Meet John Drescher of LoHi

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Drescher.

John, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
PORTAL° is a wellness social club centered around sauna and cold plunge contrast therapy. At our core, we believe community is built through shared experience and that these experiences can spark a new chapter in the wellness space, bringing inspiration, joy, and elevated health consciousness through the practice of thermaculture.

Our mission is simple: make social wellness accessible. The idea was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota — a city where Scandinavian sauna culture runs deep. Among sober friends searching for a different kind of gathering place, the spark ignited: what if there were stimulating spaces designed not around alcohol or consumption, but around contrast therapy and connection?

We aren’t a bar. We aren’t a coffee shop. We aren’t a gym. We aren’t a music venue.
We’re something new: a wellness social club.

The first PORTAL° launched in January 2024 behind a brewery in Boulder, Colorado. It was nothing more than a prototype pop-up, powered by a garden hose and small electrical service, but the response was immediate and electric. Word spread, the community gathered, and a new ritual began to take shape.

From those humble beginnings, PORTAL° has grown into a thriving movement with our first club welcoming over 20,000 visits. We’ve expanded to Denver, Minneapolis and have plans to return to Boulder and expand throughout the west in the coming years.

What started as a passion project has become proof of a new model: wellness not as an individual pursuit, but as a shared culture. Sauna and cold plunge are our mediums, but connection is our mission.

PORTAL° is where people come to chill, sweat, and connect.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a very positive journey. Between the reception of the communities we service and fellow entrepreneurs who are eager to get involved and join the movement – we find the reception of Portal is better than we could have hoped. Of course, there are challenges every business faces, but those unexpected events allow us to build a robust, resilient foundation to continue to expand.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My background is in entertainment design. I lead creative for an experiential marketing agency out of New York city for many years before starting Portal with my brother, Will. I designed pop-up activations, tours, events, parties, and all sorts of entertainment for corporate clients like Samsung, Nike, and Comcast. I’m most proud of what we’ve been able to achieve at Portal. Multiple ‘pinch me’ moments as a creative have strung together into one of the most rewarding project of my career.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If you haven’t tried contrast therapy, come check it out! The hot/cold therapy isn’t just for athletes! Its for anyone who wants to decompress, regulate your nervous system, and find community.

Pricing:

• $35/credit
• $90/4 credit pack
• $170/8 credit pack
• $99/monthly unlimited membership
• $215/three month unlimited membership

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.portalthermaculture.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/portalthermaculture
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/portal-thermaculture/
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Nvwo1kDkU9e9Ad519