Wandawega Blog Archive

HAPPY BIRTHDAY . If you see this guy today, please wish him a happy birthday..Give him a hug, buy him a beer or give him a hard time about his haircut So even though his whole family is out of town today (and hes left to go solo tonight) … he can know that he is loved, missed and appreciated beyond words…: @pauloctavious

February 14, 2019 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

It took us nearly a half century to finally get here. No rangers working in this government shut down ( ice covered trails at rim of canyons).This week of the year is among the least popular times of year to come. Which is the only reason we were able to book the Fred Harvey suite at el Tovar lodge, the oldest cabin Bucky Oneals on the South Rim of the Canyon. And one of the 30s stone & log cabins built on the rim. (Worth the year wait it takes to book these spots – Its cheaper. No lines. No crowds. And life changing.) A little embarrassed to say that weve never been to most of the national parks (and now on a mission to hit as many as possible before were dead). The ten things you have to see when you visit the @GRANDCANYONNPS national park 1. ROAD TRIP it from Phoenix (but take the scenic route, winding canyon roads with old resorts end to end)2. DONKEY DEATH RIDE (we chickened out on this because of the ice -maybe next visit)3. SUNSET from the edge of the canyon rim from the Harvey suite balcony (jaw dropping)4. PHOTO STUDIO a Relic from another time: the Kolb studio since 1905.5. COCKTAIL BAR stuck in the 1930s, lounge of the angels lodge (surrounded by 50s vacationers murals)6. BOOKSTORE 120yr old of cedar & stone : cantilevered over the canyon 7. SOUVENIR SHOP in the Hopi house (Navaho blankets, pottery baskets, jewelry, all Native American made)8. ADIRONDACK LOG LODGE restaurant (a relic from another time, Roosevelts steps)9. DEADSTOCK CURIO Every so often if you go off the beaten path, youll find a multi generation family owned souvenir shop that still has some new old stock. 10. MILE WIDE photo backdrop painted like a sunset.A couple shots from @nationalparkservice & vintage postcards to show just how much this place is a time capsule!

January 21, 2019 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

We almost didn’t come back. Our friend who helps run her familys resort in the Ozarks invited us to come check it out last weekend. (Her dad also owns @bassproshops & @cabelas ) so it was no surprise to find that every corner was a literal sportsmans dream come true.@bigcedarlodge – you will see us again real soon.10 things everyone has to see at least once in their lifetime: .1. WATCH the sunrise from a hilltop stone chapel overlooking an epic lake valley. .2. DRIVE to Top of the Rock to take in a breathtaking view (we didnt know existed in the midwest). .3. LIGHT a fire in your a stone fireplace in your secluded exposed beam log cabin on the lake.4. STEP back in time at the original 1920s Devils Pool Ranch Resort lodge (now restaurant). .5. EAT five-star dining at 4 restaurants.6. VISIT the biggest Native American collection in their own natural history museum (rivaling Smithsonian). .7. SHOOT sporting clays at their epic shooting academy. 8. HIKE suspension bridges, canyon cave & nature trails on an 800 acre preserve. 9. TAKE a class at a cooking school. (after hitting up a 18,000sf spa). .10. LEARN the true story of how a guy who loved to fish- turned a tiny bait shop in the back of his dads liquor store into the worlds biggest sportsmans empire. And converted a 1920s fishing camp into Travel & Leisures world best 2018′ ultimate sportsmans dream resort…Bonus must do check out four open-all-year flea markets in neighbor town Branson (where Charliegirl got this vintage Cub Scout shirt that she wont take off)

January 17, 2019 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

OMG. WHAT IS THIS? we just found a trap door under the floorboards in the old hotel.Yesterday we were finally getting around to ripping up the 60s vinyl floor in a bedroom (and found remnants of the original block printed congoleum under the vinyl). Then under that found two strips of tar paper strangely only covering a 3×4 section of the floor.Then under that we found a 3×3 ft access panel in the floor (neatly secured with 4 screws – appearing to be original to the house.) After pulling those, we found that somebody had then gone in and toe-nailed the door in more permanently. (dating by the nails, 60s?) so we pulled those, then we pulled the panel door to discover that the original floor foundation was studded out and built to accommodate this door that had been built to provide access to what was underneath…a space under the building, that we didnt know existed, that has no other access from the outside or anywhere else.Under the door lays a big hand formed sheet metal tube, inset inside of that is another metal tube,then in-between the two it is filled with concrete.Then in the center, its filled nearly to the top with loose sand, rock and dirt. Then on top of this concrete tomb is a skeleton of some animal, totally desiccated.The historical society documented that this place was built during the prohibition as a speakeasy & brothel – so could this have been a place for liquor storage? Or what?Shown here:- photos from the 20s- the floor panel door & what was under it – a few feet away from the excavated area is another small hole in the floor, this one patched with the original tar-backed congoleum.- chunks of the concrete found around the vault (it appears to be some sort of cover to the vessel that is now broken)Anyone know what this thing is? An abandoned well? Why would it be built under a floor underneath a hotel bedroom – hide it under congoleum, then reseal it 40 years later in the 60s?)Should we dig out the vault to see what else they dumped in here before they sealed it? Were refinishing the floor & adding handles for future access – maybe leave the sleeping guardian in there?

January 7, 2019 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Christmas present for camp visitors: The guest lounge on the top floor of the old brothel/hotel/bunkhouse gets an over haul!A couple days ago on Craigslist: a 40s Northwoods cabin was emptied out and we found a motherload of its original old hickory style stick furniture.The old card room in the hotel went from 1950s Haywood Wakefield just swapped for some even older stuff. Other than a great deal for the couch, rocker, side table, end table, and two side chairs) we outfitted the room with stuff we already had on hand.Pulled the long table out of the old Blue Star Auto in Chicago (circa 1940s). Found the chairs from an old town hall basement (1910). Saved End tables, art and lodge gear from various thrift + yard sales, TV set from the 50s (outfitted with a modern flatscreen inside)#HoardersWithoutBoarders +HELP: (last shot) anybody have a yellow, red, black or green vintage early American metal ceiling lamp they want to unload? Still working on the lighting.

December 24, 2018 • Published by Tereasa Surratt