Watershed is a transformative communal bathing destination located at Switch House in Minneapolis.

Watershed is the realization of founder Nell Rueckl’s long-held dream to bring communal bathing to the Twin Cities. A true pioneer and leader in the healing community, Rueckl is the founder of Spot Spas in Minneapolis, creator of Nell’s Remedies, and the visionary behind Watershed Spa. After years of research, she is thrilled to welcome people to participate in the bathing ritual and experience the expansive services available. Rueckl envisions an urban wellness center that offers a robust menu of various modalities, many of which are not typically found in traditional spa settings.

“We offer a whole array of experiences for people to try: ritual, spa, healing, body, and energy work,” Rueckl says. “Every single aspect of the space and the services and experiences are about vibrancy. Everything we do is steeped in vibrational healing designed to bring you back to center and ground you, and everything is more powerful in community.”

Rueckl forged her career at Horst’s renowned Aveda Destination Spa in Osceola, Wisconsin, and Kabuki Springs in San Francisco, and is recognized within the Minnesota spa industry as having attained the highest level of mastery. She launched Spot Spa in Southeast Minneapolis in 2001, later adding a second location in Uptown. She brings her years of experience and team of expert practitioners to this unique new location.

Rueckl explains her vision: “I have been very intentional in my work to create a space where every human can feel safe, calm, and welcomed so that they may heal and be rejuvenated through the bathing ritual,“ she says.

Watershed is housed in a historic building near the banks of the Mississippi River.

The communal experience is central to her mission. “Participating in community allows us to become more whole as individuals. This experience is magnetic and creates a continually regenerative source of energy. It’s transformational at every level.”

Rueckle, spa owner, founder and visionary, had this to share with us about Watershed Spa and Baths:

Why You’ll Love It: Watershed, which opened October 2022, offers a wonderful variety of spa services and wellness modalities, and it is also the first communal bathing destination in the Twin Cities. Guests have responded enthusiastically to the bathing ritual, where they are invited to follow their own rhythm as they shower, steam, soak, sauna, cold plunge and spend time in our relaxation area.

The longer people stay, the more intuition takes over, and they know which step of the process to do next and for how long—where to linger a while. Visitors to the baths get to curate their own experience and witness others engaging in the process, which is quite powerful. The positive vibrations are felt throughout the space as all kinds of people take time out to allow themselves to fully engage and truly have a watershed moment. People have also been enjoying our classes and special events, such as sound bathing or yoga combined with a bath visit.

Guests can participate in the bathing ritual which includes a shower, steam, soak, sauna, cold plunge, and time in the relaxation area.

Key Features: Watershed is housed in an historic building near the banks of the Mississippi River. Our spa treatment rooms and retail area are on the entrance level, and the baths are on the lower level. Our guests often receive a service such as a massage or acupuncture before visiting the baths. There really isn’t anywhere like Watershed—we have taken key elements from many cultural traditions and created a vibrant healing space.

The spa also added two state-of-the-art Japanese soaking tubs.

Bonus: I’m really excited to share that we recently added two state-of-the-art Japanese soaking tubs, which are meant to be booked for pairs interested in sharing this time-tested method of seated deep soaking, complete with customized Ayurvedic oils added to the water, to enhance the experience, all followed by side-by-side massages.

Snacks Served: We offer light snacks and plenty of water, but people are welcome to bring in food and beverages when they book a private party in the baths. We will add to our food and beverage offerings in the coming months.

Everything Watershed does is steeped in vibrational healing designed to help center and ground guests.

Insider’s Tip: Getting a salt scrub treatment in combination with a Vichy shower, followed by a visit to the baths, is truly restorative.

Splurge Treatment: We will soon add a CBD soak (in our private soak) followed by a 90-minute massage.

Unique Treatment: There are so many unique offerings to suit everyone on their path, from deep tissue therapeutic bodywork to energy work that speaks to patterns carried in the body. Another favorite combination is massage and acupuncture. And our holistic healing facials are an extraordinary experience.

Guests can also enjoy various treatments ranging from deep tissue therapeutic bodywork to energy work.

Wellness Offerings: That’s a big part of what we do here! We offer services such as full-body lymph drainage and dynamic body balancing. We have added micro needling by our acupuncture team, which is a little more focused on lifting and brightening—we love this alternative to invasive facial treatments.

Watershed also offer services such as full-body lymph drainage, dynamic body balancing, and micro needling by its acupuncture team.

Featured Products: We offer a carefully curated selection of green beauty products, flower essences, beautiful linen robes, and other gift items. Additionally, we have created a line of signature Watershed products—scrubs, bath salts, body butter, and oil, along with our custom, bespoke fragrance, which can accompany a gorgeous hand-blown glass bottle. I’m just in love with it.

For more information on Watershed Spa, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @watershedmpls

[Photos courtesy of Watershed Spa ]