Wandawega Blog Archive
We just crashed a story in our design crush magazine @HomesAndGardensUK In an article thats coming at the perfect time (were neck-deep working on our next project )No surprise that were popping up in numbers 4 & 7.STORY: Cabin decor ideas -10 ways for a welcoming retreattips:No.1: Pile on the texture.No.2:Add camp blankets.No.3:Go minimalist for a scandi feel.No.4:Create a vintage cabin vibe.No.5:Add antique pieces.No.6:Paint the walls white for a scandi feel.No.7:Add leather (and antlers).No.8:Mix old and new for an updated cabin look.No.9:Pull your color palette from natureSoak in the view(Last few shots here are some of the other cabins spaces that were crushing on)STORY:https://www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/cabin-decor-ideas
The ultimate trash-picking score.We shared our Dumpster diving adventure yesterday on stories, but had to share here, too- since that will disappear if youve never experienced the sheer joy of curbside trash picking-Read on. So Sunday morning, David looks out the window at camp and sees a pile of garbage (with what he thinks are some recognizable legs sticking out)We high-tail it across the yard -and its exactly what wed hoped -Under a pile of plastic, boxes and trash are a stack of nearly century old bentwood chairs (and a Haywood Wakefield Ashcraft drop leaf rattan table)I literally almost needed a paper bag to breathe cause they are the EXACT style we always look for – fitting camps prohibition era heyday. My (some would say) over reaction here Its not just about my bordering OCD need to maintain historic accuracy – or that always want to first try to reduce, reuse, recycle -Its that we nerd out on being able to save things that carry stories and history -Who knows what butts these chairs have seen in the past hundred years- but were thrilled to have scooped them up before the garbage man crushed them (who was already enroute) – we are committed to seeing that they last at least another 50 years (or at least as long as were still kicking and can keep camp up and running to give them a home)
FREE BEERComing this spring.Newest guest amenity-When you check in, youll get issued a camp wooden nickel, redeemable for one icy cold brew in the newly coined Beer delivery van at the gate.We found the original maker in Texas thats been crafting wooden nickels for the past 50 years on the same press. The American tokens first got popular in the 30s as a popular hand out from everybody from banks to boy scout troops for events. They werent legal tender, just novelty coins redeemable most often for a free drink issued by merchants. (The first designs where modeled after the standard stock buffalo motif struck by the US Mint from 1913 to 1938).’Cause nothing says welcome to Wisconsin more than cracking open a cold one. TRUTH: The real reason we built this out is to welcome an extra special collaboration that’s coming this summer. HINT: It’s both old and new. And it will get you drunk if you steal all your fellow camper’s wooden nickels.DOWN THE HATCH, CAMPERS!
Your child will never remember their greatest day of watching television Our friends @julia_and_child and @nathanmichael remind us of this every time they visit. Get our kids outdoors. Out into the wild. Feeling pretty blessed today to call these folks long time friends and to have this beautiful family make the annual pilgrimage to spend time here.
SoWhat kind of bird are YOU?more portraits from the new guest playground :THE WARDROBE DEPT.If you zoom into the last pic here, Youll see what we have tacked up to the old school makeup vanity vintage photos of guests at lodges, woodland resorts and VFW halls- dressed to the nines in all manner of characters & costumes- its a pastime that never gets old.(At least here, where everything is already old)Next time you are here, shop the racks to try out different personas- (We found out that Im a groundhog, Davids a fox & Charlies a Raven)And that the newest member of our team @chase_kruger97 (red Hudson Bay coat) is a Moonrise Kingdom Doppelgnger- but literally wears every hat at camp. welcome, Chase! @nathanmichael
TODAY IS WORLD BOOK DAY A worldwide celebration of books to encourage young people to discover the pleasure of reading. Established by UNESCO, its acknowledged in over a hundred countries. (Shakespeare also died on this day) In honor of today, we want to reshare the story of our littles library, the TWIG HOUSE. And seems a fitting day to share our Wandawega books (publishers @randomhouse @penguinrandomhouse @hearst @clarksonpotter )Next slide – sound on THE STORY:Nearly 100 years ago, the first cabin was built at Lake Wandawega.It was constructed from logs and sticks from the Wandawega surrounding land.Sadly, it was torn down before we could move it.WE WANTED A WAY TO BRING IT BACK.So we called our friend (and master wood worker) @teichelman1973.Who recreated it using sticks and twigs from Wandawega.He replicated every detail, down to the masonic symbols and name on the front PH.DAHL.It will now serve the community again.As a Free Library stocked with books on subjects we care about.We invite you to visit it…And take a book that will help you,And leave one that will help others.THE WANDAWEGA TWIG HOUSE FREE LIBRARY.NOW OPEN FOR ALL.
Surprise!OUR NEW GUEST AMENITY:The Wardrobe Department :.For those of us who remember the scene in Dirty Dancing where the resort staff bring wigs, costumes for cocktail-fueled dress-up afternoons. Or the backstage theater costume department scene in Moonrise KingdomThis is for you. (And us, because weve got a shopping addiction bordering on hoarding – and this HAD to be stocked).Sharing the first of a few posts this week of some of the things guests will get to try on (last pic here is the growing inventory).Weve started with mostly vintage mixed with some custom masks, some of our fav Moonrise characters, historic characters and a menagerie of woodland creatures.Since most folks already use camp as a stage, we want to give yall a hand.FOUR FAVS COSTUMES to try on for size:1. 1940 girls out troop leader2. Moonrise raven 3. The Hunter bear 4. Fantastic Mr FoxThanks @nathanmichael, friends and fam for the pics
Summer camp nights Courtesy of the happiest of couples on the biggest day of their lives. (I didnt know this photographer until now- and just fallen down a rabbit hole in her feed for the past hour thanks for the mini mental vacation, @indiaearl )Wishing so much love to the (still very new) newlyweds @trouttrouttroutt @oolliiv.viiaa
Now Available: “American Getaway” Podcast
American Getaway: The Very True, Very Strange Story of Camp Wandawega, is a six-part audio series available to stream and download on Spotify and Apple Podcast. This limited series tells the stranger-than-fiction story of an infamous lakeside property in southeastern Wisconsin that was once a brothel and speakeasy before later transforming into a family resort, a Catholic retreat center, and a summer camp. Today, the property is owned and operated by a Chicago couple, David Hernandez and Tereasa Surrat, and is listed on the Wisconsin Register of Historic Places. Brothel, speakeasy, hideout, refuge, summer camp. For the past 100 years,…