The business, an offshoot of Madison Boats, features two custom-built, wood-fired saunas at Wingra Boats, 824 Knickerbocker St. It will operate through March 7, 2027, with both private and community sauna sessions available.

Owner Tyler Leeper said the idea grew naturally out of Madison Boats' summer mission of connecting people with one another and with Madison's lakes.

"When I realized that that's what sauna is, it's an opportunity to connect with oneself, connect with the outdoors, connect with others, I realized that's already what we're doing," Leeper said.

The opening drew visitors Friday afternoon, including Susan Welsch and her friend Lisa Nelson-Beard, who tried the sauna and the cold lake water.

"It's just a nice new addition for Madison, I think," Welsch said. "In the wintertime, I'd like to walk around the lake ... and then do the sauna afterwards."

Nelson-Beard described the contrast between the heat and the lake.

"The water was ice cold," she said. "It feels great just in the air after the sauna."

Leeper said the business is meant to offer a low-barrier way for residents to get through Wisconsin's colder months.

"We're really looking forward to being able to provide something that people can look forward to," he said. "Something that doesn't have to be an incredible lift, but something that can lift them up through sometimes dark, challenging, cold periods of our year."

Madison Saunas was scheduled to remain open through the weekend after its Friday debut. Booking information, pricing and other details are available through the business's website.