Anna Beckford Peck is our NAMESAKE & patron saint. a Swedish immigrant LANDING IN CHICAGO.
They called her “Orphan Annie” She opened Wandawega in 1925 during the height of Prohibition - a remote getaway, yet an easy drive to Chicago. Anna BECAME A BOOTLEGGER & madame. The Wandawega Inn quickly became a refuge for those seeking illegal booze, gambling & the comfort of ‘WORKING GIRLS’
THE DINING HALL THAT SERVED ITS LAST MEAL 60 YEARS AGO REOPENS IT’S DOORS. WITH STAR CHEFS FROM CHICAGO TO THE LOCAL FISH FRY MASTER…
The expe rien ce
HIKE. EXPLORE. DRINK. DINE. PLAY. TOAST.
4:30
5:30
6:00
BEACH
RATHSKELLAR
DININGHALL
Explore camp, visit the beach, the trails. The grounds.
Meet down to the rathskeller FOR YOUR WELCOME drink: an OLD FASHIONED.
GATHER IN THE CAMP LODGE FOR DINNER.
7:30
8:00
8:30
EVERYBODY CHOOSES A GIFT FROM THE SUNDRIES CASE.
Walk YOUR grasshopper over TO THE LODGE LOUNGE FOR DARTS. POOL & RUN THE JUKEBOX.
HEAD OUT TO THE BONFIRE. TO TOAST THE WISCONSIN SUNSET.
SOUVENIR BAR
LOUNGE
CAMPFIRE
Dinner with a side of history
Recognized by the national register of historic places
FOUND: Boxes of plates, crates of server ware The attic at Wandawega wAS a hiding place for artifacts from a dining hall shuttered DECADES earlier
Every plate was custom made by American china institution homer laughlin. every OTHER PC OF SERVICE FROM THE STEAK KNIVES TO BREADBASEKTS ARE vintage from the heyday of the dining hall era.
BRINGING The classic relish tray with a modern twist
Staff: 1 badger 1 raccoon 1 daughter/hostess
THEse walls can talk: GHOSTS SPEAK FROM THE PHOTOWALL IN THE DINING HALL - DECADES OF DINERS, DRINKERS & ROWDY GUESTS
They don’t make them like they used to:
Every detail in the dining hall is from the heyday of resort dining halls, (Or An authentic reproduction)
DEADSTOCK MENU FOLDERS
* Sample menu from Chef Tyler
YOUVE BEEN SERVED. OUR TABLESIDE SERVICE ROLLING CARVING TABLE IS A CENTURY OLD. AND HAS SEEM SOME THINGS IN IT’S DAY.
Chef Tyler’s Supper club classics with a culinary twist: Wedge salad Fish fry Prime rib French onion soup
WELCOME TO THE RATHSKELLeR. What madame Anna beckford peck did in this room during prohibition sent her to prison
HOUSE SPECIALTIES; OLD FASHIONEDS GRASSHOPPERS.
KEEPING IN LOCAL. WHAT’S ON THE MENU WITH CHEF TYLER.
Cigarette girl’s tray: After dinner, GUESTS ARE INVITED TO help themselves to A GRATIS wandawega sundry
EVERYTHING A 1940s tavern or ROADHOUSE WOULD HAVE OFFERED GUESTS & TRAVELLERS OLD SCHOOL BRANDS OF rolling papers, cigars, mints, PIPE TOBACCO, MATCHBOOKS, COMBS, and gum
See you soon.
DEVIL IN THE DETAILS: *MOST ARE GUEST SOUVENIR TAKE-AWAYS. ASH TRAYS COCKTAIL SWIZZLES. DRINK CARDS DOGGIE BAGS COASTERS MATCHBOOKS VINTAGE MENU FOLDERS
ORIGINAL ADS FOR THE WANDAWEGA Inn AND LAKE RESORT CIRCA 1920S AND 1950S
“American getaway” the book The seedy underbelly of wandawega circa 1925 - 1950
join decades of revelers that came before you sign the guest log
THE MADAME ANNA BECKFORD PECK
Our namesake, MADAME ANNA beckford PECK AKA “ORPHAN ANNIE” - WENT TO PRISON for the final time IN 1942 FOR SELLING ILLEGAL LIQuoR Out OF THIS ROOM
The wandawega lodge / dining hall (then)
The original dining hall
the lounge in the dining hall today - For POST-dinner cocktail