We have a long history of bonfires here..(Shots here at camp from the 1971 annual St. Johns summer solstice festival, “Jani”. Davids family was part of the community who dressed up in traditional garb & celebrated with a huge bonfire.)It’s why the inside of our matchbooks says HOME OF THE KING SIZED BONFIRE’We now have a socially-distanced version, with 5 separate campfire sites across the campgrounds for each small guest group to build their own smaller version. Upon camper registration, each group gets a DIY “Campfire Kit” to learn the art of fire-making, and get the satisfaction & lumber jack confidence of finally being able to achieve what every 10 year old scout has already mastered: the art of camp fire building. .photos: @lakeaffectchicago @liztaylor @chrisstrongphotography @girlscouts
This left me equal parts intrigued, fascinated, mesmerized (and a little freaked out).Its a Music video shot entirely here at Camp. .What this film team went through to get these shots They brought in a dump truck of dirt to bury her alive on the beach. She was wading in frigid temps out in the middle of the lake forever. And dont know how they got her inside the tree, tho?).I may never be able to watch the TV set in the bunkhouse lounge again after seeing her image there… but the whole video is so beautifully executed and such gorgeous cinematography, we have to give the team props .(This is just a clip & the images are other scenes: to see the full edit, visit YouTube Katie Dey- Dissolving ARTIST: Katie Dey – “Dissolving” (Official Music Video)Directed by: @johntereick & Dakota SillymanProducer: Lainey MuhlbergDirector of Photography: David Hughes JrStarring: Ashley Thompson Editor: John TerEickColor: The Mill Chicago
For the first time, and likely only time for 2020, due the cancellation of all of our “all-camp” events (for everyone’s safety) we now have openings in the calendar for small groups – or even just 2 peeps – youll just also get extra empty rooms on your rental floor.Every week for the next 3 months, we are going to share out the remaining spots open for the following week, at 30% off.This is our first announcement for openings left for next week:We have two avails, 2 day min for either the top or the mid level of the bunkhouse. Its first come first serve DIY booking wandawega.com/visit – select bunkhouse (photos here of a few of the rooms)(Were making this price discount so that folks can come in smaller COVID-FRIENDLY pairs of couples and small “quaranteam” small groups – (sorry, this is not single rooms for single nights). social distancing is our first priority, so we have shut off some of our cabins entirely for the season, so we can host fewer, smaller, separate groups for “self-guided” camp stays.Love, Camp W .UPDATE: for those sending questions: our rentals are STILL for groups of rooms, (not single rooms for single nights) – its based on our business license as a camp- so even if you only come solo, you are still renting the block (but at a 30 percent discount). Thanks !!.Photos :@bobcoscarelli @aimeemazzenga @nelsoncash
A camp / hotel owner sees a lot of things. From weird to gross, to hilarious things we just cant mention. We find things in rooms after checkout that folks didnt mean to leave behind and certainly wish we didnt find.@FathomAway asked us to share some stories for their series TALES FROM THE INNKEEPERS.I contributed a handful but have yet to write the one that nobody ever talks about. So here it is: TOP TEN DIRTIEST JOBS RUNNING A CAMP:The shots here are #nofilter, to paint a real picture of what it looks like to resurrect a derelict campground. We get calls all the time from folks wanting to pick our brains when they open a resort, buy a camp, open an inn. Always happy to help!1. Ripping out moldy carpet from the Sterlingworth Cabin (getting a face full of 60 years of DNA)2. Raking out algae slime-sludge from the swimming area (when we had to restore the beach)3. Scraping up countless rodent carcasses. (Not to mention a rotting 50 pound snapping turtle)4. Shoveling out a latrine overflow situation during an ad agency creative retreat 5. Shopvac up a blanket of ant eggs from under a tent mattress (during a wedding retreat)6. Over-served wedding guest vomit situation clean up. 7. Gutting out the crawl space under the bunkhouse (& being confronted with an angry family of groundhogs)8. Morning ritual of shoveling goose poop off the fishing docks. (Fun fact: Geese each make 5 lbs of poo a day. And they love piers.)9. Helping guests who: ripped off a toenail / knocked out a tooth / fish-hooked their hand / stepped on a wasp / got their nipple bitten by a fish / rope burn from the tireswing .10. Retrieving unmentionables from under the bed after a bach party ( this should have been # 1)Restoring, building, running a camp isnt a turnkey job. (Unless youre made of money -in which case, good for you)Its true what they say: When you are building a house, the house ends up building you. There is nothing like investing literal sweat equity that makes you appreciate everything more.(I personally would appreciate never having to do any of the 10 things listed above. Ever. Again.)#OnceIsEnough#buildyourhouse …@vavoomstudios
GIVING IT AWAY (good vibes with a side of our new pennants). TO GET ONE. tag a friend who follows camp, (who you would like to go camping with) We pick a handful of winners in the morning to send a pennant to.Theyre heeeere… to celebrate the launch of this little trio, were going to do our fav thing and give some away!(We are now in our final dash to add products to the camp store before opening )The new Camp Wandawega pennants were spanned from a 15 year addiction of collecting every retro tourist, historic, old school vintage souvenir pennant we could get our paws on (shot 6 is some of our inspiration- we always try to pull from the patterns. Colors and fonts of history, vs modern interpretations).Our collection ( crafted by @oxfordpennant) comes individually or in a set of three. .Silk screened, two toned, hand sewn felt. The embroidered tag says it all; CELEBRATE EVERYTHING (for us, it feels like a good reminder for keeping a positive mindset In these unstable times) . I think well start with celebrating a cup of coffee on the dock right now. ENTRY DEETS: if both you and your friend are following us at time of you tagging them in, you are entered!*friends, please celebrate responsibly . Thank you B & @williammgolden for modeling
These campers know how to have a good time. . (Frankie agrees and would not stop following them around.).Pics: #lonewulfnomore Congrats to the bride to be!..*PLEASE NOTE: the family and friends in this photo socially distanced from other rentals groups who arrived here separately – each group has their own private building, campfire & picnic grill zone- with no shared access to other guest groups. The only guests shared space for camping groups is the treehouse and beach, (waterfront has four separate zones consisting of docks & piers spread out across hundreds of feet waterfront). These very respectful ladies kept separate from other groups at camp while they were here (as all of our groups do). Although Wisconsin is an open state, (with packed bars )…. here at camp, we are committed to providing 25 acres of ample social distancing opportunity between groups for their stay here. But please note that we do not have a police force here on staff to moderate and mandate each individual guest within a singular group to distance from each other when they are in the out-of-doors, those who come here are ultimately responsible for their own safety)To learn more about our CDC recommendations and plans, cleaning protocol and social distancing offerings, please visit our homepage
Our official mascot of 2020: Washes his hands incessantly. Always wears a mask. (With the letters in RACCOON, you can spell CORONA)We learned from the locals that a raccoon had been a featured house guest at Camp as far back as the 1930s during the days of The Wandawega Hotel. One particularly social furball would come to the door of the restaurant on a regular basis. If he wasn’t granted immediate access, hed scratch until a patron would come to the door. Then hed make the rounds, table by table – staring down diners until they handed over bits of whatever they had on their plates..Around the same time, Calvin Coolidge and his wife Grace had a pet raccoon living with them in the whitehouse they named Rebecca, so it was considered a strange but chic pet at the time. .Wed heard this legend for years and so adopted George the RACCOON as our mascot. He has since become a recurring character in our brand partnerships with @crateandkids on bedding, toys & pillows. In our @penguinrandomhouse childrens book, And with @Gant on our Wandawega kids line in shirts, tees and oxfords. Most recently for the new projects like magnets, flasks and decals that will be launching in our campstore soon..But to date hes still most popular with guests who sneak him off the mantel onto a canoe or in a group shot.George is a little stiff and worse for wear these days (having lost a few toes over the years). But we keep patching him up and will keep him forever as our reminder to wash our hands and wear a mask..All shots of the OG George & his camp iterations since – (except pics 1&3).The second photo is from the cover of the brochures here from the 1940s – which featured George climbing on the main lodge sign.
We have never seen a hatchet throw like this (20sec Mark) Our tiny staff here are excited to see the new spot Wisconsin just created and released about Camp Wandawega..We may not have been not born here, but we are so proud to call the dairy state home- and were happy to see small businesses like us included in tourism spots worth a visit..And grateful to Brad (@bhwoodworks ) Ash (@ahutchgram ) Joe, Ellie & Kerry for being the small but mighty crew who make this place worth stopping by.Thank you to our guests who are patient, chill and have a healthy sense of humor when they visit. Because we are still Not new. Not Improved. Since 1925.@travelwisconsin #wisconsintraveler
New (and by far, our favorite) addition to the campstore is here .We originally created these as a guest gift for the folks at @shinola a few years ago when we hosted a creative retreat for their leadership team & press.The most authentic to summercamp – an archery arrow.In a workshop tucked away in the Woods in Washington is a woman who has been making the perfect wooden archery arrows for nearly 60 years. She makes them wirh the same antique equipment she learned on, as taught by her father. .It took us months of researching American family-owned arrow makers to finally find @suzannestcharles – a second generation artisan still crafting them on the same vintage equipment.We would begin the process of picking the feathers. Who knew that there are so many feather options? All scissor cut & hand died..Then selecting the sinew style (to tie off the tips)..Then the wood type for the shafts themselves. (A dozen diff varieties, based on use of arrow).Then we dug into the exploration for the patterns for the hand painted lacquer color bands, (each signify a different thing, as is the Boy Scouts order of the arrow tradition)..A dozen different versions were designed before we landed on the banding story this arrow would tell..After rounds testing, samples, shaft band combos… each arrow was hand made, numbered & signed.We even found a company who still manufactures the original 50s arrow shipping boxes.) enclosed in the box is a letterpress thank you card, affixed with a brass hat clip fish hook. We made only 40 of these, but our friend @jolinerivera was so taken by the arrow craftsmanship that she did a story in SWEET PAUL mag on @nwarchery titled The making of an American Arrow..These arrows are as special as the few people who still possess the talent to make them. Weve decided to commission another small batch from Suzanne for our camp store, (opening soon in the coming weeks). Photos in @Sweet Paul by @kathryngamblephoto + @bobcoscarelli @paulstrabbingSuzanne, you are a treasure, a true talent & an inspiration. .*campstore version features Wandawega logo instead of Shinola & doesnt include the book or bag
(2) New project(s) .COVID forced the cancellation of our entire 2020 season of group rentals, events, weddings & retreats.(The majority of our bookings for the calendar year are large gatherings secured a year out). This was scheduled to be our biggest season to date. To keep this small business afloat, we depend on those rentals. .One of the bummers was that we had to put a hold on the construction of the 4 rustic A-frame cabins that had been scheduled to go up. #nextyearSo in our stubborn pursuit to find the bright side of all things, we decided to quit our wallowing, get off our tails, & rethink what else we could do-until we get through this.So it is with joy to finally get to share what else weve been working on. We commissioned a pair of old school canvas wedge tents for the season. (finishing outfitting today)It took 4mos to find a fabricator to custom make them for us. This particular style is lifted from our camp patch, in these dimensions in this color – 8 ft peak in goldenrod yellow.- it doesnt exist on the market..Ive literally been toting around a pic of a 69 BSA wedge tent and a screen grab of the mess tent in Moonrise Kingdom to color match, only to be told NO by 4 manufacturers.THE BIRCH & THE WALNUT as we affectionately call them. – Behr of Maine Camp stools & chairs – Double entrances w/zip-tight bug screens- 70s aluminum camp cots (w/ mattress toppers)- vintage navy blue coolers & lanterns- Adirondack twig side tables- @faribaultmill camp blankets* 1st shot is just the photoshop comp; after shots coming soon.Coming soon is our motto this year. Were looking forward in every way we can, cause weve found that this manifest what you envision thing actual does work. We were already 70% booked for our social distance-friendly options just 10 days after our re-opening (& love meeting all the guests!)All said, were still able to put this into perspective, given so many other small businesses & lives that this pandemic has affected in more devastating ways. .Its a humbling reminder for us to be grateful for the little things. .Little yellow tents are a good start for us.
