You know that feeling when February hits in Minnesota? It’s gray. It’s freezing. Honestly, your skin starts looking a little translucent, and not in a cool, "Twilight" vampire kind of way. This is usually when people start googling Sun Tan City Winona to see if they can catch a few minutes of fake sunshine without driving all the way to Rochester or La Crosse.
Winona is a weirdly perfect place for a high-end tanning salon. You've got the college crowd from Winona State and Saint Mary’s who want to look decent for spring break, mixed with locals who just need the Vitamin D boost to survive another week of sub-zero wind chills. It's located right on Mankato Avenue, tucked into that busy commercial strip near Hy-Vee and Target. It’s convenient. You can grab your groceries, get your oil changed, and then basically lie in a high-tech glowing tube for twelve minutes.
It works.
What’s Actually Happening Inside Sun Tan City Winona?
Most people think tanning is just lying on a piece of acrylic and hoping you don't turn orange. It’s actually a bit more technical than that, especially with the way this specific franchise sets things up. They don't just have one type of bed; they have a tiered system that determines how fast you tan and how long that color actually sticks to your ribs.
The entry-level is the Fast bed. It’s your standard high-pressure UVB bulb situation. If you’re just starting out, this is where they usually stick you. But the real reason people frequent the Winona location is for the higher-tier options like the Faster, Fastest, or Instant beds. The Instant beds are the ones that use mostly UVA rays, which "brown" the melanin already in your skin rather than just stimulating new production. It’s the difference between a slow build and looking like you just flew back from Cabo.
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The Spray Tan Factor
Not everyone wants the UV exposure. I get it. Skin health is a massive deal, and the Sun Tan City in Winona uses the VersaSpa Pro system. This isn't the "Friends" episode where Ross gets sprayed four times on the front. It’s a booth that talks to you. It tells you when to turn. It has a built-in dryer so you don't walk out feeling like a wet glazed donut.
The trick with the Winona location—and really any spray tan—is the prep. If you show up with lotion on your legs or haven't exfoliated, you're going to look patchy. The staff there are usually pretty vocal about this. They’ll try to sell you the primer, and while it sounds like a sales pitch, a pH-balancing spray actually does keep the DHA from turning that weird pumpkin shade.
Membership Math: Is It a Total Rip-off?
Let’s talk money. Sun Tan City runs on a subscription model. It’s basically the Netflix of UV rays.
You can pay for a single visit, but it’s expensive. Like, "why did I just spend $30 on fifteen minutes" expensive. Most regulars go for the Club Sun membership. Here is the thing: you have to read the fine print on the "start-up fees" and the cancellation windows. Usually, there’s a minimum commitment. If you’re a student and you’re leaving town for the summer, you need to freeze that account or cancel it well in advance.
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They do this thing called "Double Points" or "Free Upgrade" weekends quite a bit. If you’re smart, you wait for those. The Winona staff is generally pretty chill about letting you know when the next sale is coming up if you just ask.
- Fast Membership: Good for base tans, mostly UVB.
- Instant/Fastest: Higher UVA, deeper color, less frequent visits needed.
- Sunless: Strictly spray tanning.
The Local Vibe on Mankato Ave
Winona is a small town with big-town amenities. The Sun Tan City here feels a bit more personal than the ones you’ll find in the Twin Cities. You see the same employees. They remember if you prefer the stand-up booth or the lay-down bed.
One thing that surprises people is the cleanliness. Tanning salons can get gross—fast. Sweat, lotion buildup, hair... it's a lot. But the Winona spot stays on top of the sanitation. They use hospital-grade disinfectants on the acrylics after every single session. You can usually smell the cleaner the second you walk through the door.
Why Tanning Still Matters in 2026
We know more about skin cancer than ever. That’s a fact. But we also know about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In a place like Winona, where the bluffs trap the clouds and the sun disappears for weeks at a time, that bright light exposure is a genuine mood booster for a lot of people. It’s not just about the vanity of a tan; it’s about the warmth.
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Is it a replacement for actual sunlight? Not exactly. But when it’s -10 degrees outside, 10 minutes in a warm bed feels like a luxury.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Session
If you’re going to spend the money at Sun Tan City Winona, don’t wing it.
- Exfoliate before you go. If you have dead skin sitting on the surface, your tan is going to flake off in three days.
- Use a professional lotion. No, not the stuff from the drugstore. Indoor tanning lotions are designed to work with the specific bulbs in these beds. They don't have SPF, obviously, but they do have intensifiers.
- Moisturize afterward. Tanning dehydrates your skin. If you don't drink water and slather on some hemp-based lotion after, you’re going to look like a lizard.
- Rotate your positions. Don't just lie there like a log. Lift your arms. Move your legs. No one wants white stripes under their armpits.
Making the Call
If you're looking for a quick fix for that "winter ghost" look, the Sun Tan City in Winona is basically your only corporate-backed option in town that offers this level of equipment. You could go to a smaller gym that has a single bed, but you won't get the variety of bulbs or the high-end spray booths.
Just keep an eye on your skin. Be smart. Don't overdo it.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the App: Download the Sun Tan City app before you head to the Mankato Ave location. You can check wait times and sometimes even "check in" remotely so you aren't sitting in the lobby for twenty minutes.
- Ask about the $10 Spray Tan: They frequently run promos for new clients or during specific holidays. It’s a cheap way to test the VersaSpa without committing to a $50/month bill.
- Time your visit: Avoid the 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM rush. That’s when the WSU students finish class and the "after-work" crowd hits. Go at 10:00 AM or right before they close for a much faster experience.
- Evaluate your skin type: Use the Fitzpatrick Scale to determine how long you should actually stay in the bed. If you're Type I (pale, freckles, burns easily), start with 3-5 minutes, max. Don't let the machine's timer dictate your safety.
By managing your membership and being strategic about your tanning schedule, you can maintain a healthy-looking glow throughout the brutal Minnesota winter without breaking the bank or your skin's health.