Northern Michigan welcomed a new attraction this summer with the opening of Inukshuk Shores, a floating inflatable water playground located at the Alpen Bluffs glamping resort in Gaylord.
The feature opened earlier in the season and has already drawn significant interest from both resort guests and day visitors.
The water park, which includes slides, jump-off platforms, and floating cabanas with bar service, is open Thursday through Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online, and access is not limited to overnight guests.
Dean Rose, who handles marketing for the property, said the water park’s early reception exceeded expectations. “People really love it,” he said. Rose added that the space has also hosted birthday parties and group outings since opening.
The water playground is part of Alpen Bluffs’ phased development plan. The resort, which welcomed its first guests earlier this summer, is designed around “neighborhoods” and will eventually include 227 RV sites, 30 camper cabins, and 14 yurts across nearly 45 acres.
According to mlive, current public amenities include a restaurant with a patio, golf simulators, a sluice mine, mini golf, and a market with a beer cave.
Overnight guests will also gain access to exclusive areas such as the Bluff Club, which will feature an outdoor pool, hot tub, bonfire area, and a shipping container bar opening in 2026.
Co-owners Rob Platt and Craig Snyder selected Gaylord for its proximity to outdoor recreation and its Alpine-themed downtown. “It’s just a really cool downtown,” Platt said.
“Gaylord is the last major city along Michigan’s main artery (I-75), and it’s just an hour to the Mackinac Bridge.” The location, he added, positions Alpen Bluffs as both a destination and a convenient stop for travelers heading north.
Platt also noted that parts of the resort, including the new camper cabins, will remain open year-round to serve visitors during the skiing and snowmobiling seasons. He emphasized the importance of year-round operations to provide continued employment for staff.
For professionals in the outdoor hospitality and camping sectors, Alpen Bluffs illustrates how operators are expanding beyond traditional seasonal offerings.
The combination of water attractions, food and beverage venues, and year-round lodging aims to shift expectations from a simple campground to what Platt described as “an outdoor hotel and resort.”
This approach reflects broader industry trends in glamping and RV parks, where diversification of amenities and all-season accessibility are increasingly being used to attract new markets and drive revenue stability.