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Floating hot tubs are coming to the Minneapolis riverfront just in time for the summer.

On Wednesday, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board approved Minnesota Hot Tub Boats to offer floating hot tubs that will coast from Nicollet Island railway bridge up to the Broadway Street Bridge.

Founder Matt Witt says his goal is to be up and running by Memorial Day weekend. His business will operate out of Boom Island Park and allow customers to rent floating hot tub boats for 90-minute sessions.

“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “It's been a long time coming. I'm pretty stoked that it's actually here and we're doing it.”

Witt first tried out a hot tub boat while visiting Seattle and loved the experience. He wanted to bring a new way of enjoying rivers to Minnesota.

“People in Minnesota really enjoy just getting out on the water, getting out outside,” he said. “I could totally see people really finding a way to just connect with their loved ones and their friends and kind of get on the water in a new way, too.”

The hot tub boats are powered by an electric motor and heated using propane. Rates start at $300 for the rentals and go up for weekends and holidays. Each boat has a limit of six people.

A boating license is not required for the boats and they travel at a top speed of 5 mph.

Witt says he plans to operate his business from March to November. People are allowed to bring a few alcoholic drinks onto the boats, but it will be limited for safety reasons.

In the upcoming weeks, Witt is working on building another hot tub boat and preparing for the grand opening weekend. He’ll be offering discounted rates for locals from Minneapolis and St. Paul.

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Nicole Ki

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Minnesota Hot Tub Boats has been approved to operate out of Boom Island Park in Minneapolis. The floating hot tubs will sail from Nicollet Island railway bridge up to the Broadway Street Bridge.

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