Ep 186: America’s Best Restroom 2025 WINNER
America’s Best Restroom 2025: The Bears Did It Again
I choose to believe—deep in my heart and even deeper in my bowels—that the Bearhead Lake State Park victory in the 2025 America’s Best Restroom competition was carried entirely on the backs of the bears. Not even the nice bears. The beautiful Charmin bears, those animated, pristine-cheeked icons of American toilet culture. Because if someone has to win this goofy national title, I’d rather have it be a cuddly woodland creature than another airport restroom pretending to be fancy by installing a Dyson hand dryer.
And thank God it’s not an airport. These airports have been stealing wins like they’re collecting Pokémon badges, and frankly, I’m unwell about it. I can’t take another year of applauding some terminal’s “innovative stall design.” No. Give me nature, give me serenity, give me bears.
Holiday Creep, Bathroom Edition
Welcome back to Privy, the internet’s only bathroom-based podcast and blog recorded from an actual bathroom by someone who loves bathrooms more than most people love their own children’s art projects. This season has crept up on me. Thanksgiving is two days away. The pumpkins are still on my porch. My Christmas lights remain solidly in “Autumn Mode.” I’m still drinking pumpkin spice. I haven't emotionally committed to peppermint yet. I’m in seasonal denial.
And while I’m trying to adjust to the holiday chaos, the Cintas Corporation—the group responsible for crowning America’s Best Restroom—decided to release their findings late. Like, late-late. Autumn had fully decomposed before we saw the results.
Cintas, sweetie:
All you have to do is hit “Enter.” Publish it in September. Give me something to talk about before I’m elbows-deep in Halloween candy and December peppermint-induced gastrointestinal regrets.
The Finalists: A Bathroom Buffet
Let’s review the 2025 contenders:
- Tecolote Shores – San Diego, CA
- Tatsu – Dallas, TX
- Rosebrook Lodge – Bretton Woods, NH
- The Rooftop at Pier 7 – New York, NY
- Modern Bar Orlando – Orlando, FL
- Little America Hotel – Salt Lake City, UT
- Footprints – Lawrence, KS
- City of Fruita Restrooms – Fruita, CO
- Bearhead Lake State Park – Ely, MN (the winner)
Some truly beautiful bathrooms in the mix. BUT—only one emerged victorious, thanks in part (I will die on this hill) to the power of adorable Minnesota bear lore.
Poo in the News™: Bearhead Lake Takes the Crown
Let’s jump to our source: Fox 9 Minnesota, who courteously reported that Bearhead Lake State Park now holds the golden plunger for 2025.
This state-park restroom, located in the glacially carved wilderness of northeastern Minnesota, is “more than just functional,” according to Cintas. It’s scenic, ADA-compliant, has dishwashing sinks, and is nestled among quiet lakes and forest. It’s the kind of bathroom where you half expect a bald eagle to hand you a roll of toilet paper.
And yes, this is not Minnesota’s first win. They’ve taken the gold before. Those Minnesotans? They know how to keep a bathroom clean.
A Brief History of This Very Under-Appreciated Park
Bearhead Lake State Park covers more than 5,600 acres shaped by ancient glaciers—because even the Earth was trying to sculpt a perfect bathroom landscape.
Humans eventually showed up:
- Indigenous peoples inhabited the area 4,000 years ago.
- Europeans arrived in the 1700s for fur and logging.
- Later, people realized the area is gorgeous and pushed for a state park, established in 1962.
Pretty standard park history so far.
But this park has a secret weapon.
How a Black Bear Influenced a National Contest
In 2010, the Coca-Cola Company ran an online poll for “America’s Favorite Park.”
Guess who won?
Bearhead Lake.
Not because millions of visitors voted.
Not because people across the nation suddenly discovered Minnesota.
No.
Bearhead Lake won because of Lily the Black Bear.
Someone installed a bear den webcam. Lily gave birth live on camera. The internet melted into a puddle. Bearhead Lake State Park went viral before being viral became a personality trait.
They received a $100,000 prize thanks to one bear pushing out a cub on camera. Incredible.
That same energy, I believe, has now carried the park to its Best Restroom victory 15 years later.
Do the Bathrooms Deserve the Win?
Honestly? Maybe! They look very nice. Clean, modern, natural-wood vibes. Great lighting. Not the kind of bathroom where you fear a spider might try to unionize.
But…
Other finalists had equally beautiful bathrooms. Footprints, in particular, was my personal pick. So why did Bearhead Lake win?
Let’s be honest:
The Bears Did It Again.
Those adorable woodland creatures carried the votes. Their legacy runs deep. Their influence cannot be denied. If the Cintas Corp refuses to disclose voting numbers (publish them, cowards), then I reserve the right to claim that:
Bearhead Lake State Park won because the internet remembers Lily and Hope.
And honestly? I’m fine with that.
Better a park with wholesome bear lore than a soulless airport restroom where you can hear someone’s suitcase wheels echoing like a tiny jet engine of despair.
Final Thoughts
Bearhead Lake State Park:
- Beautiful scenery
- Glacial geography
- Excellent fishing
- Outstanding restrooms
- And, most importantly… bears.
Congratulations to the 2025 winner.
I’ll be adding it to my bathroom bucket list.
Now go forth, stay thankful, eat all the turkey, and remember:
Keep pooping in the free world.
And for the love of all that is porcelain:
Don’t forget to flush.
