Wandawega Blog Archive

COMING SOON. The all-new Wandawega Rest Stops All of our backwoods latrines are FINALLY getting their long overdue upgrade. (And by upgrade we mean scrapped and replaced entirely)The kind of upgrade that flushes with a waterline instead of foot pedal.Proper porcelain thrones instead of glorified plastic trailer restrooms.Porcelain farm sinks with chrome faucets instead of spigots out of a hole in the ground.Real, actual floors. (Be still my heart- the OG Forbo tile of my dreams)Even lights. That work. (Deadstock 1960s)First aid boxes (that are actually stocked)Benches for trail side resting.The *luxury just doesnt stop. (Theres a reason that we warn folks about camp being a one eighth of a star on a five star scale)A heartfelt apology to every camper whos stayed in the Rustic Camping Cluster, Girlscout Cabins, Hickory, wedge tents, Dome, BSA tents before now cause you really had to rough it. In Wisconsin, for rustic camping a trench and a shovel are what they consider suitable for rustic campsitesbut we always opted for the nicer latrines with flushable porta potties. – they did the trick, but happy to see them go and never ever come back Better late than never. Weve never been more excited about giving campers a nicer place to SSS. Sh*t/Shower/Shave (outdoor showers are next.!)

March 29, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Before>>>.FOUND: A 90 year old Butcher Boy walk-in cooler from an old Wisconsin meat locker. (It took nearly all of us to haul it in, each door weighs 200 lbs)Refinished it in gloss black, swapped out the guts with Subzero freezer & fridge (that we founded on Craigslist) then built a cabinet around it. In the process, managed to salvage the brass screws, ginormous strap hinges & all the engraved tags. More backstory that nobody asked for :In 1894 in Chicago, Paul J. Daemicke started manufacturing insulated doors & walk-in coolers designed to store ice blocks gathered from the lake (with straw door insulation) #wandawegahillhouse with the help of our dear talented friend Patrick McGuire : check him out at @cargo_north @mcguireinteriors Photos @bobcoscarelli

March 27, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

MAKING A COMEBACK this spring :our little guest amenity: THE CAMP FLOWER CART.Help yourself + Campers grab a mason jar & frog lid to make their own cabin bouquets. + Salvaged vintage steel cart, outfitted by our local welder to convert to a flower peddlers stand.+ Custom made shop umbrella hand painted by Ches @RightwaySigns+ When you check out, wrap it & take it with you.+ Were restocking once a week: between refills, guests are invited to grab some clippers & hit the trails to forage for their own wildflower bouquets.+ Were planning on rotating the offering seasonally – look forward to thistles, evergreen, grasses and autumn colored branches in the fall

March 26, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

As were now beginning our set up for the 2024 season – were back with our camp newspaper : Tails & Trails – campers will find it in their cabins, tucked inside their campstore boxes, in the canteen & on their check in clipboards. .In its pages, youll find all the local attractions, activities on the grounds, some local favorite foods and some history in this old place. …Pics by @stemsandforks @erikengstromphoto @bobcoscarelli And more

March 25, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Wash all your bits. And thermoses. And those swim trunks Paddle. Feet. All the things.Coming to camp this spring :WANDAWEGA ALL-PURPOSE CAMP SOAPIts for washing any and everything washable.It will not make your hair silky soft.It will make it clean. It doesnt smell pretty (or at all)But it is biodegradable, effective in a camping pinch & comes in that distinct shade of green that reminds us of the Midwestern Winnebago camping trips of our childhoods.A favorite of backpackers & campers since forever – CAMP SOAP is a long time staple of outdoorsy typesThis spring, guests will find it in every one of our : LatrinesRestroomsKitchensShowerhousesCampsitesBathroomsWashtubsAnd in surprise odd corners – cause when youre camping you never know when something will need a good scrub down. ..Last pics by our friend @iamcraigsteven product demo by our pal @erikengstromphoto (there was ice in the water in this shot. If thats not commitment, I dont know what is) label design partner in crime @nathanbobey ..Disclaimer : dont panic. (youre still gonna find @mrsmeyerscleanday in the bathrooms)

March 20, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

COMING SOON!The Grounds & Garden cabin is getting outfitted. Weve got big plans on a tiny scale. Its going to be a home for plants and their pots. And all manner of dirt & seeds. Tools & resources.and the occasional mini pop up shop. A Mini workshop space.A Little gathering corner.Weve been scouring the county & beyond since last fall, working like a small army of crazed beavers pulling it together. We plan on growing many things here. The least of which are plants. Stay tuned.

March 18, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

COMING SOON: Something old. Something new. Weve been working on a new amenity for guests since last fall and were excited to finally get to open it at camp this spring. Its made of old parts and new parts.It will offer local farmers seasonal offerings.And our own camp brand (canned by the locals).But the best and most special part of this new little produce stand of our dreams is how its getting built – from the ground up. After taking one look at our dilapidated farm trailer more than one builder bailed on us. We got lots of reasons:I wouldnt know where to start.Its got too many moving parts. youd be better off lighting that trailer in fire. Running out of time and options – I called my brother-in-law Jeff Warden (a builder and third generation farmer from my hometown, Beardstown, Illinois).He took a look at our pile of napkins scrawls and before we knew it, he made the 5 hour trip to camp with a truck & trailer – and just started building.Jeff builds houses and garages. Kitchens and cattle corrals. Hes built more things here at camp than I can count – from our lifeguard stand to lending a hand to my brother creating our big log entrance- to concrete pads that hold the handprints of all the generations of our collective family.Its true what they say – if you want something done, ask a farmer. They know how to do pretty much anything. Many times they are men of few words – but most of the solutions. They just get shit done. (Sixth picture here is Jeff & his son Alan in their barn rebuilding the trailer).One of the many lessons (that applies to pretty much everything) that you can learn from a small farmer – is that you have to start with a good foundation. Put the work in. Build things to last. More BTS coming soon.

March 16, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

We wondered what the camp custodians here would have done before-during-after hours. Our friends @erikengstromphoto and @iamcraigsteven stopped by and they channeled their best janitor selves

March 12, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram