Meet Jen Judge

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jen Judge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always wanted to do something entrepreneurial, and I’ve long been passionate about wellness. In our modern age, we all need different wellness modalities to help us stay grounded and adapt to the pace and pressures of life. After years of working in technology, I wanted to create something tangible, rooted in community and nature. Sauna culture resonated deeply with me because it’s simple yet powerful as it reconnects people to their bodies, to nature, and to each other. Howling Moon Sauna grew out of that vision.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career background is in the technology space and supported by a business education. That combination has served me well, from financial modeling to understanding the technological integration needed to run a service-based company. It’s been the most rewarding to take what I knew theoretically from finance, and entrepreneurship courses and applying it in a practical, real-world way to my own, extremely tangible, business.

Launching Howling Moon Sauna has been a chance to bring all of that together. It is where strategy meets passion and where my professional experience blends with my love for wellness and community. It has not always been easy, but it has been deeply rewarding to see something I envisioned come to life and create real impact. At its core, my story is about building experiences, digital or physical, that help people feel more connected, grounded, and well.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend were visiting, I would want them to experience the best of Grand County: its wild beauty, creative local businesses, and welcoming community.

We would start in Fraser with coffee at a local favorite before exploring St. Louis Creek. Whether hiking, mountain biking or cross-country skiing, it is one of my favorite places to enjoy the quiet rhythm of the mountains. Depending on the season, we would spend an evening at the High Country Stampede Rodeo, where the energy and sense of country tradition are unforgettable.

Midweek would be about restoration. We would start with a massage at Yellow House Massage, then head to Idlewild Spirits for dinner and cocktails. Later in the week, we would venture to Grand Lake for kayaking and lakeside views that never disappoint.

The perfect finale would be an evening at Howling Moon Sauna, a wood-fired, off-grid experience that captures everything I love about this place: nature, community, and renewal. We would end the day under the stars, feeling grounded and refreshed.

And for anyone who loves to explore, there are some beautiful secret hikes, like a peaceful walk down to the Fraser River. You can always email info@howlingmoonsauna.com for a few local tips.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank the Grand County, Colorado community. From the very beginning, when I was exploring possible partner locations for the sauna, I have been met with such open-mindedness and encouragement.

One of my favorite stories is about the High Country Stampede Rodeo. Their beautiful grounds sit along St. Louis Creek, a popular area for hiking, camping, and recreation. When I approached them about placing the sauna there, their response was immediate openness. My proposal to put a sauna on the rodeo grounds could have been perplexing, but their open-mindedness and ‘yes’ mentality showed me how generous and open-minded this community can be. It transformed what could have been a vulnerable step into one filled with confidence and connection.

That same spirit extends through the entire Grand County business ecosystem. The Fraser and Winter Park Chamber of Commerce has been phenomenal, offering marketing support, networking opportunities, and a platform for small businesses to connect and thrive. Within the local wellness community, from massage therapists to yoga instructors and breathwork practitioners, I have found such genuine camaraderie. The sauna fits naturally into that ecosystem, and I am deeply grateful for how welcoming and encouraging everyone has been toward a new small business.

Website: https://www.howlingmoonsauna.com/

Instagram: @howlingmoonsauna