Wandawega Blog Archive

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

In the 20 years since we took this place over, this little room (that nobodys ever seen) has been a hoarders catch-all for cleaning supplies. Before that it was a potato cellar. Before that (In the way back- like 90+ years) a place for illegal booze. Its latest and last purpose in its 99 year tenure is now the CW JANITOR SUPPLY. Much needed & long overdue- now, probably the most obsessively labeled little corner of camp. In a sane mind, No mop closet would ever need its own custom notepads/shop rags/carpenters pencils/Folgers mugs/ashtrays/valve tags/custodian patches but every little mop bucket deserves a prettier place to call home. 3 THINGS NOBODYS EVER GONNA ASK US ABOUT but we feel compelled to share :* We intentionally installed the commercial VCT tiles upside down to get the striping (closest youll ever get to the 1940s asbestos originals)* The 38 lockers are salvaged from am old factory nearby (a few have messages left inside from former workers fighting over whos stealing whos work break peanut butter)* This jumpsuit aint a prop. (Its been broken by 50 years of elbow grease)Thanks to our camp team who helped us whip this into shape Jo, Joe, Ellie, & @NathanBobey for all things – from photos to film, decals – and almost being willing to move the badger & groundhog.And to @mrsmeyerscleanday –

March 11, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram