When you go to relax at the Oasis Hot Tub Gardens in Ann Arbor, you're likely expecting a private experience. However, some soakers may have found themselves secretly being watched by a hidden camera wedged into a statue's base, the company says.
"Since opening in 1983, our founding principal at the Oasis Hot Tub Gardens has been to provide a safe, comfortable, relaxing environment for our guests and our staff..." a release shared by the business on June 22, 2023, to their social media page reads, in part.
"Several days ago, a piece of a micro-camera was discovered wedged into the base of a statue in one of our Ann Arbor gardens. We were devastated to learn of this potential breach of customer privacy."
The release goes on to state that Oasis management immediately transferred the device to the Ann Arbor Police Department for further examination. Initial visual inspections of the device suggested that the micro-camera was broken off of a larger device, which rendered it incapable of transmitting or storing data independently. As for how long it was there? Those details are unknown.
Careful inspection by management and police across all three of their Michigan facilities resulted in no further discovery of additional cameras or accompanying electronic components. The release also states that Oasis has contracted an outside security company to conduct an additional sweep of all of their 46 locations across the country.
"While we work with law enforcement regarding this incident, we will continue to prioritize exploring new measures to ensure Oasis guests' ongoing privacy and safety both now and in the future. We are grateful for our patron's continued trust and support." the post concludes.
Customer opinion appears to be largely positive in response, with many comments thanking the business for its transparency. Others joke that a round of tapes will be finding their way to the internet and they want their cut, while others are clear that they will not support the business until the matter is resolved.
"Thank you for the update. I really enjoy and appreciate Oasis and have for several years but privacy and safety is a priority in order for me to continue to patronize." writes user, @shadesofken. "I hope this can be resolved."
As of publication, no further details have been released. If additional details become publicly available, this article will be updated.
To read the release in full, click here.
Article by Rachael Volpe