Family Tent Glamping at Sankoty Lakes Near Peoria

As you know my family is obsessed with camping – correction we are obsessed with glamping. When I heard that there were glamping tents near Peoria, I couldn’t wait to check it out. Located just 20 minutes from Peoria in Central Illinois, Sankoty Lakes offers a guests a chance to escape from the ordinary and camp like no other.

Disclosure: Our family was provided a complimentary stay at Sankoty Lakes. I was not required to express a particular point of view, and all opinions are my own.

GETTING Started at Sankoty Lakes

Finding Sankoty Lakes via GPS was pretty easy. After checking in at the gate, we were given our key card and parking pass then proceeded to Glamping Tent #7. Golf carts are available for rental and I highly recommend grabbing one. It’s always so much fun! Our golf cart was already waiting for us as well as our firewood and fire starter. Talk about great service!

Love at First Site

After we parked our car and made our way to the front, we could hear the gurgling of water from the trout stream! I couldn’t believe our site was so close to it! In fact, all glamping tent sites have a front row view of the stream. All sites also come with a cool fire pit and grill, a picnic table, as well as a covered front deck with comfy patio chairs. Our specific location had a mini waterfall stream which in my opinion makes it the best site around. Definitely try to score site #7.

INSIDE the Glamping Tent AT Sankoty Lakes

Once the kids spotted our tent, they couldn’t wait to scope it out. We were completely enamored! This is not your normal tent, people! It was so cozy and clean with everything we needed. (A bathroom especially!) The kitchen was fully stocked with a mini fridge, sink, and long dining table. And yes, there was even a K-Cup compatible coffeemaker . The TV area with the comfortable seating and Smart TV was our spot to hang out and chill at the end of the day.

Once the kids stepped into the tent they immediately called dibs on their preferred rooms. The boys chose the bunk beds but my daughter immediately found a a “secret room,” the lofted bed with their own doors. She thought it was the coolest thing ever, and I have to agree! Not only did it have privacy, but half the fun was getting to her little hideout by ladder!

Pro Tip: Not only does Sankoty Lakes offer glamping tents, but guests can also choose from cabins or RV sites.

RELAXING AT the Glamping Tent

The best part about camping is the chance to unwind and relax. It has become my vacation ritual to wake up right before the sun rises. Waking up at Sankoty Lakes did not disappoint! During the mornings, the sing song of birds and bullfrogs provided our wake up call. All glamping tents are streamside so your view when you wake up is this. Amazing, right?

Evenings called for s’mores and picnic dinners by the stream. What a great way to end the night!

Amenities at Sankoty Lakes

We found during our stay that we were never too far from a body of water. There’s two lakes, a trout stream, and the Illinois River all within reach. It only makes sense that during our stay we spent the majority of our time outdoors.

Go fishing or try fly fishing

With so many bodies of water in the resort, finding a spot to fish is easy! We were extremely lucky anglers and caught about 100 fish between the five of us. Yes, 100!! Once we unhooked a fish, someone else caught one right away. We were addicted! If you’re curious about fly fishing they have guides that can teach you.

Explore Sankoty Lakes

Whenever we had a free chance, we would hop in the golf cart and just explore the grounds. We were surprised to find that the resort was close to the Illinois River.

One thing I do recommend is definitely watching the sunset. We had a great view by the beach/restaurant. In the morning, I couldn’t wait to wake up before the sun rose and explore the quietness of the resort. Seeing the sun rise and bathed in the sun’s rays made it so worth it.

Splash away

Looking for some fun in the sun? Splash around at the beach and shallow wading pool. The beach area was spacious with plenty of seats, umbrellas, and even a few cabana rentals. We enjoyed spending as much time as we could here. This was definitely a highlight for our family.

Dine at the resort

And did I happen to mention our fabulous farm-to-table dining experience at The Woolly Bugger? We started with a cheese curd party platter. The burger, salmon, and stuffed portabello were standouts. The Kids Power Plate was pretty large and filling. When we visited, they had live music outside and lawn games. It was a really fun vibe!

Get on the water

Always wanted to try kayaking or fishing on the lake? They have a couple lakes that rent out boats.

Go for a walk or hike

There’s a few hiking trails throughout. Every morning I couldn’t wait to get up before the sun, make myself a cup of coffee, and explore the grounds. We stayed three nights and every sunrise was unique and amazing.

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT Staying at Sankoty Lakes

Glamping at Sankoty Lakes was everything we needed and more. This is next level camping! I highly recommend visiting.

TIPS TO ENJOY YOUR STAY AT Sankoty Lakes

Renting a golf cart is always a great decision as it gives you the opportunity to get the lay of the land as well as see what the resort offers.
Grab all your food and necessities before arriving at the tent. Trust me, you’ll want to spend as much time as you can at the tent. There is a small general store on the resort as well as another general store and a Dollar General a few minutes down the road.
Towels, linens, coffee, and kitchenware are provided.
There is Wi-Fi available and the TV does connect to streaming services. Make sure those usernames and passwords are handy.
Things to bring: beach towels, K-cups for coffee (some are provided), food to cook. There is no stove; I’m so glad I brought my Instant Pot!
While you’re here, explore the Peoria area. We visited the Peoria Riverfront Museum, ate delicious pizza at Sugar Wood-Fired Pizza (pizzas were amazing here!) and ice cream at Yeni’s Palarte (loved the variety of flavors!)