Tourism News

Ecolodge adds sweat hut

Story and photo by Suzanne Nielsen and reprinted with permission of the Daily Herald.

April 21, 2004

The Ecolodge has added a first for the island: an authentic Indian sweat lodge with hot- and cold-water tubs and an outdoor shower.

Owner/operator Helen Cornet said that it had taken many months to order all the materials for the outdoor spa but only two weeks to put everything together. A "spa area" has been created near the top of the rise near the last cottages on the property. The clearing gives a wonderful view of the night sky, an additional treat for bathers.

The hot and cold-water tubs are actually plastic Rubbermaid stock feeders, which accommodate two people. The hot tub is fed by a small Japanese oven called a "Chofu" which was ordered from Canada. It takes several hours to heat the water to about 108 degrees. The oven is fed by dried wood found on the property.

The sweat lodge will handle about four to six people. The lodge was constructed by putting a plastic tarp over a frame of bent PVC pipe, which was then covered in large leather pieces cut in the form of a turtle, and stitched together in an overlapping pattern like the back of a turtle. Cornet said that she had purchased the leather from remnants left over from the old leather factory and bought by Ruth Buchanan years ago. The thick belt leather was in prefect condition.

The lodge is warmed by volcanic rooks from Well's Bay. These almost spherical rocks are heated over several hours to glowing in another wood fire, brought into the lodge in a metal bucket, and put into a pit in the middle of the lodge. Water is thrown on the hot rocks to produce the steam, and stingy thyme adds a mild, but pungent odor.

In the spirit of Ecolodge principles, the water from the tubs can be recycled in the garden., since no harmful chemicals are added. The cabin nearest the spa will be used as a changing room, and will also offer massage services.

Photo: Tom van't Hof sets up the hot tub. To the right, the cold rinse tub and the sweat lodge.

Click here for a larger version of the photo.


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