Wandawega Blog Archive

Just hit newsstands @CountryLivingMagazine July 2022 issue just hit the stands. This ones near & dear to us because it was made by our friends.Excerpt: Pull up a stool at Wisconsins Camp Wandawega, where steak is served in a tree house as Johnny Cash is cranked over a crackly PA system.A little story on entertaining, camp style – with (alot) of help from our Lake Wandawega neighbors:This spread is thanks to ourbrilliant British love @mrsjoey8 – who decided last year that she wanted to have her lake friends & neighbors send her their fav recipes to she could compile them to make a custom neighborhood cookbook. A few recipes printed in this book were used for this story: thank you for sharing your recipes on page 103:christen Carter, @geyer.morford, Heidi + @mindysegal for always being the inspiration – we did a spin-off of it for this story. Shout out to the most rad crew : (who took an almost snowy early spring day and faked it to look like summertime).Photos: Becky Luigart-Stayer p.52,53,104Food styling: Beth somerWriter / producer: Charlyne MattoxPorch photo on p.8: @bobCoscarelliFirst pic: @misterberndt

June 20, 2022 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Its out!*pinch me*I got to do a fun little interview for my go-to fav design inspo magazine. The new summer issue of @dominomag is out, and its all about my favorite subject: haggle with a stranger in a parking lot over something old that I dont need but desperately want (aka: flea marketing)We talked about my fav places to :>shop : @elkhornantiquefleamarket and @inklinkbooks >stay at a little 100 year old camp that most locals have never heard of ;)>eat : @boxedandburlap > throw down a few insider tips (how to get the best deals)Thanks @nathanmichael for the little camp portrait (first pic) //. @walworth_county_fair @elkhorncc @travelwisconsin Link to article :https://www.domino.com/content/best-flea-markets-by-state/

June 20, 2022 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

FOUND.(On FB Marketplace last summer).A Boy Scout troop leader had her. We hauled her home, gave her a new paint job, wood slats, and had Ches @Rightway letter her. Shes our 60s @Allstate Clamshell (made by Sears & Roebuck Co.)Originally designed for campers to haul gear cross-country to a site, she now services our groups staying up in the rustic camping cluster. And,shes got her own rules (lettered on her backside, so you cant miss it):GEAR MULE RULES:Load Up. (Makes 1 trip per camper group).If you miss her run, youre on your own, campers!

June 15, 2022 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Some things never need to change.Weve always wanted one of those old school ice dispensers youd find in every service staion, marina, & fish market. Come to find out that they have been made by our Wisconsin neighbor LEER since 1952. (They are 100% employee-owned). They made a custom one so we could get our buddy Ches at @RightwaySigns to hand paint ours:CAMPER COURTESYPackaged Crystal Clear ICETwo bags per camper groupTHE ICEMAN COMETH.We also found out that @HomeCityICE is our neighbor, keeping all these old school machines around here stocked (by the same family) since 1924.Since its gonna be 95 today in the shade,It seems to be a good day to fire it up.And also every day is a good day to support local family & employee-owned Wisconsin businesses (no sponsorship needed).*Bailey tried to move in before we stocked it (she was disappointed to get evicted from her little AC dog house during this heatwave were having).

June 14, 2022 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

DITCH THE TENT…thats what @onmilwaukee just told folks to do this summer. For their latest story, theyve pulled together a roundup of reccos that break from the norm.* Love + respectto all the glamping style resorts that are popping up now offering tents – but we just love this article cause its giving people other new camping options too – in addition to sleeping under canvas.Some new options.Some old options. And a few options that remind us of our childhoods, like Jellystone (thats one of the suggestions we have a kitschy soft spot for)So todays post is dedicated to the resort chain founded in the 60s – featuring Yogi Bear.You can visit one of them just outside of Milwaukee – and stay in one of their little cabins- its a blue collar slice of America that reminds us of home. Its not fancy, but it is a dream for families. Makes me want to turn back time and load up the station wagon with my five siblings to hit the road for this kids paradise. Jellystone got the USA Todays readers choice award for 2022- and its not becuase they have the best interior design or that somebodys delivering Prosecco to you in your Turkish-linen-clad-king sized-bed. Were guessing its because when the kids are happy – mom & dad are happy. (Its the places like this that kids remember 20 years from now)-As for us, were dont specialize in anything, cause we love everything – our accommodations are a little all over the place:> UNDER ROOFS:Old bunkhouseHistoric Log cabinVintage RV loungeCedar shake A-frameTrio of Lakeside cabinsModern artist cabin The Hillhouse for fancy folks > UNDER CANVAS:(We also offer tents, so if you dont want to ditch them, thats ok by us, too :)Remote XL canvas decked cabin Boyscout platform tents overlooking the lakeCantilevered ravine canvas A frames The Military pup tents trio

June 12, 2022 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

um…. so.just woke up to this post shared by our friend @cassieroschCass & her partner @Enmurphy13 s wedding just got a big beautiful feature story in the new @BridalGuide(we shared camp as last minute back up for their wedding plans that Covid had cancelled)This is what Cass said (and it says it all)If baby Cass, recent college graduate, who was afraid to come out and could see this, she wouldnt believe her eyes – We Love seeing LGBTQ+ weddings featured in “Bride” magazines now.When i was a kid growing up in the cornfields of the central Illinois, it wasn’t even remotely fathomable.@themurphyhaus- it feels right for your story to be shared in this particular month-sending so many congratulations, good vibes, luck & love to you both.Photos by @benjhaisch

June 11, 2022 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

The world is full of summercamps-turned-airbnbs now.(15 years ago we couldnt find a single one as a BnB- @Airbnb changed the game for us all).Its amazing to see this surge of interest for building new camps, restoring old ones, converting old Inns..Because its a way for these old properties to get saved and preserved. And were here for it.These days, we get a DM or email almost weekly from folks that have just closed on their own campground, resort or Bought a farm to convert and are deep in Pinterest bringing their dreams to life (and looking for help/ advice/ tips/ counsel) on how to do it. Our short answer:(That is always followed by as much counsel as we can give) is that there is no singular right way that we know of- everybody has their own unique approach.And If there is a shortcut, we havent found it yet. The good news is that when you jump into something crazy (like buying a 25 acre compound of abandoned buildings like we did) there is no place to go but up. So every day/building / space is a new opportunity to make something better. If you go into it to feed your head and soul (vs your wallet) you will always be creatively fulfilled.So if you love it, do it.Because its absolutely true what they say-the only thing to regret is to never have tried at all.This article popped up in our feed yesterday- Were happy to see that In the sea of new options, were still includedgoing on one hundred years later.Our top two must see favorites from this article: 1. Base Camp in Palm Desert, CA2. Crystal Peak Lookout, Fernwood, Idaho.Support your local Airbnb dreamers, folks! The folks in this article make the hard things look easy. Full Story : Thanks, Erica Owen for the inclusion!

June 8, 2022 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

The humble beer taster. We did a lot of research collecting (aka: hoarding) vintage beer glasses to get our own made. Our camp version ships in a boxed set of four with a collection of vintage pulpboard coasters. (And we pack a little swag in there, too).In the Rathskeller camp store, and online. Drink pics by our talented friend Betty at @stemsandforks

June 7, 2022 • Published by Tereasa Surratt

Our secret dream life is to be a picker.So we were pretty excited to see @mikewolfeamericanpicker feature us today on his @ontwolanes feed.He shared a kind summary of what to expect from a visit to camp. Thanks, Mike!!..Photos by @thecraighensel , @stemsandforks & @bobcoscarelli

June 6, 2022 • Published by Tereasa Surratt