Scuba Diving Obstacle Course, Wakeboard Park Coming This Summer to Three Oaks

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And visitors to the popular recreation area located at 5517 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake will be able to check out some new attractions this summer. Most notably, The Quarry Cable Park & Grille is planning to open Memorial Day weekend. The wake-board park is planning for a soft opening on May 28, according to the Quarry's Facebook page.

Photo credit: The Quarry Cable Park & Grille Facebook page

The Quarry Cable Park & Grille, which will be located on the North Lake, is being built as a 32-acre cable wakeboard park. The wake park, which uses cables to pull wake-boarders through the water, will have jumps and other features.

There will also be a beachfront bar & grille, fire pits, live music, sand volleyball, baggo, and open-air yoga.

Photo credit: The Quarry Cable Park & Grille website

On the South Lake this summer, employees will begin to install artifacts that will be placed into the lake-bed in the scuba zone for divers to check out, Terry Clarke, the recreation manager at Three Oaks Recreation Area told Patch in an e-mail.

"In April, we will start by placing our five sections of concrete culverts (weighing 8,300 lbs. each) into 35 feet of water creating an underwater obstacle course for divers," Clarke said. "The artifacts will all depend upon what we can acquire and install this year or possibly into next two years."

The boat rental marina will open this weekend at Three Oaks, starting at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, April 8. Only fishing boats and paddle pontoons will be available to rent until late May. At that time, canoes, kayaks and paddleboats will be available as well. This is because the recreation area follows protocol for hypothermia safety, which requires the combination of the water temperature and air temperature to be 120 degrees or higher, Clarke said.

"Anything below 120 is dangerous if someone were to fall into the water. Over 120 gives us a much better margin of recovery and safety," Clarke said.

The team at Three Oaks got the fishing boats and paddleboat pantoons into the water last week in prep for the marina's opening weekend this week, Clark said.

Photo credit: Three Oaks Recreation Area Facebook page

The activity at Three Oaks will truly kick into high gear over Memorial Day weekend. The swim beach and The Board House will open for the season on May 28. The Board House opened last year on the South Lake and "was extremely successful," Clarke said.

This year, there will be more stand-up paddleboards and more wind-surfing units available, Clarke said. Three Oaks is also planning to host a race around the lake in June.

Also new this year, the North Lake Gazebo Pavilion will be available to rent. The pavilion can hold groups of 25 to 30 people and provide a view of the Quarry Cable Park.

For more information on amenities at Three Oak Recreation area, visit Three Oaks' website.