A unique inflatable water park is making a splash on the St. John River near Fredericton.

Michael Quillman has been in the bouncy-castle business for a few years, and he wanted to branch out to include the open water.

He has set up a large, floating obstacle course on the St. John River in Upper Kingsclear, N.B., where he has leased an area from the New Brunswick government and a nearby campground.

“It’s almost like bouncy castles on the water,” said one young visitor to Quilli’s Family Fun Waterpark.

There was a water park on the ground in the area for a few decades before it was removed about 10 years ago. Quillman saw an opportunity to bring a water park back to the area and has been planning it out for more than two years.

He says he’s thrilled at the positive response to the inflatable water park.

“I’m totally surprised. I was surprised so many people see this and respond and are happy to see something that’s new here in New Brunswick,” said Quillman.

While some water park visitors are touting the “big slide” and “spinning things,” others say the park also provides a great workout.

“I came to be a help to my kids, and I found that my kids are in fact helping me,” said one woman. “It’s all about the strategy, finding a way so that you can get on and stay on.”

There are comparable inflatable water parks in Summerside, P.E.I. and in British Columbia.

Quilli’s Family Fun Waterpark has the capacity to handle 180 people in the water at a time, and all visitors are required to wear a lifejacket. The park provides lifejackets for adults, but children must bring their own.

“It doesn’t matter how good you can swim, how good you can dive, whatever, for me it’s important all people use lifejackets,” said Quillman.

He says safety remained a top priority as the park was developed, so there are several lifeguards on duty at all times.

“We have six lifeguards on the weekend; during the week we have four lifeguards here.”

The water park only opened on Wednesday, but Quillman is already thinking ahead to 2018.

“I’d like to bring more stuff in, and that’s the plan for the future, maybe expanding to other cities,” he said.

For now, he hopes to keep the water park inflated until September.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore