Paint, Petals & Preparing for Busy Season!

It’s been a minute, and busy season is right around the corner!

We are officially about two weeks out from welcoming golfers, brides and grooms, wedding groups, car enthusiasts, weekend getaway guests, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and everyday travelers looking for a relaxing stay.

And honestly? I am so ready.

Don’t get me wrong, the slower season has its perks. It gives us time to tackle projects, fix things up, and get the lodge ready for another busy summer. But after a while, I start to go a little stir-crazy. It is always a bit of a transition when summer rolls back around, especially after months of slower days and fewer guest interactions.

I also have to laugh at myself because once guests start arriving again, I can definitely catch myself oversharing about all the projects we have been working on. Some people are so sweet and will happily listen to me yap about tile, paint colors, doors, flowers, and whatever else has been taking over my brain. But I know some city folk would rather just go through the motions of check-in or getting a drink at the bar, but I don't know, I think making a human connection is one of the best parts of running this lodge and living this human experience. You never know who you're gonna meet or what their story is, or what brought them here. Whether it is a wedding weekend, a family getaway, a golf trip, or someone just passing through, I love getting to be a small part of their experience. So needless to say, I'm looking forward to who I will meet this summer (Praying for some good ones lol)

Room 4 Got a Much-Needed Bathroom Refresh

In the meantime, we have been busy.

One of the biggest projects I finished was the bathroom in Room 4, and honestly, I think it might be the best one yet. That bathroom needed some love so badly. It felt dated, tired, and just not up to the cozy, comfortable feel we want our lodge rooms to have.

Now, it feels completely refreshed.

I added one of those fancy mirrors with the ring light built around it, and it really elevated the space. It gives the bathroom a more modern, luxurious feel without losing the warm, lodge-style charm we try to keep throughout the property.

It definitely did not come easy, though. My knees are still tired from laying tile and grouting, but it was absolutely worth it. There is something so satisfying about seeing a room come together after staring at dust, tools, and unfinished tile for what felt like forever.

Room 4 is officially looking fresh, clean, and ready for summer guests!

Ten New Exterior Room Doors

Another big project we tackled, with the help of a great contractor (Nick, from Handy LLC, Sheboygan) was installing ten brand-new exterior room doors!

I bought all of the doors from Menards, taped them off, and painted every single one. The interior side is brown to match the rooms, and the exterior side is red for a nice pop of color. I am really happy with how they turned out.

This was one of those updates that really needed to be done. Not only do the new doors look cleaner and more polished, but they are also much more functional. They have blinds built right into the glass, which is such a nice feature for guest privacy and convenience.

I am also very excited that I no longer have to keep replacing cheap rolling blinds. So while it was a bigger project upfront, it should save money and hassle in the long run.

Little details like this make a big difference when it comes to creating a comfortable lodge stay for our guests.

A Fresh Look for the Back of the Building

We also ripped off the entire back end of the building, repainted it, and added all-new trim boards and shutters.

This project almost broke me.

It took longer than I hoped, and there were definitely moments where I had to put my patience hat on and just keep going. But eventually, we got it done, and I am so happy with how fresh and clean it looks now.

The back of the building really needed attention, especially because it is a south-facing wall and had taken a lot of sun damage over the years. The paint was tired, the trim needed replacing, and it was just time.

Now, it feels like a completely refreshed part of the property. It also makes such a beautiful, clean backdrop for summer weddings, outdoor photos, and wedding groups spending the weekend here at the lodge.

For a small, hidden gem lodge like ours, those details matter. We want guests to feel like the property is cared for, welcoming, and ready for all the memories they are about to make here.

Flowers, Hillside Cleanup & Outdoor Projects

A few other things I have been working on are projects that honestly probably should have been done years ago, but hey, better late than never.

One of those projects is cleaning up the hill in front of the lodge by the flag poles. Every summer, that area seems to grow more weeds than anything else, and I have been wanting to make it look more intentional and inviting.

So, I am planting a bunch of Little Lime Punch hydrangeas, and I am so excited about them.

These little guys pack a punch for color all through the season! They start off with that pretty greenish-lime color, shift to white in midsummer, and as fall rolls around, turn deep red and pink. Starting with a greenish lime color. I think they are really going to spruce up the front of the lodge and add some beautiful seasonal color for guests arriving for weddings, weekend stays, and summer getaways.

I am also planning some creeping roses near the back deck. Those will take a few years to really grow into what I am imagining, but I am excited to get them started. Sometimes with outdoor projects, you just have to plant the thing and be patient, which, I will admit, is not always my strongest skill.

But I think between the hydrangeas, roses, fresh paint, new doors, and room updates, the lodge is going to feel extra charming this summer.

Ready for the 2026 Summer Season!

Like always, there is forever something to fix, clean, paint, plant, update, or improve around here. Owning and running a lodge is definitely not boring, that is for sure.

But as busy season gets closer, I am feeling really grateful. Grateful for the guests who choose to stay with us, the wedding groups who trust us with such an important weekend, the travelers who stumble across our little hidden gem, and everyone who makes this place feel alive during the summer months.

I cannot promise exactly when my next blog post will be, but I am hoping to check back in around mid-summer, if not sooner, to recap some of the groups we will be hosting and share more of what has been happening around the lodge!

Until next time!

Elle -

Doer of all things, maker of beds and bloody Mary's, keeper of cats.