The Mega-Plex

The Mega-Plex is New England's gay bathhouse, open around the clock since 2000 on Allens Avenue in Providence. It's the kind of 24-hour men's space that has grown rare in the region, and it draws visitors from across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and beyond. The facilities cover the essentials: a large steam room next to the showers, a dry sauna, a locker room, a video lounge with a big collection, a gym, a TV and reception area, and a maze and playroom, along with roughly 75 private cabins. Admission works by day pass or membership, with options to upgrade to a private shower room, video room, or VIP room. Themed nights run through the week. AIDS Program Rhode Island also offers free walk-in HIV, hepatitis C, and syphilis testing on site, which has made the building a genuine part of the local scene.