investment by turning the facility into a commercial “Russian and Turkish” bathhouse, opened in May 1888 at a cost of $150,000. Lushly appointed and with a variety of
Bath & Spa 88