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Lake Minnetonka Is Back in Business

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For many boaters on Lake Minnetonka, full speed never felt so good. No-wake restrictions were lifted on Friday.

"Everybody hasn't been burning much fuel this year, but they're burning a lot of fuel today," said boater Steve Leighton. "All the boats are running wide open out there today, a there's a lot of waves."

Ty and Mary Hovet finally got to take their daughters and their friends out boating on Minnetonka.

"I was out fishing on Gull Lake last week and it was slower than molasses, so it's fun to power up again," said Ty Hovet.

It's a day of tubing and wakeboarding that they've been looking forward too.

"You can tell people are glad to be out there," Mary Hovet said.

It was clear to see from a stop for lunch at Maynard's that Saturday brought in the wave of customers that business owners have been waiting for.

"It's definitely a breath of fresh air. Already the docks are filling in more than we've seen on other weekends," said Maynard's manager Jack Stevens. "Our patrons are excited to get here a little bit faster today. A lot of them were here beating down the door at 11 o'clock."

Over these last two month, restaurants, marinas, and gas stops on the lake took a major hit during their peak season.

They're hoping Mother Nature will cooperate through August and into late September. And so do the boaters who love this lake.

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