Parks, Recreation & Family Fun

Activities the whole family can enjoy...

Vicksburg is located in an area graced with scenic views, undeveloped wild areas, roomy beaches and recreational areas for golf, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

Archery

Country Archery
11536 S. Sprinkle Rd
Vicksburg, MI
(269) 649-3632
Archery instruction and recreation leagues at this indoor archery range. Brush up on hunting skills or just let arrows fly for the fun of it. Youth archery lessons and practice sessions every Saturday Morning November - April. Hunter safety classes.

Camping

Klines Resort Rv Campground
South 24th St.
Vicksburg, MI
(269) 649-2514
Yes it is technically Three Rivers country, but everyone considers the area on 24th St at the Kalamazoo/St Joseph County line Vicksburg just the same. There are 85 sites with full hookups for TVs. Guests enjoy access to the lake, a marina, cable TV, wireless Internet, a store and much more... boat launch, flush toilets, playground, showers and tap water – propane available.

Indian Lake Nazarene Camp
8258 Victory St
Vicksburg, MI 49097
(269) 649-2281
Located on one of Southwest Michigan's best lakes, the Nazerene Camp is a church owned and run family camping area with a rich history. Their annual Family Festival is held over 4th of July weekend and draws hundreds of families from across the country. Guests stay in cabins or an on-site motel. Activities include fishing, hiking, basketball, volleyball, boating, games and live entertainment. A dining hall serves up the meals including an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. The Nazerene Camp also features a Dinner·Drama·Concert events year around.

Oak Shores Resort Campground
13496 S 28th Street
Vicksburg MI 49097
(269) 649-4689
Oak Shores Resort Campground features a fishing pond, a swimming pool and hiking trails for its guests to enjoy. There are 117 campsites available, including areas for group camping. Playground

Cross Country Skiing

Prairie View Park offers trails in the winter (weather permitting) for x-country skiing. Regular park entry fees apply.

Lakes

Austin Lake

A Vicksburg-Portage border all-sports lake measuring over 1,100 acres, Austin Lake is a popular destination for all ages. Lakeview Park (operated by the City of Portage) is located along the western shore of Austin Lake. This beautiful 24-acre park could easily become your favorite family picnic spot. Try your hand at fishing one of the two piers or enjoy the playground equipment, ballfield and courts for volleyball, tennis, and basketball. Lakeview Park also offers a large rolling open area with walkways and a wildflower meadow for passive enjoyment.

Barton Lake

Alhtough the lake has no public beach there is a DNR public launch site. Barton Lake is an all-sports lake and is well used lakeside residents, area fisherman and recreational boaters. Covering 330 acres, Barton is home to Crappie, Bluegill, Bass, Pike, Sunfish and Yellow Perch.

Gourdneck & Hogsett Lakes

Access to these two serene lakes is through the Prairie View Park. Located on the Vicksburg-Portage border, the park offers a beautiful beach area, boat ramp, playground, picnic sites, baseball diamonds, soccer fields fields and trails. Hogset Lake's boat access is located in Prairie View Park – a paid park permit is required. A separate DNR Ramp is available in the Gourdneck Lake Game area.

Long Lake

You'll find this 575 acre gem just off Sprinkle Rd, between Vicksburg and Portage. It is a great place to cool off on a hot summer day or fish year-around. The City of Portage operates Romona Park on the lake which features a long, sandy beach, fishing pier, large play structure, beach house, volleyball courts, and picnic shelters, soccer fields, softball facilities, and tennis and basketball courts. The DNR access ramp is a hard surfaced and offers 24 trailer parking spots.

Pickeral Lake

Located at 29th Street and S Ave, Pickeral Lake is a 135 acre charmer. A popular swimming hole for neighborhood kids and adults alike, it offers old fashion gravel-surfaced inclines for access by boaters. Brimming with Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike it is cherished by locals and lakeside residents.

Portage Lake

Large and deep (510 acres and 60' at its deepest), Portage Lake is just as popular with waterfowl hunters as fisherman. Less than 50% of the shoreline is lined with cottages and homes, while wetlands and wooded areas make up the rest. The Portage River flows through the lake from north to south and eventually joins the St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan. Pan fish and bass the most common species in the lake, but Northern pike spawn in wetland areas in the northern part of the lake and in wetlands along the Portage River and Bear Creek.

Portage Lake is located south of Vicksburg on 24th Street, just across the Kalamazoo County border with St. Joseph County. An all sport lake, it is best known for its bass fishing and summer cottages. Public access is via a DNR maintained boart ramp on the southwest side of the lake that can accommodate 30 vehicles with trailers.

Sunset Lake

Once known as just the "pond", Sunset lake has a rich history. Today a popluar fishing and swimming spot, it once attracted thousands of visitors who travelled by care and rail to see a body of water once covered by colorful lotus lillies. Given its current name in 1886, Sunset Lake also served as a source of ice for the Grand Trunk Railroad and local ice boxes.

Sunset Lake Park offers visitors and locals a boardwalk, swimming area, fishing area, boat ramp, rest rooms, picnic pavilion, and playground.

Sunset Lake is a popular fishing destination year-around: Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Bluegill hanging on many a stringer at days end. Although rare, pike, sucker, and dogfish have been pulled from the lake as well.

Private or Limted Access Lakes

Indian Lake, Howard Lake, Updegrove Lake, Goose Lake, Kimball Lake, Thrall Lake, and two lakes named Mudd round out the water-sport lakes in the area. These bodies of water are great recreation assets for those fortunate enough to live on their shores.

Parks

Clark Park

Featuring Loriland, a wonderful playground area and a wading creek. The park is turned into an arts & crafts mall every June during the annual Vicksburg Old Car Festival and the backdrop for Summer Concerts in the Park. The Prairie street side of the park features an observation deck, waterfall and fish pond.

Oswalt Park

At the corner of Prairie and Main streets, Oswalt Park is the village center. It is used for offical ceremonies and is a great spot for lunch on a nice warm day.

Pairie View Park
$5.00 daily vehicle admission
$25.00 annual vehicle pass
$20.00 senior/discount annual vehicle pass

Prairie View sits on 208 acres and is located on East "U" Avenue, a mile west of Portage Road. Maintained by the Kalamazoo County Parks system, entry requires a season or day pass. Park visitors can enjoy:

• Boating with access to both Hogsett Lake and Gourdneck lake
• X-country skiing(weather permitting)
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Picnic shelters: There are pathways throughout the park for walks or hikes; picnic shelters - there are seven shelters. They may be reserved to allow for exclusive use of the shelter and to guarantee availability or they may be used on a "first come - first serve" basis if they have not been reserved.
• Swimming: The park offers a beautiful swimming beach on Hogsett Lake. A great way to cool off in the hot summer months. The sand beach is surrounded by grass and big, shady trees. No Lifeguards are furnished at any Park. People are expected to be responsible for their actions and the actions of any children they may bring to the Park. Water quality is checked each week with sample ratings available within 24 hours of testing. Click here to view water sampling results for swimming beaches in Kalamazoo County.

For more information or to book picnic shelters, call (269) 649-4737

Swan Park

Located west of Vicksburg on VW Ave just behind the Schoolcraft Township Hall, this park features a playground and several baseball and softball fields.

Vicksburg Trail & Recreation Park Area

Reclaimed as part of the rails to trails program, the non-motorized trail runs 1.8 miles from the northeast side of the village on 24th St. to TU Ave just off Sprinkle Rd. Paved with asphalt, the trail is good for walking, roller blading or biking — pets are welcome.

About half way between recreational area with a nature lookout, picnic area, trails, and large field. You can access to trail from the southern end of the Vicksburg Depot Museum and Historic Village, the northen end at TU Avenue or use the parking area in the middle just off Sprinkle Rd.

The recreation area has been the scene of a Civil War renactment and is the new home of the Lions Club Summer Festival held in July of each year.

Golf Courses

Angel's Crossing Golf Club
3600 E W Ave
Vicksburg, MI 49097
(269) 649-2700

2010 Rates (includes cart fee)

• Weekday Rate (18 Holes): $39 - Monday to Thursday
• Weekday Rate (9 Holes): $20 - Monday to Thursday
• Weekend Rate (18 Holes): $44 - Friday to Sunday and Holidays
• Weekend Rate (9 Holes): $25 - Friday to Sunday and Holidays
• Twilight 18 (after 2:00 pm): $29 Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Holidays
• Twilight 9 (after 2:00 pm): $20 Friday, Saturday, Sundays, Holiday
• Senior Rate (55 & older): $29 Monday - Thursday $34 Fri, Sat, Sun, Holidays
• Juniors (18 & under or in college): $29 Monday - Thur before 2:00 pm $39 Fri, Sat, Sun, Holidays

Up to playing some more? the replay fee is only $20!

Due to league play, tee times must be before 2:00 pm on Mon - Thursday.

Owned by the Village of Vicksburg, thus 18-hole (public) course sets on 350 acres and features 7,169 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. Designed by W. Bruce Matthews III, ASGCA, Angel's Crossing golf course opened in 2004. Golf Digest Magazine named it the on of the Top "Best New Affordable Public-Access Courses" in the U.S. for 2006.

States Golf Course
20 E W Ave
Vicksburg, MI 49097
(269) 649-1931

18 hole regulation length course public golf course
$25 green fees* on weekends
$24 green fees* on weekdays
* includes golf cart where available

Golf only facilty that is excellent course for beginners and the average golfer because the course is basically flat. The fairways vary in width, the greens are fast and putt true, and water hazards come into play at the 17th hole. The course has been selected as the home of the Annual Polish-American Memorial Golf Tournament which benefits College Scholarships to Kalamzaoo County Students because it offers Jr golfers a great opportunity.

Indian Run Golf Club, Indian Run Course
6359 Rs Ave E
Scotts, MI 49088
(269) 327-1327

18 hole regulation length course public golf course
$32 green fees* on weekends
$25 green fees* on weekdays
* includes golf cart where available

The 18-hole (Public) located just 4 miles from downtown Vicksburg, Michigan is a full featured course designed by Charles Scott. Indian Run golf course has been serving the area since in 1965. In addition to 18 regulation holes there is a Restaurant, full service bar, banquet facilties, a community facility, 30 tees driving range and a PRO Shop.

Roller Skating

Long Lake Roller Rink is a long time favorite hangout for children of all ages and sees its fair share of adults as well. But the kids rule on Friday nights from 7:00pm to 10pm. The rink is located at 4525 Long Lake Dr at the Portage/Vicksburg border. For more information call them at (269) 327-0407.

Snow Sledding

The Vicksburg Sledding Hill is located at the village line on West Highway Street between the cemetery and Angel's Crossing Golf Course. The hill is the result of removing fill material from the old high school athletic complex. During the construction of the new stadium in 2006 which included installing artificial turf and a rubberized track, a huge amount of dirt, sand and stone had to be removed. Bailey Excavating & Grading Company of Kalamazoo moved hundreds of truck loads of material to the site of the old transfer station west of town and then groomed it into a hill 35 feet high, with a gentle incline of 22 ° on one side and a fast 45 ° on the other.

Swimming

Sandy, clean, public beaches with picnic areas and restrooms are located on Long Lake, Sunset Lake, and Hogsett Lake.

Tennis

The athletic complex at the Vicksburg High School has modern and well maintained tennis courts (16 total) that are available to the community when not in use by the tennis teams or physical education classes.