What Camp Wandawega does

Camp Wandawega is a privately-held lifestyle brand built around a 25-acre historic camp property in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, founded in 1925 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Co-owned since 2003 by David Hernandez and Tereasa Surratt, the company operates five interlinked revenue streams: stay bookings and retreat hosting at the Wisconsin camp, branded merchandise sold through its own e-commerce store (wandawegacampstore.com) and the new Chicago Bureau of Tourism retail showroom, event programming (Sportsmen's Weekend, Art Camp, private retreats), production-location rentals managed through its wholly-owned subsidiary Country Mouse City Mouse Locations, and licensing/co-branded product collaborations with consumer brands including GANT, Pendleton, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, Two Hearted Ale, and Faribault Woolen Mill.

The underlying operating model is asset-heavy on the real estate side and asset-light on the technology side: there is no proprietary technology platform, and the company runs on standard e-commerce and content management systems, with the historic property itself functioning as the primary aesthetic, content, and customer-experience asset. Distribution is multi-channel, combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce, a Chicago retail showroom opened in 2025 to mark the centennial, reseller placements through partner retailers, and recurring production-rental engagements with brands such as Coca-Cola, American Eagle Outfitters, Porsche, Abercrombie, Airbnb, and Playboy.

The customer base spans four primary personas — creative professionals and brands seeking production locations or collaborations, affluent travelers and nostalgia-seekers booking stays, artists participating in the Camp AIR residency program, and film/photography productions seeking authentic American settings. Pricing across stays and production rentals is inquiry-based rather than publicly disclosed, while product pricing is set through the camp store. The brand is monetized through the cross-pollination of these audiences via earned media (Forbes, NYT, WSJ, Architectural Digest, GQ, Condé Nast Traveler), social content, the Camp AIR program, and a Wandawega Historical Society 501(c)(3) affiliate that supports preservation without owning the operating entity.

Name

Camp Wandawega

Legal name

Camp Wandawega

Website

https://wandawega.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Camp Wandawega is a privately-held lifestyle brand operating a 25-acre 1925 historic camp in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, monetized through stay bookings, branded merchandise, brand collaborations, and production-location rentals for enterprise clients. It serves affluent travelers, creative professionals, and consumer brand partners via its Wisconsin property and a 2025-opened Chicago showroom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Hospitality and Lifestyle Brand

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Lodges (Low-Impact, Nature-Integrated Lodging) (THAAAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE)

Keywords

• Boutique hospitality retreats
• Lifestyle brand merchandise
• Production location rentals
• Event venue hosting
• Brand collaboration licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Elkhorn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Stay Bookings: Revenue from renting out camp accommodations, cabins, and the property for retreats, events, and guest stays.
2. Product Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel, home goods, accessories, and limited-edition collaborations sold through the online camp store.
3. Event Hosting & Retreats: Hosting curated retreats and events including Sportsmen's Weekend, Art Camp, and corporate/private event bookings.
4. Production Location Rentals: Renting the property and various locations (cabins, houses, Chicago storefront, photo studio, prop house, vehicle fleet) for film shoots, commercials, music videos, and brand photo shoots.
5. Licensing & Brand Collaborations: Licensing the Wandawega brand name and design aesthetic to consumer brands for co-branded product lines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Camp Wandawega operates a 25-acre historic retreat property in Elkhorn, Wisconsin offering guest accommodations, curated events, and retreat hosting. The company runs a branded e-commerce store selling apparel, home goods, and accessories, plus a physical retail showroom called the Bureau of Tourism in Chicago. It also rents its property, cabins, and prop assets as production locations for film, photography, and brand shoots, and licenses its name and aesthetic to consumer brand collaborations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camp Wandawega Stays Rental of camp accommodations, cabins, and lodges at the 25-acre Wisconsin property for individual guests, families, and groups seeking a historic retreat experience.
• Wandawega Camp Store Direct-to-consumer e-commerce store selling branded apparel, home goods, accessories, and limited-edition collaboration products.
• The Bureau of Tourism (Chicago Retail Showroom) Physical retail store, showroom, and creative studio at 1429 W Grand Ave in Chicago featuring branded merchandise, hosting events, and serving as a hub for the Chicago creative community.
• Country Mouse City Mouse Locations (Production Rentals) Rental of the historic camp property, cabins, houses, Chicago storefront, photo studio, prop house, and vehicle fleet to film, commercial, and brand photography productions.
• Event Hosting and Retreats Curated event programming including Sportsmen's Weekend, Art Camp, and private or corporate event bookings for groups at the camp property.
• Into the Woods 2026 Collection 2026 home goods collection featuring lodge-inspired textiles, blankets, rugs, and pillows sold through the camp store.
• Wandawega Birding Collection Birding-themed product collection celebrating outdoor observation and wildlife, sold through the camp store.
• Wandawega x Goody Vault (Field Issue: Reworked) Collaborative product line of recovered and reworked garments and textiles created jointly with The Goody Vault, sold through thegoodyvault.com and at Wandawega events.
• Camp AIR (Artist-in-Residence Program) Artist-in-residence program inviting artists to apply for immersive creative residencies at the camp, including partner programs such as The Jaunt's Winter Camp.

Quantifiable outcome

• Featured in Forbes, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, GQ, Esquire, Dwell magazine, and Architectural Digest
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• The JauntmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026The Jaunt organized Winter Camp 2026, bringing four California-based artists to Camp Wandawega for a winter residency. Artists include Wyatt Hersey, Melissa Lakey, Anna Valdez, and Esther Pearl Watson.
• Joymachine.artcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Joymachine.art collaborated with The Jaunt and Camp Wandawega to organize the Winter Camp 2026 artist residency program.
• GANTmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGANT partnered with Camp Wandawega to create a children's clothing collection featuring apparel for boys and girls from newborn to 15 years. The collection focuses on preppy camp styles with energetic hues and comfortable designs, inspired by the camp aesthetic.
• PendletonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPendleton collaborated with Camp Wandawega on blanket and home goods products, combining Pendleton's textile expertise with Wandawega's vintage camp aesthetic.
• AnthropologiemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnthropologie partnered with Camp Wandawega to carry home goods products in their retail stores, expanding distribution of the brand's products to a wider audience.
• Crate & BarrelmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCrate & Barrel collaborated on product collections and also utilized the camp as a production location for brand photography.
• The Goody VaultmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Goody Vault collaborated on 'Field Issue: Reworked' - a collection of recovered garments and textiles from the camp archive, reworked with vintage workwear and field-found goods. Products available at thegoodyvault.com and at Wandawega events.
• Faribault Woolen MillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on textile products with one of the Midwest's oldest mom-and-pop makers who have been producing woolen goods for generations.
• Crow Canyon HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome goods collaboration featuring enamelware and rustic home accessories.
• Two Hearted AleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeer collaboration partnership creating branded beverages.
• Solemn Oath BreweryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal brewery collaboration on beer products.
• FoxtrotminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail collaboration with Foxtrot for product distribution.
• Element CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partnership for Sportsmen's Weekend, including world champion lumberjack, archery, skeet shooting, and hatchet throwing activities.
• Soho HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSoho House hosted events at Camp Wandawega including 'Weekenders' programming with performers like Corinne Bailey Rae.
• Blind BarberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint events programming at Camp Wandawega.
• GoProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand photography shoots and content creation partnerships at the camp property.
• Coca-ColaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduction shoots at the camp location for brand campaigns.
• American Eagle OutfittersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduct photography and campaign shoots for the 2025 holiday campaign.
• Heritage Bikes & CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating vendor at holiday markets and events at The Bureau of Tourism in Chicago.
• Mindy's BakeryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating vendor at holiday markets and events at The Bureau of Tourism.
• LakeEffectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partnership hosting summer camp experiences for youth from underserved communities.
• Make-A-Wish FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership hosting children and families as part of wish experiences.
• The JauntmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist Retreat Takeover program bringing global artists for immersive creative experiences at Camp Wandawega.
• Homer Laughlin ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDinnerware collaboration using American-made china products.
• Top DrawerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGift and lifestyle product collaboration and distribution.
• Wally'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct collaboration featuring branded merchandise.
• The Tie BarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccessories collaboration featuring ties and men's accessories.
• Blair (Cedar Products)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with one of the Midwest's oldest family-owned cedar product makers to create the Cedar Collection featuring souvenir items like cedar slice wall plaques, treasure boxes, and log cabin keepsakes.
• National Wildlife FederationminorOthersSponsorship and environmental partnership supporting wildlife conservation efforts.
• Wisconsin Historical SocietycoreOthersInstitutional membership supporting historical preservation efforts in Wisconsin.
• National Parks FoundationminorOthersSponsorship supporting national parks conservation.
• Wandawega Historical SocietycoreOthersCamp Wandawega supports the Wandawega Historical Society, a Wisconsin 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to preserving and restoring the historic camp. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AutoCamp: AutoCamp operates a chain of upscale Airstream-glamping and cabin retreats with strong design aesthetic. Comparable as a boutique outdoor-hospitality brand leveraging heritage Americana cues, design-forward accommodations, and event/retreat programming aimed at creative professionals — the same core customer base Wandawega serves.
• Getaway: Getaway operates a network of small, design-focused cabin rentals positioned for weekend escapes from urban centers. Comparable as an off-grid hospitality brand targeting the same 'disconnect and unwind' value proposition Wandawega sells, though at a lower price point.
• Collective Retreats: Collective Retreats operates luxury 'glamping' and curated outdoor retreat experiences with concierge-style service. Highly comparable to Wandawega in offering premium experiential hospitality in nature settings for affluent, design-conscious travelers and corporate clients.
• Under Canvas: Under Canvas runs upscale safari-style tented camps near national parks with strong experiential branding. Comparable as a premium outdoor-hospitality brand combining lodging, events, retreats, and partnerships aimed at experience-seeking travelers.

Emerging players

• Best Made Co. Best Made Co. is a heritage-inspired lifestyle and outdoor accessories brand with a strong content-and-collaboration model. Comparable to Wandawega in targeting design-conscious consumers through curated storytelling and limited-edition collaboration products.
• Shinola: Shinola is a Detroit-based heritage lifestyle brand selling watches, leather goods, and Americana-rooted products through DTC and partner retail. Comparable as a design- and heritage-led lifestyle brand whose collaboration playbook (crossover with retailers and brands) parallels Wandawega's licensing strategy.
• Bunkhouse Group: Bunkhouse Group operates a portfolio of design-led boutique hotels and hospitality experiences (e.g., Hotel San José, Austin Motel). Comparable as a creator of boutique hospitality properties whose identity, design language, and cultural cachet drive both bookings and brand collaborations.

Broad incumbents

• Soho House: Soho House operates a global membership-based hospitality and creative-professionals club. Already a GTM partner of Camp Wandawega (hosting 'Weekenders' programming on-site); comparable as a brand monetizing creative-class gatherings, partnerships, and lifestyle positioning.
• Filson: Filson is a heritage American outdoor goods brand with deep Americana positioning and a strong collaboration/wholesale business. Comparable as a brand converting heritage and Americana credibility into premium DTC and partner-channel revenue.
• Pendleton Woolen Mills: Pendleton is a heritage American woolen mill and lifestyle brand with a strong Western/camp aesthetic. Already a major collaboration partner of Wandawega; comparable in brand heritage storytelling and licensing-driven category extension.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/camp.wandawega
• Instagraminstagram.com/campwandawega
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-wandawega

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Camp Wandawega