>> 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
It officially launched this week!SoooIve been working on a secret squirrel team for the last year… applying the branding side of my brain to helping cultivate a passion project with friends @skoogdunagan & Kelly @thejugglcreating something that personally Ive found to be a game changer (Speaking as a woman struggling to juggle career/ parenting/ running a business / just trying to put on a pair of actual pants in the morning)I needed help. And I didnt know where to begin to look.(Beyond Brene Brown)…. then I realized that what I really needed was to get help from other women who I look up to (who are trying to keep the same plates spinning).So I found it, and finally after a year of secrecy I get to tell folks about it.Its called theJUGGL Its a platform to support career women in all of our bazillion competing life priorities by bringing Mentors (with legit creds) to a space where members can learn from them, connect with them and go deeper with them through private mentorship.We already have 30+ expert Mentors on the platform that have their own Profiles- so you can get to know & speak with them directly. (Also, if youre like me and just like to get lost in the rabbit hole of other womens inspirational stories & advice… it has massive amounts of content to explore).This week were launching theJuggl Live Series, to talk about the hard stuff that were all dealing with (featuring live moderated sessions with our Mentors – with open community discussion).Excited to share this with yall. But honestly- Im even more excited that its now live so I actually use it (because I didnt know how much I needed it until I finally got honest with myself) … to get some help from some inspirational lady bosses.Im grateful to have been asked to a part of bringing this to life and humbled to serve on the advisory board for something that i find the most rewarding -Helping other women. TheJUGGL.comMuch love and props to these insanely talented design friends for lending their talents, time and vision :@steve_hahn_ @silashelm @erinsarofskyThanks, @warbyparker for visiting and for taking this little Portrait in my fav spot
February 25, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
YES 10 adventure lodges you can have to yourselfSo happy to be featured by @outsidemagazine – but were even more grateful for the introduction to a couple new spots that are now on our must visit bucket list:4th + 5th shots are are of @autocamp we are DYING to see. Our other favorites on the list :@treehousepoint #ScarpRidgeLodge @urbancowboypublichouse Happy travels, friends !PS: is it wrong to leave our string lights up long after the holidays??
February 24, 2021 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
