Camp Manitowa

Camp Manitowa is a traditional overnight camp and retreat destination on the shores of a 40-acre lake near Rend Lake in Southern Illinois, about 90 minutes from St. Louis. Founded in 2010, the property spans 40 acres of woodland and waterfront, offering private cabin and yurt rentals alongside a full slate of outdoor programming. The camp hosts family reunions, wedding weekends, yoga retreats, scout groups, and school gatherings on its private grounds. Accommodations include climate-controlled cabins, glamping yurts, and tent camping, giving groups flexibility in how they use the property. Activities on site range from a 400-foot zip line, high ropes course, and 50-foot rock wall to canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing, and tubing on the lake — giving events a ready-made adventure component that most venues can't offer.