The fact that you are seeing this post means that dreams really do come true. Wandawega has been on my bucket list for years! I never actually thought I would go there, I would just daydream about it when looking through photographs from there.

I admit, this is not a disc golf destination. But bring a pop-up basket because it should be! I remember talking to Sheila Callahan, of Dellwood Disc Golf, about it long before we made plans to go but the seeds were planted with that because it was on her bucket list too. And not that you need to know this, sometimes I think Sheila and I are the same person because we think so much alike at times, it’s a little scary.

We found a date that would work for us and BOOKED the trip. We fully understood the manifesto of low expectations going into it. And fully enjoyed the squeaky beds, no heat and no bathrooms in our rentals as we transitioned into fully living into the time warp that this place takes you into.

Wandawega was established in 1925. It was initially a Speakeasy and brothel, a perfect haven for mobsters during the prohibition era. When the FBI would come and raid the place those that were in the know would slip out the back door, hop in a boat and go across the lake to where their cars were located, escaping getting caught. The FBI would close up shop and the local police would open it back up for their own benefit. 

Maybe the sound of this doesn’t exactly sound like the kind of place you would want to hang out, but times changed and so did the venue. After its grave history two different church groups had owned the property at different times throughout the 1970’s. David Hernandez, one of the current owners of the resort, used to visit the property as a kid in the 70’s and loved everything about it.

In the early 2000’s David and his wife Teresa Surratt bought the resort in a bidding war against a company that wanted to tear it down and build a modern resort complex. Since their ownership they have restored the resort the old buildings and have even brought in some other architectural structures that needed to be saved themselves.

Just being here was a real treat. Pulling into the parking lot my jaw was on the floor. I just couldn’t get over the fact that this place really does exist. Seeing it in person really sparked something inside all of that were in our group but for me it was just pure inspiration.

We rented the side-by-side cabins that are lakeside, made s’mores at night from the “ranger station” that the resort provided, kayaked, watched fish swim near shore, hiked the trails, climbed up in the treehouse, got coffee in the canteen and enjoyed each other’s company without the distraction of everyday life. It was utter bliss and we can’t wait to come back.