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What happens when you combine a hot tub, a boat and a Minnesota summer?

A new Minneapolis business is betting plenty of people want to find out. Minnesota Hot Tub Boats launched this past weekend at Boom Island Park, offering 90-minute cruises aboard floating hot tubs on the Mississippi River.

Amy Riley and four of her friends were among the first to try out the boats on Thursday evening.

"I've heard about cruises and tours and stuff like that on the Mississippi River but never a hot tub boat, so that was very intriguing,” said Riley, who lives in Minneapolis.

The electric hot tub boats fit up to six people and travel at five miles per hour. They cruise a roughly mile-long stretch of the river between the Nicollet Island railway bridge and the Broadway Street Bridge.

Minnesota Hot Tub Boats founder Matt Witt got the idea for his business after trying hot tub boats in other cities like Seattle and Chicago and thought it would do well in Minnesota. Witt said it's a unique way to get out on the water this summer.

“I just hope that people walk away leaving like they had a good time with their family and friends,” he said.

Rates start at $300, and riders get a safety briefing before their cruise. For many customers, Thursday was their first time on a hot tub boat, and they loved it.

“To split with five or six friends, it's very reasonable. It's a fun thing to do on a summer night. If I had friends visiting from out of town, I'd probably come do it again,” Riley said.

Witt says it’s been fun to see people’s reactions when they see the boats for the first time. Some are surprised to find out the boats are electric.

“People are surprised at what it looks like. Some people think it looks really cute,” he said.

Meanwhile, some cruisers saw the boats as the perfect way to celebrate a milestone birthday. 

“I was like, ‘I'm turning 40 and I don't know what to do,’” said Rae Phoenix. “And then this happened.”

Witt said he’s excited to have more people on the boats and plans to run his business through November. Minnesota Hot Tub Boats will be open weekly Thursday through Sunday.

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Nicole Ki

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Minnesota Hot Tub Boats had its grand opening over the weekend at Boom Island Park, offering rentable hot tub boats to customers through November.

Floating hot tubs? New Minneapolis attraction debuts on the Mississippi River

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