Why Denver’s Bathhouses Closed, and Why They Haven’t Returned

For many years, Denver was home to a small number of men’s bathhouse-style venues, most notably the Denver Swim Club and Midtown Spa. These spaces played an important role in the community, offering places for connection, exploration, and belonging that were not widely available elsewhere. Their closure left a noticeable gap, one that many people still ask about today.

This page exists to answer a question we receive often. Why haven’t these spaces reopened, and why don’t new ones take their place?

A Brief History

Both the Denver Swim Club and Midtown Spa operated during a time when Denver’s regulatory, zoning, and licensing environment allowed for large-scale bathhouse venues. Over time, rising costs, regulatory pressure, real estate shifts, and ultimately the impact of COVID led to their closure.

When those businesses shut down, the licenses they operated under became null and void. Those licenses were tied to specific business entities and uses and were not transferable. The City of Denver no longer issues new licenses of that type.

Once closed, these venues were not paused or dormant. From a regulatory standpoint, they effectively ceased to exist.

Licensing Is Only One Piece of the Puzzle

Licensing is often the first issue people think of, but it is far from the only barrier.

Zoning plays a major role in whether a business can exist at all. Adult-oriented venues and private membership clubs are only permitted in a limited number of zoning districts. That sharply reduces the number of viable properties, especially in a city where redevelopment pressure and land values continue to rise.

To even be considered, a property would need to meet all of the following conditions at the same time:

Correct zoning for the intended use
Eligibility for licensing under current city rules
Sufficient size and structural suitability
Availability for purchase rather than lease
A price point that supports a niche business model

Finding a property that checks every one of these boxes is extremely rare in Denver.

The Financial Reality

Opening a large-scale bathhouse is not just a regulatory challenge. It is a financial one.

A realistic estimate to open a venue similar to Denver’s former bathhouses ranges from $250,000 to $500,000 or more. That number increases quickly once licensing fees, construction, plumbing, electrical work, HVAC, accessibility upgrades, and modern safety requirements are factored in. Licensing alone can exceed $50,000.

This level of investment only makes sense if the business owns the property. No operator is going to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into a space they are renting. It would be like remodeling a kitchen and bathroom in a house you do not own. It is financially unsound and unsustainable.

That ownership requirement alone eliminates most potential locations.

Why Smaller Private Clubs Still Exist

While large-scale bathhouse licenses are no longer available, private membership clubs are still allowed to operate legally under different regulatory frameworks. These spaces are intentionally smaller, more flexible, and designed to operate within today’s zoning and licensing constraints.

This is how Club Manifest operates, and how similar clubs function in other cities. Historically, this is also how many bathhouse-style venues began. They started as small, member-supported spaces and grew cautiously over time as conditions allowed.

What has changed is that the path from private club to large-scale bathhouse with private rooms is now extremely narrow in Denver and, in most cases, unrealistic.

Looking Forward

The loss of spaces like the Denver Swim Club and Midtown Spa is real and deeply felt. These venues mattered, and their absence reflects broader changes in regulation, real estate, and urban development rather than a lack of interest or desire.

If spaces like these are ever to return, it will not happen quickly. It would require changes to licensing rules, zoning reform, substantial capital, and sustained community support.

In the meantime, the future of intimate, community-centered men’s spaces depends on the venues that exist now. Attendance, participation, and engagement are what justify long-term investment and make future growth possible.

These questions matter. We hope this provides clarity, even if the reality is more complicated than many would like.