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World Sauna Group Acquires Minnesota Facility for Custom Sauna Production

The facility will enhance the company’s custom production capabilities and engage top local talent

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A picture of Hutchinson Building for bathing brands world sauna group

WHEELING, IL — World Sauna Group, a Bathing Brands company, is excited to announce that it has acquired a 22,000 square foot production facility in Hutchinson, Minnesota. The Minnesota facility will boast state-of-the-art sauna construction lines aimed at enhancing the company’s custom sauna production capabilities.

The new space will play a crucial role in fulfilling World Sauna Group’s showroom-focused mission, which champions quality, selection, unmatched customer service, and elevating the sauna buying experience to help people find their perfect fit. The facility will support those goals by uniting the technology and talent needed to craft exceptional custom products, while empowering the company to meet the needs of the ever-growing North American market.

“As the value of sauna comes into focus in North America, the demand for custom designed spaces will surge – and World Sauna Group Showrooms will lead this category,” says Dave Sadowski, CEO and Chief Bathing Enthusiast at Bathing Brands. “This facility and team exist to drive innovation and provide our Dealers products and programs that ensure their success in this growing segment. We’re thrilled to announce its opening!”

The building’s generous warehouse and office space lends itself well to lean manufacturing and efficient design. The large, attached warehouse will house World Sauna Group’s expansive Nordic sauna material inventory and allow for quick, convenient drop shipping of all products.

“Our new facility based in the heart of sauna country is geared for shipping saunas to every corner of the U.S. and Canada,” adds Mark Raisanen, Vice President of Retail Programs for World Sauna Group. “It will allow us to unite cutting-edge technology with passionate teammates who understand that building custom saunas is more than a process – it’s a craft. Our unrelenting focus on quality and seamless production will transform how custom saunas are purchased and enjoyed in North America.”

The Hutchinson facility is also home to one of the largest pockets of sauna enthusiasts and artisans per-capita in North America. World Sauna Group aims to attract top talent and unite the most passionate and skilled sauna professionals to realize its vision.

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Marianne Trusty is a Press Correspondent for the pool & spa industry. A published author and social media influencer reaching over 20 million people around the world each day. Contact Marianne about publishing op-editorials, breaking pool news and press releases at [email protected].

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Soake Pools Partners with Slipstream to Elevate At-Home Wellness

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The Leading Precast Plunge Pool Manufacturer Partners with Slipstream to Bring Swim Technology to Its Premium Plunge Pools

Pembroke, N.H. — April 22, 2026 — Soake Pools, the leader in luxury precast plunge pools, announces a new partnership with Slipstream, the first portable swimming machine that transforms any pool into an endless swim lane. This collaboration introduces Slipstream’s advanced drop-in swim current system as a seamless enhancement to Soake Pools’ premium concrete plunge pool offerings, creating a powerful, new option for water fitness at home with space-saving convenience. 

Slipstream’s battery-powered, portable system transforms virtually any compatible pool into an active swimming environment with a fully adjustable speed current that is both wide and smooth. The easy, tool-free setup allows users to install or remove the device in seconds, making it a flexible and accessible upgrade for both new and existing pool owners. 

The partnership further diversifies Soake Pools’ Fitness & Wellness program by expanding the range of options available to customers beyond the existing Complete Static Swim System. The distinct experiences offered by the Static Swim and Slipstream enhance the versatility of exercise in Soake Pools.  

“This partnership allows us to offer our customers an entirely new way to enjoy their Soake Pool,” said Karen Larson, co-founder of Soake Pools. “By integrating Slipstream, we’re expanding the possibilities for water exercise while collaborating with a like-minded company that shares our commitment to helping homeowners create a truly personalized wellness experience at home. After hosting a unit in our Experience Center, it quickly became one of the most popular features for guests to try, reinforcing the strong demand for this type of offering.”

As part of the partnership, Soake customers will receive an exclusive $250 discount on Slipstream systems. Owners and prospective Soake Pools customers can fill out an online form to receive their offer, which can be stacked onto any active sales. 

“Recognizing the strong alignment between both brands, we saw an opportunity to bring our fitness capabilities and deliver a differentiated solution to Soake Pools customers,” said James Murdock, Founder of Slipstream. “We’re promoting performance and overall wellness while redefining what’s possible in the at-home pool industry.”

With a shared focus on health and personalized fitness, Soake Pools and Slipstream are bringing the benefits of low-impact exercise and performance swimming to more homeowners than ever before.

To learn more about Soake Pools and Slipstream, please visit soakepools.com and swimslipstream.com.

About Soake Pools: Karen and Brian Larson, Co-Founders of Soake® Pools, created the company from the ground up in 2014, deeming them the first company to offer hand-tiled precast concrete plunge pools for the home. Today, Soake Pools is the leading prefabricated plunge pool manufacturer in North America, designing luxury, space-saving pools for year-round use and enjoyment. The team proudly continues its legacy, revolutionizing the industry, offering a steady stream of new dimensions, unparalleled luxury finishes, and a litany of safety, aesthetic, and user-friendly functionalities. Each Soake Pools plunge pool is made to order in New England using state-of-the-art tiles and proprietary concrete, entirely customizable, delivered pre-built and ready to install. Designed to be enjoyed year-round, Soake Pools are equipped with the adjustability for a hot dip in the winter and a cold, refreshing plunge in the summer, and can even provide athletic training with resistance system offerings. Soake Pool’s bespoke, monolithic concrete design offers accessibility in both size and pricing, sustainability in terms of the saltwater contents, lower water usage, and variable speed pumps, offering flexibility with countless physical and mental wellness benefits and, undoubtedly, increased home value.

About Slipstream: Slipstream Swim Machines is redefining the at-home swimming experience with a new generation of portable, high-performance swim technology. Created by James Murdock—the innovator behind Endless Pools—Slipstream represents over 30 years of advancement in swim-in-place systems, delivering a smoother, more natural current in a powerful, easy-to-use design. Engineered for simplicity and versatility, Slipstream’s battery-powered swim machines can be placed in virtually any pool—inground or above-ground—without the need for construction, wiring, or permanent installation. The system creates a consistent, adjustable current suitable for all levels, from beginners and families to competitive swimmers, triathletes, and rehabilitation users. Designed to remove the barriers of traditional swim systems, Slipstream combines portability, quiet operation, and performance in a lightweight format that brings year-round swim training and low-impact aquatic fitness into the home. By eliminating the need for shared lanes, travel to pools, and flip turns, Slipstream enables a continuous swim experience that is both convenient and highly effective. With a commitment to innovation, accessibility, and user-focused design, Slipstream Swim Machines is leading the next evolution of swimming—empowering individuals to train, recover, and enjoy the water on their own terms.

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Landmark Aquatic Taps Waterpark Industry Veteran Craig Nielsen

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Craig-Nielsen - Landmark Aquatic

With 25 Years of Hands-On Experience and an Owner-Operator Perspective, Nielsen Brings Unmatched Expertise as Landmark Enters the Next Era of Waterpark Innovation

Landmark Aquatic is pleased to now have Craig Nielsen as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. Nielsen founded and led CEM Aquatics for over 25 years before CEM’s acquisition by Landmark in early 2026. Bringing a rare blend of design, construction, and owner-operator experience to Landmark’s leadership team, Nielsen’s elevation to this role signals Landmark’s commitment to leading the waterpark industry through what Nielsen calls its most exciting period of transformation yet.

Nielsen has watched the waterpark industry evolve from the ground up. “In the early 2000s, the model was remarkably consistent — flume slides, tube rides, lazy rivers, and a snack bar,” he recalls. “The most sophisticated technology on the property was probably the water chemistry controller.” The first seismic shift came when brands like Great Wolf Lodge inverted the traditional waterpark model, making the indoor waterpark the hotel’s core amenity rather than a side attraction. “Suddenly, a family destination that once operated 90 days a year was generating revenue 365 days a year — making it a fundamentally different business.”

Today, the competitive field has widened dramatically. Hotel chains, casino operators, cruise lines, and mixed-use real estate developers are all investing in waterparks as proven drivers of occupancy and revenue. Nielsen speaks from firsthand experience as co-owner of Cowabunga Canyon in Summerlin and Cowabunga Park in Henderson, Nevada. “Consumers today are often selecting their vacation resorts based on the waterpark offerings,” he says. “The secret is out — waterparks attract people, and everyone is building them.”

Looking ahead, Nielsen points to surf parks, next-generation adventure rivers, and AI-powered guest experiences as the defining frontiers of waterpark development. “Surf parks today are where indoor waterpark resorts were in the early 2000s — those who embrace them in the next three to five years will have a significant first-mover advantage,” he says. On technology, Nielsen is equally bullish: “AI is already improving everything from water chemistry to pump operations.

Soon, interactive AI experiences that track guests, create competitions, and reward participation will become the norm — it’s genuinely exciting.”

It is precisely this convergence of technology, capital, and consumer appetite that Nielsen intends to help Landmark Aquatic navigate. “Technology, capital, and a genuinely evolved consumer appetite for water-based experiences are converging in a way I haven’t seen in 25 years,” he says. “The barriers that once limited this industry — seasonality, demographic reach, geographic constraints — are all disappearing simultaneously. The wave is building, and I’m proud to help Landmark ride it.”

About Landmark Aquatic

Landmark Aquatic is a premier provider of commercial aquatic facility design, construction, and maintenance, with more than six decades of industry leadership. Serving clients nationwide, Landmark delivers construction-led solutions supported by its CPO-certified AquatiCare maintenance team, ensuring excellence “for the life of your pool.” Committed to the full lifecycle of every facility, Landmark prioritizes long-term partnerships while adapting to client needs through exceptional service, operational excellence, and forward-thinking solutions.

Contact info:

Website: www.landmarkaquatic.com

Email: [email protected]

Ph:1-888-871-2887

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RENOLIT Offers Natural Pool reinforced PVC membrane

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RENOLIT Natural Swimming Pool

RENOLIT is pleased to offer its ‘Natural Pool’ collection of reinforced membranes specifically developed to be used on ‘natural’ or ‘bio’ swimming pools and ponds. Manufactured without biocides or fungicides, this product is completely compatible and safe to use with plants and aquatic life. The ‘Natural Pool’ product is a non-toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pool membrane created to help builders and landscape designers easily offer this trending ‘natural swimming pool’ to environmentally conscious consumers.

A natural swimming pool is a constructed body of water that replicates the conditions found in naturally occurring ponds or lakes and optimizes these conditions to provide high water quality for bathers. The system is often completely chemical-free, with no devices that disinfect or sterilize the water (e.g. UV, ozone, ionizers, etc.).

For the most successful ‘natural swimming pool’ applications, the pool interior needs to be non-porous. As a result, a PVC membrane is ideal rather than plaster or gunite which are both porous and allow excessive biofilm growth, making it difficult to keep the pool clean.

Natural swimming pools are becoming more popular as consumers demand more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Advancements in biofiltration and PVC membranes are making these pools more accessible and efficient. Learn more at https://renolit-alkorplan.com/collections/natural-pool

Phone number: (219) 324-6886 I Website: https://renolit-alkorplan.com/

Location: LaPorte, Indiana

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