Belly up.This bar has a seedy history:When youre at Orphan AnniesYoure in the Dining Hall of an establishment known over the years as Wandawega Inn, Wandawega Hotel, Wandawega Lake Resort, Vandavega, and Camp Wandawega. Originally established in 1925, it is now recognized on The National Register of Historic Places for its colorful past. In the decades following the construction of this modest lakeside get-away, a motley ensemble of Prohibition-era characters would eat and drink in this dining hall: gamblers, bootleggers, corrupt cops & judges, prostitutes & Johns.Throughout the 1930s, Anna Beckford Peck was the personality most associated with this place. During her time the modest resort would become known for more than its good fishing and real southern cooking. Annas hotel was a discreet getaway for gentlemen with very specific appetites. Orphan Annie was the innkeeper, bootlegger, and madame of Lake Wandawegas notorious bawdy house of ill fame.After multiple Federal raids and run-ins with the law for incidents including criminals on the run, illegal liquor, gambling, and prostitution, this era of Wandawega came to end in 42 when Anna was sentenced to serve three years at Taycheedah, the state prison for women. In the late 1940s, the Andzejewski family of Chicago resurrected it as a legitimate establishment, Wandawega Lake Resort, and served 3 meals a day in this room for resort guests. The Catholic Church purchased it in 1961 and used it as retreat for Latvian Catholic refugees who fled the war-torn Europe and made the American Midwest their new homeland.Artist in residency BTSWith @refueled.magazine documented by @stevenvisneauphotography
GUIDED TOUR: our field house.For those interested in furthering their education on botany, bluegill species & Midwestern insects. Our visitor Alex wants you to know what we stock in his favorite building at camp:Turtle shells, butterfly specimens, leaf identifying charts, slides of local deer & so much more. *disclaimer: He does not work here, do not expect him to lead your bird watching group. But he was celebrating a birthday recently, so when we saw that he posted new photos of the Fieldhouse, it is of course our duty to support his career and share them.More about our field house:Modeled after a 1920s National Park Ranger education center, our field house is stocked with supplies for outdoor learning, woodland brochures, tools displays and books- everything you need to learn more about Wisconsin nature.More about Alex:Alex is married with two kids, repped by Soul Artist Management, dmanagement group, and Front Management. He has been featured in many magazines including Vogue Mexico & Holiday. (Not sure what that one is, so now we must Google) He played football for the Cincinnati Bengals before being scouted to be a model. STATSBirth Date: May 20, 1990Birthplace: Chicago, IllinoisHeight: 6 1/2Waist: 32Hair: BrownEyes: Blue-GreenApologies to anyone that this may disappoint, but again- when you book here, you will not find him in our Fieldhouse. You will find other programming instructors and nature guides on occasion, who will always be fully clothed. Happy Sunday. Model photographer @aldrindelcarmen_
Two things we appreciate the most this time of year: friends, smores & wooded trails.Fun fact:One day a couple of vaca renters came to camp. No sooner had they checked into their cabin did Davids nephew epically crash the camp golf cart into their car. Instead of giving us grief,They gave us a beer & invited us to their campfire for smores. That was almost ten years ago- the guests (@mrsjoey8 & Neil) have become a couple of our closest friends. Theyve since bought a cottage of their own on Wandawega (like so many other Chicago friends whos homes now dot the shoreline here) and now we get to share beers & smores with them all the time.Its one of the many blessings of this little growing creative community. Neil can show up for an impromptu trail ride through our back acres- Neighbors can canoe overIts our favorite place to be- and share. this was the view from his latest visit
Every once in a while you stumble across a post that youve been tagged in thats unexpected.From somebody youve never met – who just goes out of their way to be kind.And then Sometimes subconsciously -you commit yourself all over again to whats in your head & heart tell you that you what should be doing. it reinforces your Why.This note from a stranger is ours today. .That weve been able to create a little space that would inspire somebody to the point that they would travel to stay here just means the damn world to us. We try to hold up our end of the bargain once they get here- (cause photos on Instagram over-promise SO much with wide angles, deceptively clean-looking boats, art directed bookshelves) The reality is that this place has always – and will always- carry with it a good old coat of summercamp dirt. And that like anything that is a hundred years old, every thing is in some need of repair.The rooms are smaller IRL (everything is)Most things havent been updated since the Hoover administration.Which is why we have our required reading before we take bookings : our M.L.E. manifesto of low expectations. We just keep trying our best to keep it all standing.This is a screen grab from @mothermoocreamerys post last week sending a big hug of gratitude to all our visitors whove came from far-fetched places to pay us a visit over the past 18 years.Yall are always welcome back.Were not going anywhere, Wandawega is not a temporary second job or a place were looking to maximize revenue from & then flip for profit. Its our home that also happens to run partially as a business as well at times.If youre into the same things we are (Preserving history, creating community, fostering creativity) then we think youll like it here. …@homecomingretreats, yall are doing something right
I swear I have seen this guys face around here before.Trying to decide which one of these will give us the most nightmares?In the spirit of our recent Halloween, we decided to let A.I. take a shot at making a carousel post for us..With some equally disturbing and entertainingly accurate results.The descriptor search terms we used:(In different combinations)CampProhibition1920sSummercampGirlscout ghostPark ranger 1940sHauntedMoonriseIf you havent tried it yet- check out the WONDER app
Surprise in the mailbox (These finally showed up in the post) The newest product in our little camp store is one of the oldest Americana Tourist souvenirs -Inspired by our mass camp collection of vintage advertising collectibles, we created our own collectors set of four. .When we arent using them for whiskey shots, youll find them around camp repurposed as everything from tiny flower vases to dessert cups.Scroll to see how the Patrons of the Wandawega Country Club liked to drink their whiskey in the 40s SET OF 4 RETRO NOVELTY SHOT GLASSESSTYLES: same illustrations that adorned them since they 60s: Wildlife – gold & black imprintSay When- red imprintDeer & Wolf – black & gold imprintElk & Bear- black & gold imprintTHEYRE REAL BASIC, just like the originals theyre modeled after. + Heavy Glass+ 1.5 ounces+ Size: 2 x 2.5 + Packed in set of 4First 2 & last 4 pics by our friend Betty at @stemsandforks
Ode to a chapel (& her path).She was made by volunteer Latvian refugees who left their lives behind, having fled Soviet occupancy of their homeland. They created a sanctuary here, a place to hold Mass in their native tongue.She gave a canopy to over 50 years of masses held here. She covered us on our own wedding day as it rained through the ENTIRE ceremony.So many weddings and communions, masses, & dedications. It was here that the first LGBTQ wedding was held at camp – to be followed by so many more.This season was her last season with us. Her wood had given out, her braces had started to list. Every damn thing here is overly sentimental to us. We try to save & repair – salvage & restore -Until we cant anymore. We just erected a new altar canopy.Same footprint, new life. We try to pay homage to other fallen buildings, so we found 150 year old trusses from a Wisconsin barn to give new life to. These trusses will hold vines & future memories for what will happen beneath them.Then there is the challenge of the tree.The aisle everyone has walked for 60 years has an ancient tree dead in the center, blocking the path.For so many years, churchgoers (with the best of intentions) have suggested that we cut it down. To make it easier to walk around, fewer roots to trip on, fewer littering leaves to clean up- all true & sage advice.On our wedding day here 18 years ago, we had to duck under its cover of branches to push our way through. ( see picture here- I got a little hooked and the canopy almost ripped my veil off).But heres the thing. Weve come to realize that there will always be things blocking our path. We all have the choice to cut them down.Or embrace them & the challenges they pose. To walk – flow – around them and move on.We’re here for the latter.Were here to keep the things worth keeping: the things that bring us joy, comfort & cover.Accept those things that may temporarily block our path, and keep moving forward. We dont know how long we’ll be able to keep this place standing, but as long as we are, we will keep this altar- And this tree-standing with us.
THIS GIVES US LIFE..A little BTS with our first artist in residence :Chris Brown of @refueled.magazine, Documented by @stevenvisneauphotography.Reminding us what we are here for, and what we have this place for. To shine a spotlight on other folks & their creativity. .More soon.Speaking of communityThis first shot is our Office. In the spirit of sharing, were in the process of converting it to now be for guest use. (David & I decided that we dont need our own Camp Directors room just for us, since we work everywhere)We welcome campers to the Wandawega business Office. Its here for campers to sneak off to do a private zoom meeting, call, or to type a letter to loved ones at home. We are going to keep the drawers stocked with typewriter paper & ribbons, pens, postcards, stamps and our new Official Camp Stationary (now finally in the works!).This desk holds special meaning to us.When we first bought camp, it was the Office desk for the priest who ran this place for the church. (It was in his bedroom, overflowing with sermons, bibles, binders of congregation residents, key boards, and cards).When we were cleaning it out, we found an original Wandawega Inn business card stuck in the back drawer. And rubber stamps lining its inner wooden drawers. Years later, we found a photo of the main lodge dining hall and discovered this desks original use – it was the welcome host desk, parked right at the front door.Nearly a century later, we feel like its fitting to share it with everyone who comes here. Whoever sits behind this desk we welcome to sign the ledger, leave a note, leave your mark. We want to fill this room with good karma in the spirit of sharing more. Less silos, more community. This little room is just the beginning.Cant wait to share more spaces with you this coming season. Love,Tereasa & David
