Our home sweet homeused to be full of horse sh*t. It was a stable for the teams that pulled wagons of granite blocks that paved Grand Avenue avenue in the 1880s. Later it was a truck barn for @gonnellabakingco . Then a ramshackle photographers studio. The front courtyards brick wall still has horse tack in it from 140 years ago.I wish we still had our old woody here – we packed that thing to nearly collapsing the leaf springs running it to camp for years. Weve rarely shared pics in nearly 18 years, since most folks just follow here for camp stuff. (And we havent assumed that anybody cares to see pics of our house projects anyway?) Even though it doesnt look like it, this place has a history – and has grown as sentimental to us as camp.It took us nearly 3 years to finish.>> scroll for some befores >>(Our budget was just about what it would have taken to buy a condo) so we had to move in Davids parents basement. (In his high school bedroom) to put every penny into building.We dont have an attic, a basement or much of a backyard. The budget ran out before we could the lay floors on the first floor – so we just embraced the concrete- and still are, its well worn now and has grown on us. A former neighbor once told us that it looks like a dentists office Some said it doesnt fit the rest of the neighborhood. But every year there are also some folks who come by – architecture students taking photos for a class assignment, somebody who found it in a book, or just people peering through the brickweave – who like it, too. Part of the reason we love our home is because it didnt come easy. And its even more sentimental to us now because we stayed so close to the friends who made it happen. This coming summer, well host the 9th annual @studiogang company creative retreat at Wandawega. Last shot of Jeanne sharing a drone shot from a past retreat).David and I always said were gonna grow old here. Were well on our way.Photography@greggsegal for @dwellmagazine, @archrecordmag @thayerandco for @anthologymag /@porscheusa (ad)@ryanplett for @wsjviewfinders /Steve Hall of #hedrichblessing for @nytimes privacy screens

February 13, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Looking forward to this- comes out next month!The film and book from@refueled.magazine shot by @stevenvisneauphotography comes out March 2023SURF Camp Wandawega. An Artist in Residency with Chris Brown

February 12, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

WHICH ROOF SHOULD WE GO WITH?Timberline Green or Patriot Red?Our two new (old) rescued girl scout cabins are getting their new roofs put on in the next few weeks! The only hold up is that we need to decide:Red on both?Green on both?Or one each?To pay homage to Lincoln logs, Cuckoo clocks, traditional Latvian vernacular village cottages, and all the other inspiration (that weve been hoarding like a squirrel with nuts) weve narrowed it down to these two. HELP. US.FUN FACT:Lincoln Logs may have been named after the nations 16th president, but they were invented by John Lloyd Wright, the son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

February 11, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

What weve been hiding,andwhats comingCampers have accidentally stumbled back here – this is the back of house just off the Rathskeller..It was a hot mess. .(We finally embraced that you sometimes hafta tear things down to grow it back better). The last few months have been all about rebuilding – everything.WHAT YOULL FIND IF YOU STUMBLE DOWN HERE NOW:all newManiacally organized walls and shelves (that roll!)Stacked with hundreds of labeled inventory bins Shiny shelving & fresh wiring, plus vintage locker banks stocked with new tools.Next-gen Congoleum floor rugs Modern work tables & custom lighting Updating the BOH (Back Of House) with brand new organized operations systems makes our hearts so happy.Under all the years of in-the-making piles, we found a whole new way to work. You know that thing they say about the therapeutic nature of purging & fresh starts? Its real, were addicted, and just getting started. .Excited to start to share all the new projects, products, people, plans and programming for 2023!Four short weeks from now, we kick off the annual OPENING OF CAMP.Good things are coming

February 10, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Which would you pick?Cant decide which shot to put on the cover of our new house journal / magazine cover. We didnt want to let the cat out of the bag – but we have to now, because we cant decide.Were about to go to press and cant until we can land on one. A few spoilers on the creative project Ive been working on before the crack of dawn :200 pages Featuring 20+ of our favorite photographers, artists and writers.(More to come)BTS pics courtesy of @bremariegraz of @fellowmag – weve have been neck deep in this since October..First shot : @prezpipe other three covers by @nathanmichael back cover by @stevenvisneauphotography

February 8, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

The lists that matter.Look closer:Thats 8 year old David in 1975 in the # 12 jersey.Just under the home made carved sign WANDAWEGA HILTON.This was the bunkhouse, filled with first generation refugee families spending their summers in the place where they could afford to.Its a good reminder of what matters.They didnt care that there were crappy sheets and no phone.They were happy.The rest didnt matter.I love that they embraced the contrast between the fancy hotel chain and where they were with their loved ones.The sign was one of those routed signs you get made while you wait at the county fair for $5Were the opposite of fancy here.We dont put on airs.If you do, kindly leave them at the gate.A decades old contradiction. The brochures here in the 1940s tried to make this place out as fancy (it never was).Were not even a hotel.Hotels have bellhops. A concierge. We dont even have room keys or somebody to pick up a phone.Which is why its always surprised the hell out of us when we get included on the best of lists. Our first thought is When are we gonna get that letter that says its was a typo?We Iive and die by our Manifesto of Low Expectations (that each guest gets prior to booking). So The irony of having companies, publishers and press like @airbnb, @fodorstravel , @travelandleisure is not lost on us. Partnering with other hotel groups like @Graduatehotels, @sohohouse @Hyatt having us come talk to their brand leads is crazy to us.Maybe the definition of hospitality is evolving to include us little guys with old faucets & box springs?OrMaybe folks are just forgiving when you tell them the truth and dont pretend to be something youre not.Were here for the folks who accept us for who we are, and show up with good intentions, accepting that we have the same.The list were most proud to make is the one that doesnt get enough credit. @wisconsinHistoricalSociety & the National Register of Historic Places.Sometimes you need a reminder to not get too big for your britches.If we ever find that sign were gonna nail it back up.Just to keep the reminder close.

February 7, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Chair obsession continued(Last one, cause we could share for a week and not hit em all)Today were taking it old school, the more traditional lodge/camp round up of some of the rag tag chairs youll find around hereWARNING: (If you arent also a chair design geek, this post is gonna bore the hell out of you)If you nerd out like we do on hunting down old things like we do, continue.How well do you know your chairs?(Line up the shot with the maker/ era-): Steelcase : Thonet bentwood : Heywood Wakefield : Old Hickory Co: Antique GirlScout camp: Bayer of Maine : Upholstered & chrome diner: Wicker : U of Chicago Captains : Custom Leather Chesterfield …ANSWERS(What & Where)(No peeking )……No.1 : Old Hickory Co- 1900sFOUND: FB marketplace No.2 : Steelcase – 1940sFOUND: circle of friends thrift store, Elkhorn No.3: Vintage Leather Chesterfield (upholstered in pheasant feathers by yours truly)FOUND: Craigslist No.4 : std issue GirlScout camp- 1970sFOUND: Facebook marketplace No.5 : Military campaign folding chair 40s?FOUND: camp juniper knoll auction No.6 : Old Hickory Co- woven seat FOUND: @elkhornantiquefleamarket No.7 : Wicker – 1800sFOUND: neighbors crawl space (said to have come from camp)No.8 : U of Chicago Captains – 1960sFOUND: Salvation Army in grand ave ChicagoNo.9 : Byer of Maine (new!) Plus & Upholstered + chrome diner- 1950sFOUND: Can still get these green canvas new from them (amazing historic company) @byerofmaine No.10: Heywood Wakefield – 1950sFOUND: from the leftovers of an office moveAnd dininghall: all original to camp, circa 1925Photos by @bobcoscarelli (chair portrait) and more friends of camp (DM us if you spot yours, well tag you in)

February 4, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

FOR THE OF BARS(And, the lowly bar stool)I just did a Keyword search entry:>StoolOur Camp photo archive results:>You are a hoarderSo heres to our fellow stool hoarders(Which ones do you recognize?)- Thonet bentwood – 1930s- Heywood Wakefield – 1950s- Steelcase swivel- 1950s- Machine shop metal- 1940s- Supperclub upholstered 1930s- Barreltop – 1970s- MCM office workers – 1950s The common denominator : None are fancy or expensive.They accommodate all butts Theyre all vintage, thrifted, salvaged, found everywhere from FB marketplace to church basements and roadside barn sales. Were equal opportunity barstool hoarders around here. Belly up!

February 3, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

CONFESSIONS FROM A HOARDER.(We just cleaned out one of our storage lockers and donated over 20 antique chairs to a local charity). Camp chairs dont only have to be the wood folding scout style.We realized that I have a hoarding problem when I search word chair in our camp photo library and a hundred results popped up.If you find identifying vintage chairs boring – do not read further. (This is for our Fellow chair nerds) HOW MANY CAN YOU IDENTIFY?(Hint: V=vintage. N=new. C=custom)V: Old Hickory Co. – IndianaV: Bros Co. Whiskey Barrel – KentuckyV: Rhododendron roots- custom V: Chromcraft Tulip – MississippiV: Beechwood/ chrome MCM – Fasem, Italy V: Vernon Patton – ItalyV: Emmett Adirondack- MinnesotaC: Acacia foldingN: Weatherby Counter- West VirginiaN: Rope sling IKEAThe common denonimator:None of them are what youd expect to find at an American summer camp. Theyre always in need of repair, because like everything here- theyre old. So the investment isnt the price you pay for them,Its the cost of time to keep all the legs on.(Next up: the rustic roundup)————————————————–ANSWERS (DONT PEEK!)……….ANSWERS:No.1:Chromcraft Tulip – MississippiNo.2:Rhododendron roots – customNo.3:Acacia foldingNo.4:Beechwood/ chrome MCM – Fasem, ItalyNo.5:Weatherby Counter- West VirginiaNo.6:Bros Co. Whiskey Barrel – KentuckyNo.7: Rope sling – IKEANo.8:Emmett Adirondack- MinnesotaNo.9:Old Hickory Co. – IndianaNo.10: Vernon Patton – Italy

February 2, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

FOUNDThe homes that raise usThese guys & gals grew up at cottage just up the lake lane Play to see the years blow byThe middle sister is (Irene) as a kid on the lake would meet the boy next door, fall in love, see him through the war & back, get married, have kids & spend the rest of their long lives together.The sisters kept an album of their years spent growing up, growing families & growing old at their summer Wandawega cottage.The album is full of everyday lake life: fishing, hiking, one sad shot of Irene waiting for the bus to take them back to the city. Decades after these photos where taken, our friends @brianguysmith1 & @geyer.morford found the cottage & restored it back to its glory days in spectacular fashion.Until one day Irene knocked on their door. They opened it to her, to share their labor of love restoration of her little cottage. This would turn out to be the first of annual visits, with Irene making the pilgrimage with her family to tour the house that had raised her. I met Irene only once, at her 91st bday party that she came back to celebrate at her childhood cottage.(Nobody knew that it would be her last visit- she passed away soon after).Flipping through the album, it hit me that when we restore old homes, were also restoring a sense of pride for those who called it home first. If you live in an old house, and someday get a knock from a prior owner dont worry about letting strangers in (for fear of them seeing dirty dishes & laundry).See it as honor for you, a blessing for the home, and a gift for them.Because all they are going to see inside is their own childhood.Opening our door is more than opening up our homes & ourselves -its what connects us through generations, & stays with us long after they and we leave. Here at camp, we say that were just the current caregivers in a 100-year-long line.(We dunno know if Charlie will want to take over this place or not).But someday when we get to be as old as Irene was, we plan to come back here (with our memories in tow) and knock on the door. We hope whoever answers will let us in.In the meantime, its an honor to always keep our door open.RIP, Irene

February 1, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt