Wandawega Blog Archive

So honored to be picked as the Christmas card for 2024 Elkhorn, Wisconsin.Known as the Christmas Card Town -The title was bestowed on this little community years ago (and the story brings with it a load of holiday nostalgia). In 1952, a TV series called the March of Time featured Elkhorn during the holiday season, putting the town in the national spotlight. (Scroll for a clip of the show)As a result, the community gained the attention of artist Cecile Johnson who was commissioned by Ford Motor Company in 1958 to create a series of watercolors to accompany an article in their magazine the Ford Times. Later, a major publishing house used the paintings for Christmas cards, distributing them nationwide, earning Elkhorn the unique moniker of the Christmas Card Town.The tradition has continuedevery year since, a special building or place in Elkhorn has been picked to be featured for the towns Holiday Cards. This year, our own little log cabin at Camp was chosen. Were honored to be part of this tradition, and proud to be part of this community since 1925. The watercolor A Holiday Stay at Camp Wandawega was painted by T.James Carson and is available in sets at the Elkhorn Chamber of Commerce @elkhorncc (sales go to support the local community).As we approach the holidays, we hope that everybody considers supporting their local small town businesses and communities.

December 5, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

JOIN US FOR A HOLIDAY CAMP BRUNCH DEC 14. 10-2At @orderandexperimentation > Wandawega Bureau of Tourism Look for the holiday vintage ride out front of the shop First guests get a special Wandawega stuffed stocking ( *just upped it to 20, Merry Christmas ) Customize your own gift with Wandawega wrapping memorabilia and COE stamps + stickers @loaf_lounge Sarah Mispagel is baking up a selection of pastries & sourdough loaves @__louise_turner & @alana.belle created a custom set of holiday camp inspired bon bons theyre also crafting specialty hot chocolate + marshmallows for a *special* drink on the COE bar ( if you cant wait, stop by COE to try the the Wandawega latte) Enter the raffle to win the Wandawega Holiday

December 4, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Happy Thanksgiving From our camp to yours.Sifting through Thanksgiving celebrations on this day (some of these photos dating back to the 1940s) we appreciate even more that the most important thing is being with friends and family. May yours be filled with both.(And also an adventure of taste thrills as the old wandawega brochure promised).

November 28, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

HOLIDAY ROAD.The camp Jeeps leaf springs are moaning under the load weve got tied down for our annual Thanksgiving journey to join family down south – road tripping from St.Louis, Mo to Pontiac, Illinois visiting our friends at @wallys – If youre traveling this turkey day, stop by to check out the vintage Winnebago pop up shops in both states!Giving thanks to:The @wallys team @benbalvanz and @andywstrom – the two most rad/creative/fun dudes who built this brand that love so damn much. When you walk through these roadside experience playlands and see their Photo Booth, the penny machine, the popcorn bar, their massive line of custom vintage style tourism merch- you have these two guys to thank. They dream it all up on their own and then make it happen. (Even dismembering mannequins for the sake of a good Winnebago display last shot. Thats commitment if weve ever seen it).Photo friends @erikengstromphoto and our own Deputy of Creative Endeavors @nathanbobey

November 27, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Learning how to do slow mornings in the #wandawegahillhouse with @erikengstromphoto @folkmagazine @bluegrassmarket @benashby Breakfast with our Homer Laughlin dish line, our in house candles (just stocked up for the holidays and our pop up at @orderandexperimentation )

November 25, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

What happens at designer camp Stays at designer camp The talented @taylorhallobrien gathered up a bunch of his talented interior designers friends and @mspmaghome to camp for a creative retreat – (thanks for the inclusion in the Home & Design 100 people places & fresh finds). issue – just hit shelves

November 24, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Talking about the hard things.The easy things.The strange & inconvenient things.On @stayingoodcompany we found ourselves in good podcast company with some of our favorites: * Los Poblanos in Albuquerque with owner Matt Rembe * Treehotel in Sweden with owner Jonas & Hannah Olsson Owners * Seminary Hill in the Catskills with Owners Susan Manning & Doug Doetsch S7. | E8. Camp Wandawega | Elkhorn, Wisconsin | Tereasa Surratts American Getaway For Creatives To Gather Off Grid And Step Back In TimeEpisode Description:Its not really the place that youre going, its the stories that reveal themselves in the place that youre going. Youre fascinated by the lives and the experiences that people had before you, because youre finding this connective tissue emotionally to another generation, another decade, another era.Were in great company with Tereasa Surratt, the Founder and Owner of Camp Wandawega, who was persuaded by her husband, David, twenty years ago to save this pocket of American history tucked away in the woods of Wisconsin, and they have been restoring it ever since as a getaway for the creative community.What was once an infamous lakeside property – living many lives over time as a brothel and speakeasy, a family resort, a Catholic retreat center and summer camp – was left to be condemned until Davids childhood nostalgia got the best of him. Today, Camp Wandawega has become a retreat for creatives to gather, a maker of goods that help us explore the great outdoors, and a place to step off the grid and back in time.In this episode, Tereasa shares how a passion for preservation and a humility for the never ending work to be done, turned into a Reveille attracting other like-minded creatives to seek inspiration from and memories made in nature…First shot by @nathanmichael

November 23, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Old school bandanas from a midwestern summer camp crafted in silk (and ties made in Italy).The irony doesnt escape us. Thanks @ChicagoMag for including us in the 2024 Holiday Gift Guide issue.Chicago Originals- Made of inspired by our City by @kelaiglon Were happy to have landed in such good company, along with some other locals from @mcachicago, @clueperfumery @vaseandvessel @threedotsandadash & more …Thanks @youneedmc !

November 22, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram