Sauna on wheels: a Franconian writes a "sweat lodge success story" in the corona pandemic

Created: 01/09/2022, 10:10 PM

Corona gave Horst "Hotte" Bröckl the idea of ​​rolling sweat lodges.

The new sauna entrepreneur from Cadolzburg is now out and about in Franconia with five spa mobiles.

© Hartmut Glück

It was Corona that gave him the idea of ​​the mobile sauna barrels: The 54-year-old "Saunahotte" from Cadolzburg already operates five rolling spa vehicles.

Cadolzburg

- From hobby to job: 54-year-old Horst "Hotte" Bröckl from Cadolzburg in the Middle Franconian district of Fürth * has successfully made a name for himself with mobile sauna barrels during the corona pandemic and has already made a name for himself as a "sauna hottie". 

Franke takes off with spa mobiles: Sauna barrels are well received

"Corona * made me an old young entrepreneur," said 54-year-old Horst Bröckl happily and remembers the outbreak of the corona pandemic. "Suddenly all saunas in the region were closed." After a Parkinson's diagnosis, he did not want to do without the beneficial sweat cures for health reasons. “So I looked around for alternatives and bought my first sauna barrel privately,” recalls Horst, whom all his friends simply call “Hotte”, at the start of his “sweat lodge success story”.

Because he could not sit in the sauna barrel all the time, despite the soothing effect of the hot temperatures, he stuck a sign saying "For rent" on his very first sauna barrel. With astonishing success: suddenly his phone was no longer standing still. More and more sauna fans in Franconia were interested in his mobile wellness barrels. "I now have five sauna barrels," says the young-at-heart start-up entrepreneur, who previously operated a lucrative locksmith service as a locksmith.

After his Parkinson's diagnosis, he no longer felt like doing the stressful job with the irregular working hours and countless night assignments.

“People used to get annoyed when they saw me.

Today people are happy when I come by with my sauna, ”says a happy“ Hotte ”, who of all things came up with completely new ideas during the corona pandemic.

“Suddenly everyone was at home.

Nobody needed a locksmith anymore ”, Bröckl remembers the time of the first shutdown.

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Bröckl got the idea during the corona pandemic

“First I wanted to open an ice cream parlor.” Then the thing with the sauna barrels suddenly started rolling out of the blue.

While eating ice cream, he met his new girlfriend.

“Although Susanne is not a sauna fan, she gives me excellent support with all the planning in the office,” says Horst proudly, who earned his nickname “Hotte” while riding his motorcycle through the hot, sandy deserts of Africa.

Speaking of which: a hot sauna costs around 150 euros per day.

Most of the stoves are heated in the barrels with wood, in keeping with the style.

"Hotte" now also has an electric version on offer.

The new wellness entrepreneur has his rolling saunas, including a panoramic roof, manufactured in Estonia.

In the Baltic States the sweat cure is just as much a part of the lifestyle as it is in Finland.

Wellness fun for "birthdays, girls' evenings or other celebrations"

Obviously, the sauna hype has long since arrived in Franconia.

"At the moment, all of my barrels are fully booked," says "Hotte" and admits that this is why he currently has to stop by a friend of his own sauna owner to sweat more often.

Private groups would prefer to book their wellness fun especially for "birthdays, girls' evenings or other celebrations".

Even couples who are crazy about saunas would have put one of his barrels in the garden for a week in order not to have to do without the cherished sweat cure despite Lockdown & Co.

In addition to firewood, the "Saunahotte" now also offers matching tubs for its spa mobile.

“Since I've been working with a massage practice, customers can also book the complete wellness package,” says Horst “Hotte” Bröckl happily and remembers his most beautiful sauna session.

“I drove the barrel to a lake for a marriage proposal.

After saying yes, the couple bought the sauna as a souvenir right away, ”says the happy“ Saunahotte ”and says goodbye to the next sweaty sauna mission with his wooden barrel on the trailer.