The Oaks Campground in Munith, about 30 minutes from Jackson, has an Aquaglide floating water park and a sand beach on its own spring-fed swim lake. Both were added for the 2026 season. The Aquaglide is an inflatable obstacle course anchored off the beach for ages 7 and up, life jackets required, with a trained monitor on duty. Campers get it free on Thursdays, and the beach and the new Kangaroo Jumper are part of every stay.
It runs in season Thursday through Sunday plus holiday-weekend Mondays, and Labor Day is its last day of the year. MLive visited in August 2026 for its story on the Aquaglide at The Oaks.
What is the Aquaglide inflatable water park?
It’s a floating inflatable water park anchored in the swim lake: pieces to climb, balance on, slide off and jump from, surrounded by deep water. Kids love it, and plenty of parents and grandparents end up out there too. It’s an Aquaglide, not a Wibit; the 14-piece Wibit is at our sister park, Walnut Hills.
In its first season, the response was bigger than we expected. Many weekends saw hundreds of people on it, and our team expects it to keep growing as word gets around. Part of the fun is the audience: neighbors on the beach and the lakefront sites have been spotted holding up scorecards for dives and belly flops, “like it’s the Olympics of water park fun,” as one employee put it.
A spring-fed swim lake with a new sand beach
The swim lake at The Oaks is fed by a natural artesian spring, and it always had potential. Before the 2026 season we treated the weeds and set up regular lake management, then rebuilt the beach. That meant hundreds of tons of new sand, run out into the water so you step onto sand, not mud, when you wade in. Our contractors at Michigan Excavation Specialists did the work.
Why the effort? As our team puts it, on hot Michigan summer days parents need a place for their kids to swim and cool off, and a good water feature is one of the main reasons families come back to a campground.
What’s at the beach now:
- Fresh sand for building sandcastles, and campground-provided lounge chairs (arrive early for the best spot)
- A swimming area, with the Aquaglide just offshore
- A picnic lawn on the east side of the lake for a cooler lunch
- Lakefront RV sites a short walk away, with a view of the water park
Aquaglide rules: ages, life jackets and supervision
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 7 and up |
| Parents | Kids under 16 need a parent or grandparent present at the water park |
| Life jackets | Required for everyone. The campground provides them, and personal life jackets aren’t allowed on the water park, because the provided jackets are designed not to snag on the pieces |
| Staff | A trained monitor checks wristbands, fits life jackets and keeps everyone to the rules. The monitor is not a lifeguard. |
| Swimming | No lifeguard at the beach; kids under 13 must be supervised by an adult when swimming |
| Dogs | Not on the beach or in the swim lake. They can swim in our fishing lake instead. |
Why age 7? The pieces are tall, the water underneath is deep, and the park takes real climbing and swimming confidence. Younger kids can still have a full day on the beach, in the shallow water and on the Kangaroo Jumper.
How to get a wristband
- Stop at the camp store for your wristband.
- Sign the waiver and watch the short safety video.
- Head to the water park, where the monitor fits your life jacket.
The Aquaglide opens late morning, so a lot of families pick up wristbands after breakfast, set up at the beach, and spend the middle of the day there.
When is it open, and what does it cost?
In its first season, the Aquaglide ran Thursday through Sunday plus holiday-weekend Mondays. Thursdays are free for campers. On other days there’s a wristband fee, with one-hour and all-day options, and campers pay less than day visitors. Current hours and prices are on The Oaks rates page.
Why isn’t it included with my site? A large floating water park costs a small fortune to run every year, from anchoring to staffing, cleaning and winter storage. Parks that include a water park in the site rate usually have a small one, and every guest pays for it whether they use it or not. We keep it pay-per-use so your site rate stays lower, and we offer a free camper day so everyone can try it. One-time amenities, like the Kangaroo Jumper, we can offer free.
The free Kangaroo Jumper
New in October 2026, the Kangaroo Jumper (a big inflatable bounce pillow) sits by the store and pavilion, next to the main playground, basketball court, sand volleyball and ball field. It’s free for campers. On its first big weekend, hundreds of kids, and a few adults, were on it. It’s a good option for younger kids or for a lower-cost day.
Can day visitors use the beach and Aquaglide?
Non-campers can visit on weekends and holiday weekends. Register at the store when you arrive; day-visit, beach and water-park prices are on the rates page. Campers get the best access, including free Thursdays.
A water park weekend near Jackson
From Jackson, The Oaks is about 14 miles, or about 30 minutes; from Ann Arbor, about 50 minutes. Make it a weekend: beach and Aquaglide in the middle of the day, ice cream at the store and the Kangaroo Jumper in the afternoon, a golf cart ride on our trails before dinner, and a fire at your site. Short-term RV sites have 50-amp electric and water (seasonal sites are 30 amp), and our tent sites include electric options near the store. Rates vary by date and site, so check the booking system for your dates; the lakefront sites have a front-row view of the water park.
Questions
How old do you have to be for the Aquaglide at The Oaks?
Ages 7 and up. Kids under 16 need a parent or grandparent present, and everyone wears a campground-provided life jacket.
Is there a lifeguard at the Aquaglide?
No. A trained monitor runs the water park, checks wristbands and fits life jackets, but parents are responsible for supervising their kids.
Is the Aquaglide free for campers?
On Thursdays, yes. Other open days have a wristband fee, and campers pay less than day visitors. See the rates page for current prices.
Is the swim lake at The Oaks a pool?
No. It’s a natural, spring-fed lake with a sand beach. There’s no pool.
Is the Kangaroo Jumper free?
Yes, for campers. It’s by the store and pavilion.
When does the Aquaglide close for the season?
Labor Day is its last day. After that weekend the pieces come off the lake for the winter, while the beach, Kangaroo Jumper and trails stay open through October 20.
Can I bring my own life jacket?
No. Everyone wears a campground-provided jacket on the Aquaglide; the monitor fits it for you before you head out.
Can my dog come to the beach?
No, dogs aren’t allowed at the swim beach or in the swim lake. They can swim in the fishing lake, which sits downstream of the swim lake, and run off leash in the dog run and on the back trails.
