‘An outdoor rustic experience’: Hopkinton couple opens sauna to promote wellness and community

For years, Paul Barnwell and his wife, Rebecca, enjoyed the simple luxury of relaxation — whether it was the soothing heat of a sauna in Maine or the rejuvenating experience of a waters spa in Montreal.

So when the couple moved to Hopkinton in 2022, they knew they wanted to bring that same sense of retreat to their new home.

Today, tucked behind their South Road property, a compact sauna trailer sits. Right outside the sauna cabin, a pair of chairs circles an open fire. From this cozy setup, the Barnwells can take in the quiet beauty of the wooded landscape.

“It’s an outdoor rustic experience,” Barnwell said. “We were unsure about whether it would become a business or not, but we wanted one.”

After exploring the area and realizing there were no outdoor sauna facilities nearby, the idea of sharing their setup with others began to take shape. In September, the couple opened their personal retreat to the public, launching it as a business called Morning Dew Sauna.

The sauna can accommodate up to five people during community sessions, and an outdoor shower helps guests cool off between rounds of heat.

Barnwell spent 17 years teaching after college, and stepping into small-business ownership is still unfamiliar territory. He does run a handyman and property management business, but he said this new venture has a completely different feel.

“It’s more customer-facing. People are coming to our house,” said Barnwell. “I’m just learning as I go.”

The wood-fired sauna in his backyard has already drawn visitors willing to drive more than an hour to experience it, he said.

He hopes to keep it open 9 to 10 months a year. 

For the couple who moved to a new town during the COVID-19 pandemic, who are in their forties and do not have children, making connections was not always easy. That challenge made the idea of starting their sauna even more appealing, as it gave them a way to meet and interact with people.

Each time a guest steps inside the warm, wood-fired space overlooking the forest, Barnwell hopes the experience brings a moment of calm amid the fast-paced, digitally driven world we live in.

“To me, it’s an antidote to online living and some of the digital frustration and just not wanting to be on the screen all the time,” Barnwell said. “I think it is a combination of doing something outside, doing something somewhat adventurous. It is a wellness activity.”

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