He’s bringing a micro bathhouse concept to the Crossroads; Kyle Steppe’s vision: a phone-free communal experience

A new bathhouse concept from Kyle Steppe is expected to dial up the heat in downtown Kansas City — bringing a more social, immersive take on sauna culture to the city’s wellness scene.

180° Bathhouse, a micro bathhouse experience, is set to open in August inside the Holtman Building, currently under renovation by Molzer Development with completion anticipated this spring.

The team behind the concept — led by Steppe, former co-owner of KC Hemp Co. in Overland Park, and his business partner, Carrie Bacon — is working to close a $600,000 funding round by May to move the project into construction.

“It’s been a journey getting to this point,” said Steppe. “Having the location selected has really helped solidify what all will be entailed in the business.” 

The Holtman Building at 708 E 18th St. in Kansas City’s East Crossroads; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Reworking the sauna model

Rather than replicating the one- or two-person infrared setups common across the metro, 180° Bathhouse is designed around shared experiences, Steppe explained. The space will center on a large-format sauna that can accommodate roughly 35 to 40 people at once, paired with cold plunges and open, communal areas.

That approach opens the door for guided programming, including aufguss, a traditional German sauna practice that uses water and towel movements to circulate steam throughout the room.

“The steam is the most magical part of the sauna,” said Steppe. “That’s what’s missing from a lot of what people are used to.”

A rendering of 180° Bathhouse; courtesy image

The concept also serves as a scaled-down extension of Steppe’s broader Frequency KC vision, a larger bathhouse and wellness campus he has been developing. While Frequency KC is planned as a more expansive destination, 180° Bathhouse is designed more as a proof of concept to bring that same core experience into a smaller, more accessible format.

The connection to the Holtman Building began with a conversation between Steppe and Zach Molzer, founder of Molzer Development, last summer that quickly turned into a tour of the property. Seeing the space in person helped translate an idea into something tangible, said Steppe.

“Having a physical space to react to changed everything,” he said.

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The building aligned with his vision for accessibility and repeat visits. The surrounding mix of small businesses and steady foot traffic signaled potential for the bathhouse to become part of a neighborhood routine, Steppe said.

A rendering of 180° Bathhouse; courtesy image

Designing for connection

Steppe and Bacon are positioning the bathhouse as a gathering space that offers an alternative to more traditional social settings. Group sessions, private bookings and guided experiences are all part of the mix, alongside design elements like biophilic features and dedicated cool-down areas.

“There’s just a thirst for new things to do within the community that aren’t centered around going to a bar,” said Steppe.

The space is expected to operate as a phone-free environment, encouraging guests to unplug while moving between sauna sessions and cold plunges.

Bacon, who is currently based in Puerto Rico, plans to relocate to Kansas City as the opening approaches. The co-founders first connected at a wellness retreat in Wisconsin, where they met during a cold plunge session and found alignment around building a shared sauna experience.

Kyle Steppe, 180° Bathhouse; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Pricing and early traction

The team expects sessions to start at $39, with discounted rates available through bundled passes. The pricing model is built around higher capacity per session, allowing the business to keep costs relatively accessible while maintaining volume.

In the near term, attention is focused on closing its funding round early this spring, which would support construction and position the project for a late summer opening.

“We want to give Kansas City something they’ve never experienced before,” said Steppe.