Get to Know the Locals: Trevor Samsa and Tony Marchetti of Lost Sauna Co.

Innovative entrepreneurship is an important asset to have if you want to live in Lake Tahoe. Creating a community-beneficial business is one of the best ways to establish a lifelong ability to afford living in this precious area. Giving to the community in a positive way through business often equates to finding a way to work in this awe-inspiring place that we all love so much.

For Trevor Samsa and Tony Marchetti, this is exactly the equation that they are betting on. With the dream to create a business that not only allows them the freedom of owning their own business, they also wanted their company to play into offering wellness for the people where they lived. Coming from Minnesota, they both were well versed in the healing aspects of utilizing saunas. With both craving to live in the mountains, Lake Tahoe beckoned. Brainstorming how they could invoke a sauna business that was innovative and unique, they came up with combining the world of tourism that is so alive and well in Lake Tahoe with the body's need for healing through the use of a sauna. Taking it a step further by invoking a mobile approach to the sauna industry, Lost Sauna Co. was born.

A brilliant business idea that is helping locals and visitors enjoy the relaxing and uplifting effects of a sauna, Lost Sauna Co. is making this modality of health available to you anywhere, whether you are camping, at an Airbnb or in your own home Building the custom units themselves and taking care of both delivery and pickup, the dynamic duo has truly hit the entrepreneur nail on the head.

Interested to learn more about these impressive Tahoe locals? Keep reading to learn what makes them dream like they do, where they go for relaxation and what's next on their bucket list.

Tony and Trevor with one of their work of art saunas.

How long have you lived in Lake Tahoe?

We have both lived here for about two and a half years.

Where did you grow up before coming to Lake Tahoe? 

We are both from a small town in northern Minnesota, then moved to Duluth, Minnesota, and lived on Lake Superior.

What inspired you to create a local business?

Tony: The desire to work for ourselves by creating something that improves wellness rather than degrades it, like many jobs unfortunately do. 

Trevor: We are life-long friends with complementary skill sets that we wanted to use to create something unique.

What’s your favorite Lake Tahoe town or village?

Tony: Tahoe Vista or Carnelian Bay

Trevor: Tahoe City for food, Tahoe Vista for friends, Kings Beach for events, and, of course, Carnelian Bay for living.

What is your favorite thing about living in Lake Tahoe?

Tony: I feel like most people would say the lake, but for me it's definitely the mountains.

Trevor: Definitely the lake.

What’s your favorite season in Tahoe?

It's hard to beat a Tahoe summer.

What’s your favorite Lake Tahoe beach access?

Trevor: Hidden Beach on a slow day. 

The handmade saunas are as beautiful as the settings that surround them.

Do you have a favorite trail or area to access the mountains?

Tony: The fiberboard!

What do you do for fun?

Tony: Skateboard, snowboard, mountain bike, create. 

Trevor: Beach/lake activities, hockey, watch sports, learn new things.

Describe your perfect day off.

Tony: Putz in the morning, meet up with the crew, do one of the hobbies, grill for dinner, then sauna during sunset. 

Trevor: Slow coffee morning, meet up with friends at breakfast and then link up with our friends at Tahoe Bliss Charters to get on the boat for wakesurfing and hanging out, grill and sauna at night. 

Do you see more sunsets or sunrises?

Sunsets.

What’s one thing you wish more Lake Tahoe visitors knew?

That there is a mobile sauna rental company based out of Carnelian Bay!

Where do you go on vacation?

Mostly other mountain towns (looking at you, Jackson Hole), back home to Minnsota to see family and friends, or ocean fishing in Texas or Panama. 

For a celebratory dinner, would you rather order take-out, go out to eat or cook something at home?

Tony: Go out to eat.

Trevor: I like to go out to eat if it's my celebration, but love to grill/cook at home if someone else has a reason to celebrate.

Sauna anyone? With Lost Sauna Co. it's hard to say no.

What’s your favorite meal of the day, and where in Lake Tahoe would you get it?

The best has to be happy hour apps at Spindleshanks in Kings Beach.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

We built the sauna and created the business from scratch with the potential to work for ourselves providing something unique and beneficial to others in Lake Tahoe. 

Do you have any side hustles?

We both also have other jobs while our company gets off the ground, so with those and the sauna business that doesn't leave much time for side hustles. 

What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?

Take a hot sauna and jump in Lake Tahoe. 

What’s one item on your bucket list?

Tony: To build the house I grow old in.

Trevor: I've always wanted to travel to Australia and live there for a few months. 

Photos courtesy of Lost Sauna Co.