Until recently, Austin had a gay bathhouse. However, Midtowne Spa (5815 Airport Blvd.) closed in the summer of 2016. The club had been 15 minutes north of downtown, near the Highland Mall and just north of the Hyde Park neighborhood. The major facility was part of one of the largest gay restroom chains in the country (with locations in Dallas, Houston, Denver, Milwaukee, and Hollywood / Los Angeles / Wilmington). Austin’s Midtowne Spa had been popular and attracted a mix of people, including some students from the nearby University of Texas.
The closest bathhouse to Austin is the ACI-Alternative Club, 90 minutes south of San Antonio.
Clothing-Optional Areas
Note that Austin also has a popular clothing optional park, Hippie Hollow, which attracts many gay men for walks, sunbathing, and fun. Overt sexual activity is not allowed, which is not to say that you will not find men here dedicated to discreet fun, if you look hard enough, this type of activity tends to take place at the end of the path that runs along the shore of the lake to your left, from the parking area. As you walk long enough (maybe 10 minutes or so), you will start to see more nude sunbathing.
Hippie Hollow is 20 minutes west of town, on the scenic shores of Lake Travis, which is actually a dammed section of the Colorado River (Texas).
Gay clubs outside of Austin
However, there are several bathhouses and clubs near Austin. In Houston, about two and a half hours east of Austin, you’ll find Club Houston, the only gay bathhouse in town. Facilities include a state-of-the-art gym, steam room, dry sauna, heated outdoor pool and sun terrace. Meanwhile, three hours north of Austin, Dallas also has gay bathhouses. Club Dallas is a multi-level spa featuring a gym, locker room, steam room, sauna, hot tub, outdoor pool, and sun deck. It is located just 10 minutes south of Uptown’s Oaktown gay nightlife area in Dallas.
If you’re up for a road trip, these two Texas bathhouses offer clean and safe alternatives for the LGBTQ crowd.
