NOW HIRING ((( ON )))DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHOD BE INTO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING?Setting up a tipi.Hauling firewood.Erecting canvas cabins.Rescuing escaped canoes & hurt animals.Building bonfires.Trimming trees.Raking the beach.Restocking archery gear.Carving out hiking trails.Cleaning out smokers.Clearing camp recycling bins.Painting piers.Planting wildflowers.Cleaning the craft cabin.Repairing hatchets, rackets, oars, bike fleet… basically everything (this place & all thats in it is OLD)Were hiring for an outsdoorsy type. …But before you start lacing up your boots & polishing your “OFFICIAL CAMP COUNSELOR” badge, you should know what you’d be getting into. DO YOU LIKE TO WORK IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS?There are so many campfires to stock & every time you clean a camp grill you’ll swear you just did this (cause usually you did). We have to pump out the boats every time it rains. Glamorous it is not. Hardy work that will earn you a six-pack, it is. There’s a lot to do- we all pitch in, and we’re looking for someone who can find the zen in emptying their 100th trash bin to keep the raccoons at bay. ARE YOU LOOKING TO PICK UP BASIC HANDY PERSON SKILLS?This place was built 100 yrs ago… so we have a never-ending repair list. If you’re interested in building the skills it takes to fix it (or make it) yourself, this is a good place to start learning the ropes. You don’t need a ton of experience, just a willingness to learn, a desire to do things well (& a strong back doesn’t hurt, either) DO YOU WANT TO SPEND TIME IN NATURE?That’s where we are 90% of the time.Sometimes in the rain. (So gear up, ’cause unless you’re made of sugar you aren’t gonna melt.)If you aren’t scared off yet, you might be one of us & ready to join our small but mighty team DEETS:+ DATES: May – Sep (time is negotiable)+ TIMES: 20-40 hrs /week (fluctuates and is negotiable)* we try to be flexible so our hourly rate compensation is also negotiable based on relevant experience. Our camp, hearts & minds are always open to and welcome all applicants Interested? Tell us why Apply by April 1 info@wandawega.com

March 13, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Were partnering up with Airbnb to tell folks the best part of hosting:Q:Give it to us. The best thing youve experienced as an innkeeper A:The feeling that youve created a space that people want to experience… and donating it for our Inner City Kids Camp, Artist-In-Residencies and to Make-A-Wish type charities.THE TRUTH? It. is. hard. work.But we wish somebody would have told us years ago how emotionally fulfilling it was to have a place like this that we can grow to share.Had we known, we would have opened a decade sooner. We’re going 15 years strong now, and still having fun.#Airbnbpartner@airbnb

March 12, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

>> What is behind her >> Its whats lies just in the background.Our backdrops around camp werent usually built for photos (they just sometimes end up in them).There are stories in those backdrops.Where we found things, why theyre there, what they mean.We want to start sharing a few of those little hidden stories with y’all.Because we tend to think that its the background in the room, place or space that you can’t see thats most fascinating.Like people, its whats behind the face that makes things interesting.Heres a little background for you, but you have to look closely…Photos by @_lifeinfocuss of the lovely @ambermiller9 (who are also so much more than just a pretty face )

March 11, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Axes & hooch. You cant have enough of either. “In 1925, two wealthy Chicago businessmen open the Wandawega Hotel, an all-American lakeside getaway nestled in the Wisconsin woods. In reality, the hotel is an illicit moonshine joint. Chicagoans looking for a vacation from the inconvenient restrictions of prohibition come, stay and imbibe.By 1928, organized crime has taken up residence. The hotel property is outfitted for liquor distribution with multiple exists, trapdoors and hidden hatches to conceal stockpiles of hooch. And here, this is the part of the story that gets intriguing… Hang up your hat, pour yourself a little something and settle in. We’re hooked.”We love when friends retell our history- thanks @bestmadeco for paying us a visit. (next time y’all come please freel to leave everything behind- we have been known to put camp gear to good use)Behind the scenes & some pics from their visit here.#BestMadeCo

March 10, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

5 things you didn’t know about the Camp Bunkhouse:No1:it is a museum of all orginal 1920’s congoleum, each room featuring diff patterns. (1st shot is Charlie a few years back in the top level)No2:it ran as a brothel during prohibition, hosted ‘inmates’ as they called the working girls. the ladies rented a room like a chair in a salon. with a parlor at the endNo3:it was covered in yellow aluminum siding (that we tore off to discover original green cedar shake shingles beneath)No4:it’s three levels hold 12 bedrooms, 2 kitchenettes, 4 bathrooms, 2 showers a large & small parlor No5:it sits on the water’s edge, and has the best views of the lake, which is why they picked it for most of the the original ‘Wandawega Resort’ advertising postcards back then (last shot)Our favorite part about the bunkhouse is that its a time capsule. Last shot from 1960s- (teenage Latvian girls hiding out on the backside fire escape probably talking about kissing boys and sneaking beer and ciggs)* photos by @sdamiani 1st pic by @bobcoscarelli

March 9, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Dear CharlieGirl,On this International Womens Day, I am imagining what the future holds for you. I cant wait to see the woman you will grow up to be. Just take your time, please.Its going by way too quick. Love,Mom

March 8, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Found!In the Spring of 2014 an old man showed up with a box of super 8 film shot in the 1950s at camp.It was all his childhood summer vacations spent here.Its confirmed what we have always thought – not much has changed here in 70 years.This is him and his mom. The shots are stills from the film, last one is a clip. Full film on profile line today.He wrote us this letter – the last line made me cry.”My memories are very vivid…THE VISITOR:At night, people gathered at the dining hall- there was scratching at the door & in would walk a raccoon. They found him abandoned. When he reached maturity, they returned him to the wild, but he came back for pretzels. when he had his fill, he’d scratch to go back out.He had it real good.THE PATCH: The grass at the entrance to the dining hall frequently saw people on their hands and knees- there was a clover patch that yielded 4-leaf clovers. I never found a 4-leaf clover anywhere other than Lake Wandawega. FIRE PIT: There was a fire pit at the west end of the resort, and some evenings there would be a roaring bonfire – the kids loved to sit there, watch the fire, tell stories. I really looked forward to those evenings.MY DAD:Bet someone that he could swim to the other side of the lake, but was smart enough to have someone in a row boat follow along just in case.He won $5.00.THE OWLS:My dad and the owners son, Hank, were in the bar one night- there were baby owls just outside. After a couple of beers, they got the idea to shine a light in their eyes to catch them. So they got a flashlight, ladder & a fishnet. To the dismay of my mother, once they got in the tree, the birds took off – dad & Hank almost fell out of the tree.Everyone had a good laugh.THE OWNER:A stocky man with squinty eyes and a hard, leathered face, like Charles Bronson, but he was very friendly. He had pictures of when he was in the Army in General Pershings expedition chasing Pancho Villa in the 1900s.Well, thats about all I can recall as of now, but I do remember how much we enjoyed being at Lake Wandawega. They say you cant go home again, but the memories are still nice.Sincerely,Bob

March 7, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Be still, my heart.The best surprise care package just showed up in our mailbox. If youve ever camped in a national park – been to Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon – stop and think about the Civilian Conservation Corps. Good chance they laid the hiking trails, made the campsites, and the roads.It was a voluntary public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the U.S. for the unemployed & unmarried ages 1825. Founded by Franklin d. RooseveltTo pay homage, @faribaultmill just released this throw. (This insignia is the original from their patches) Our friends at the mill know us too well – Thank you @bbildsten

March 6, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

WATCH THIS Its blowing our mindsDavid just found this app that brings old photos to life. (When you Upload a picture,it adds a little motion to the image)Here, we chose our patron saint Anna (the madame of camp… 95 years ago).She was an incredible woman with an amazing story: after a 16yr search We finally found Photos of the namesake of our bar THE MADAME ANNA PECK1880s, Sweden- young Anna is orphaned.1905 as a teen, she emigrates to America and is adopted by a Chicago architect.She takes work as a maid in a well-to-do home and marries the chauffeur.At 39, her father builds Wandawega Hotel.Anna runs gin & a brothel here.She marries a local, the neer do well son of a prominent family. (Gordon Peck was a vet, a drunkard & 13 years her junior who’s mother filed for an annulment, claiming he was too taken w/consumption for sound judgment)Anna & Gordon continue to operate Wandawegas brothel & speakeasy Orphan AnniesAt 56 Annas convicted for running a ‘bawdy house of ill fame’ & goes to prison for years.Upon release, she moves right into town off the square, taking up residence where everyone knew her business & she knew more about everyone elses.At 80, Anna becomes a widow for the 2nd time.At 94, she dies alone, taking the town’s secrets to her grave.When her house was in demo, her things & life story were thrown into a dumpster.A local man happened by & salvaged portraits of the orphan immigrant & her 2nd wedding.(25yrs later he saw our post asking for leads & remembered he still had them in storage)Anna was abandoned from the beginning.Ostracized by a community.Rejected by the family she married into.Anybody who can live through that & still have the audacity to plant herself in the middle of town has no shortage of chutzpah.Which is why she is Camp’s namesake & her rathskellar bar is ORPHAN ANNIES. 80yrs ago, Annie & Gordon were arrested for concealing whiskey in a piano here, so we now display their wedding portrait on the house piano

February 28, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

One of our all time favorite retreats we hosted for @kinfolk with our friend @amandajanejones (and Charlie still plays with her dollhouse- which makes my heart sing) and our friends at @lulacafe @jasonhammel @floriole @flyingthud @richardsmithiii @fleurinc @mastbrothers @middle_brow_beer #kinfolkgatherings

February 27, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt