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History of Cabanas

It all started with one of our all-time favorite recreations – swimming. As far back as anyone can trace, people have used lakes, rivers, creeks, and ponds for swimming, as well as bathing. The first known organized swimming events date back to 2500 B.C., in Egypt, but it wasn’t until the first century B.C., that the Romans invented the first swimming pools. At the time, however, they were used largely for bathing, which was one of the most important rituals in Roman society.

Far from the personal and private daily routine that it is for us today, bathing back then was a communal activity that took place chiefly in public bathhouses, which were more like the health clubs and spas that we know today. Even the wealthy, who had baths in their own homes, often preferred to cleanse themselves at a bathhouse in the company of others. The ingenious engineers of the time even devised a few methods for heating the rooms and the water, one of which involved diverting water from heated natural springs through pipes beneath the pool.

These huge bathhouses, called thermae, were usually built from stone and tile, but the truly elite would frequent the more elaborate baths, made from marble, and accented with expensive gilding. Even the more common bathhouses, however, were luxurious, having vaulted ceilings, well-lit rooms, colorful mosaics and paintings, and silver faucets. Some public bathhouses had separate facilities for men and women, while others would be reserved for women in the early part of the day and men in the later hours.

Bathing was a daily routine in Roman society, and, apart from its hygienic value, provided one of the most popular ways of socializing, conducting business, and exchanging gossip. Many of the larger bathhouses also featured sports and recreational facilities, and even libraries and lecture halls. After having bathed, people could stroll through elaborate gardens and courtyards, watching performers, such as acrobats and jugglers, while enjoying food that they had bought from vendors.

Naturally, these bathhouses had dressing rooms, which featured niches and cabinets for storing people’s clothes while they bathed. Sometimes, a dressing room doubled as a frigidarium, which was a room that contained a small pool of cold water where many people liked to take an invigorating dip after a bath. Many times, they would also go for a swim in the large outdoor pool.

As time went on, more outdoor swimming pools were built, independent of the bathhouses, strictly for recreation. The only problem was that these pools did not have places for people to change into their swimming attire; so they started building little huts to use as dressing rooms.

The Latin word for hut was capanna, from which the Spanish word, cabaña, was derived. Translated into English, we know the word as cabana, which is defined as “a shelter resembling a cabin, usually with an open side facing a beach or swimming pool,” or “a small cabin or tent-like structure for use as a bathhouse, especially on a beach or by a swimming pool.”

Since their introduction, years ago, as humble dressing rooms, cabanas have come to achieve worldwide renown, dotting the beaches in every resort area, and lining the outskirts of every public pool. The swimming pool, as we know, sky-rocketed to fame as one of the most popular inventions in history, and was quickly elevated from the ranks of public domain, to also being a status symbol in millions of backyards around the world.

Although, for many years, the cabana simply rode the waves of the swimming pool’s popularity, it is now enjoying a surge of notoriety, as people everywhere are discovering that it can stand on its own. With its new looks and tons of sophisticated features available, including skylights, screened windows, electricity, and plumbing, this former little shanty is in vogue as a guesthouse, cottage, and summerhouse, and is itself nearing status symbol status, even when there’s not a pool in sight!

The best part about it, however, is that this little cabin never forgot where it came from. Besides remaining eminently affordable, it is also breath-takingly beautiful, with or without any of the extras. Whether you want it to double as a summerhouse, or you simply need a place for changing into and out of bathing suits, our cabanas are proud to serve. So, come on in and take a look at our stunning selection, available in decay-resistant Western Red Cedar and maintenance-free vinyl, and you’ll soon see why the cabana is the little shack that could!

Assembly went well and I was impressed with the final product. I will refer you my requests for any gazebos

M.M. – Winter Park, FL

Prompt shipping; good, friendly customer service when I called to ask an assembly question

J.S.B. - Brevard, NC

I ordered a 12'X14' oval gazebo and assembled it as a retreat from our bedroom

M.R. – Hedgesville, WV

Arrived in a timely fashion, nothing was missing, instructions were easy to follow. I would do business with them again and have recommended them to others.

T.D. - Watsonville, CA

…Our gazebos weathered Hurricane Katrina just fine…

N.W. Mobile, AL

…We love it. I had my first nap in [the gazebo] today.

S.E. – Stoughton, WI

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