Wandawega Blog Archive

We warn folks who ask to get married here that its a helluva lot more investment of time, energy to plan a two-three day full party takeover here than it is to just book another venue who push for that purpose ( the ones who get couples in for a few hours for a turnkey kinda thing). Its not cheap fast or easy to get hitched here.Truth is- We arent a wedding venue. We just host a handful a year. We love being a special place for folks special day- and humbled to be featured in so many wedding magazines and best of press lists.But we would rather keep passion in front of profits and start to host even less each year. We try to find different ways to share this place with different people, creative groups and causes. Its why we are admittedly sometimes slow to respond to inquires. Why we dont rent out to book couples engagement photos. Why we dont do barters with wedding photographers looking to make wedding content for their books. Thanks for your understanding and patience to some who have reached out.All- David and I got married here 19 years ago when we where just kids and bought this place (then a total dump). So we do love to see the couples who tie the knot hereThese two where a recent pair of lovebirds who got hitched here a few weeks ago:@kelsiwermuth & Trenton by @kaleyraephoto wishing them all the love and luck in life-

September 24, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

This is the spot. Thats hidden in the ravine.That people dont know is here.That was created by a glacier coming through when the kettle moraine was made.That we cleared a field of invasive species buckthorn out of to reveal the basin. That we carved a little home for the old boyscout camp decks we salvaged from a nearby camp..That is now a little hiding spot that only those who venture out will find tucked away past the archery field.This little kettle has always been here. It just took us 17 years to uncover her, cut new trails for her, new steps to access her- so folks can use her- we think for the first time ever (based on the surveys we found dating back to the 1880s.We have another 15 + acres of our 25 here that have never been touched. And now were dreaming up some new ways to give them new life and purpose..Thanks to @karenherold s creative team who found this spot and so many others in their scavenger hunt during their @studiokcreative team building retreat with Neil Stevenson

September 23, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

A little backstory about two of our recent campers :- they just built the most insane forever home love nest : @thewoodlandsabode -@tarynhyland owns the rad @downinthevalley record shop in MN- @amanda.arends popped the question (and now they celebrate over and over) *may all love be the gift that keeps on giving like this @francessimonephotog s camp engagement photos here melt my heart. The other thing that melts my heart are these last couple bonus shots of what may be my favorite couples Halloween costume ever.

September 22, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

This was a summer highlight The 2023 @stockmfgco Campfire JamboreeGood friends.Good food. Good times.These folks know how to throw a party. And @juanmanjuan @elchechicago knows how to bring the on @webergrills Some of the lineup: @kasamachicago @galit_restaurant @timothyryanchi @geniekwon @chef_oliverpoilevey @zjengel @mindysegal @mindysbakery @bangbangpieWith @terrazas_andes .And then the music@deertickmusic with @vanessacarltonactual And @local_h Cant wait for next summer!.Image & film by @not.junk.food.Thanks @webergrills @metriccoffee @terrazas_andes

September 21, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

I TOOK A WALK IN THE WOODS AND CAME OUT TALLER THAN THE TREES.Fav Thoreau quote & also the single best piece of advice you can give a creative whos looking to get inspired. .Our friends at @studiokcreative took over last week for their team creative retreat. (If you dont know them yet- and love interior design- stop reading this now and go fall down the rabbit hole of inspiration that is their website).Powerhouse & pal @karenherold decided to take her whole staff out to the woods to grow something bigger than her design firm. For 3 days and 2 starry nights, her swat team of designers and thinkers where guided through an obstacle course of brain building creative activities. Led by our friend Neil Stevenson (who creates and leads off-sites like this for brands & companies across the country) The team building activities ran the gamut of craft challenges to canoe races. Cook offs to scavenger hunts. Nature hikes to talent showsand every possible adventure in between. All crafted to prompt creatives to think differently while finding inspiration in nature and each other.The most powerful CEOs weve hosted here have one thing in common – they understand that team building is about getting to know each other as people first. And it doesnt happen on a zoom or around a conference table.We are excited to start introducing more of this type of offering to groups soon. Stay tuned.

September 20, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Throwback to a 7 year old awkward me in 1979 sneaking into my moms bedside dresser drawer to gawk at the cover illustrations of her romance novels. Those idyllic grocery store checkout love story paperbacks pictures have been engraved in my head ever since.If Ive ever seen cover-worthy couple, its gotta be these two lovebirds. (But set in a old wisco summer camp vs the French Rivera)@kelsiwermuth & Trenton, these are the photos that your grandchildren will find and gawk over and make them believe in that ever-lasting-love-kind of fairytale. Well done, @kaleyraephoto

September 16, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

andWe share with you The second cabin! Everything we shared in yesterdays post about the second larger cabin holds true to this one as well. We call this little sister the little cabin that could because when we first found her – we almost thought that she wouldnt make the trip to camp without disintegrating.She was built (and abandoned) at the same time as the other one – nearly a century ago- which meant that she had the same challenges as her sister cabin.Caving roof. Rotting beams. Full of critters. Not a single redeeming characteristic. Except the stories she tells.Hundreds of girls left their mark here.Literally scrawled, carved and painting into and on these interior walls. Layered and faded and revealing – sometimes shocking. funny. Weird. Juvenile. everything youd expect find in a adolescent girls diary. My favorite thing to do in here is lie in a bed and read what they left behind.Cleaning and Matte spray sealing these walls to preserve them was not cheap fast or Easy. But worth it. what this little cabin lacks in architectural detail, she makes up for as a history time capsule – a keeper of the stories of those who stayed in here all those decades and generations before us.A good reminder that whatever we all do here in our short stay (in cabins. In our Moments together- in our Lives- )Dont be afraid to leave your mark..(except this cabin. New entries where closed 40 years ago- marking the last time they where occupied) .Thank you @bobcoscarelli for the photos and friends @bdmackey88 (also to his husband for lending us him for the day to model ) and @nathan.gerdescant wait to get our own little Charliegirl in here to stay with her mom to add her own story too.

September 15, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Theyre here! This morning were sharing the first of our two newest additions: the Pottawatomie Hills Girl Scout camp cabins. A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY: The oldest four cabins from the decommissioned Scout camp just a couple of miles up the road by us. (The other two are being restored by the owners Tom & Donna to keep) These four are the most unique from the camp as they were the first original ones constructed there nearly a century ago- and the log cabin style vs the other lap sided versions that came later. What makes them even more special are the full coverage wall paper of hundreds of stories the engulf the space. That are all hand written.These two make 9 buildings weve found, moved & restored – from all kinds of backwoods spots across the Midwest. Its always cheaper / faster / easier to build new, but we have this thing for saving the old forgotten ones.A LITTLE OF THE INSIDE: everything in here has a story. Here are a few:ROOF: Lincoln Log green shingles TABLE & CHAIRS: @oldHickory thrift score!RUG 1920s : Navajo flat weave flea findFLOOR: John Deere green, 3 coats gloss + 3 coats of lacquer & a helluvalot of work. more to come on the interior furniture- sharing soon.Most importantly,This is THE VILLAGE THAT MADE IT HAPPEN- because it certainly takes one. My little brother Sam once again drove 6 hours with a crew of friends and volunteers to help us to prep the land – Mike, Frank & Travis. Then the talented @BHwoodworks for building the foundations, steps and so much more) Joe for getting up power and paths. Ellie the painting machine. Kelly for photoshoot help, Mike for our John Deere Green floors, log siding, all many coats of lacquer to preserve the walls and more. +Charlie & ScoutThank you to the most important people, our generous neighbors – who gifted us these two special buildings, and trusted us to do right honoring their history thank you sincerely, Donna & Tom..Photos by @bobcoscarelliIf youre one of the 3 people still reading down this far. Were gonna put them to good use & sharing them with yall, well be opening these up on airbnb next Tuesday September 19th just in time for fall colors.

September 14, 2023 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram