You could be the next person to own an iconic piece of Cincinnati parade history.
Arnold’s is offering its famous motorized bathtub float, often seen in the annual Cincinnati Reds Opening Day and Bockfest parades or just parked outside the restaurant, free to a good home, the bar and grill said in a Facebook post Monday.
“I know it might seem crazy but we are giving away our famous motorized bathtub. What you may not know, is that it broke down on us all the time so we have decided to get rid of it and start over. Maybe you can have better luck with it!” it shared.
The bar and grill says it’s been a few years since the motorized bathtub has been operated and has fallen into disrepair, but someone good with small engines could potentially get it working again. If you are interested, you are asked to message Arnold’s on Facebook and share why you would be the best new home for the bathtub.
The bathtub has long been a symbol of Arnold’s, which opened in the 1850s and is also Cincinnati’s oldest continuously operating bar. During Prohibition, Arnold’s converted from a bar to a cafe to remain open, but local legend has it that a bathtub was left on the second floor of the restaurant to be used to make gin.
“The bathtub became somewhat notorious and remains today (without the gin),” Arnold’s shared on its website.
Arnold’s Bar and Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown. More info: arnoldsbarandgrill.com.
This article appears in Aug 20 – Sep 2, 2025.