The Aqualand Ale House opened it's doors last weekend.  Our grown sons, our daughter-in-law, grandson beside us.  Our first guests seemed to enjoy themselves, our chaos was mostly hidden from view, and by day three we began to feel our stride.  but for me, one of the big highlights that first night was watching my Mom and Dad as people shared with them their memories from Aqualand, recognizing them as the celebrities in the room who had made it all a reality.

The journey to this day has been challenging, but in that moment, it was all worth while.  Later, as I watched my husband in his element, guiding folks to the craft beer he felt they may enjoy most, explaining each brew type, it's features and story, It made it all worth it again.

On the third day, as a couple asked me to walk them through all the photos, they shared with me that they went to Aqualand on their honeymoon, and for years after made it a yearly pilgrimage that celebrated one of the sweet memories within their marriage.

The past will always be honored at the Aqualand Ale House, but we are excited to move on into the future.

We have been humbled by the people who showed such amazing support.  I think of the Altschwagers from White Birch Village, allowing us to utilize one of their winterized cabins as our winter home; my grade school classmate Judy- the only other girl in our grade at the tiny Plum Lake Grade School and her husband Grant, who just showed up during crunch time and said simply, "we know how it is, put us to work"; My sister Becky and her husband Ty who watched over things and saved us when we were headed for bad ideas, who fed us dinner when we had worked until dark and forgot to plan our own; my parents, who advised and guided us from their years of experience in running first a resort and then Aqualand as business owners and entrepeneurs;  Dad's hours spent re-caning the backs and cutting out new seats for all the chairs and stools in the place; Our son Perry and his wife Stacie, who designed our logo, helped us plan, built our website and internet presence, designed the menus, pos system and all things electronic; Dan, our younger son, who worked right along side us for weeks, putting his own life on hold to be there when we most needed a hand, and who has also contributed his artistic and design skills in our photo art throughout the building.  His practical common sense acted as a sounding board when the choices were too many and the details too great; Kurt and Cherie, who travelled all the way from Minneapolis to check out our equipment and then who served as designers and advisors in laying out a working plan for our miniscule kitchen.

So many more wonderful people who gave advice, reviewed our layouts, lists, menus and lent a hand.  Our new neighbor Todd who lent his forklift and then his storage space to hold equipment in transition for us; Mike who swiped through with his plow on a snowy day, refusing payment; the Community Church, who rescued our friends a family day when the kitchen equipment would not function and friends and family were already enroute; The people of Boulder Jct for being so welcoming and encouraging- we hope to make you proud; Bill and Mark at Tribute Brewery in Eagle River and Mark at Forest Lake Country Store- we look forward to many coordinated events in the future.

Finally, we feel very blessed to have gathered the most awesome staff.  Our talented young chef John, who is passionate about making everything from scratch; Melissa, our bookkeeper/manager/prep cook and sounding board- yeah, sort of superwoman; Lisa, our head server who brings years of experience and wisdom in an area where our experience is limited at best; Christopher our bar tender, whose calming presence holds us together even under stress.  We are thrilled with our super-servers Kat, Taylor, Taylor, Miranda and Katie-  thank you all for being willing to do the dance with us as we find our rhythm.  Gabby and Vaun, our high school workers who have been willing souls, helping in and out of the kitchen and doing whatever task is asked or them.

We love our tenantts Ben and Tim.  Their patience with our disruption as we prepared for opening has been amazing.

Every new business is launched from hopes and dreams.  Ours has been further launched by support and care-  We hope to serve you for many years to come.  Thank you and we love you all!

The other photo...

A number of years ago, a local artist was commissioned to paint a portrait of a group of fishing guides conducting a shore lunch.  The painting was re-produced into one of the northwood's more famous prints, and there are a few that know it's secret. Some of the faces and names were changed. Bent over the fire adding something to the pan was a humble, quiet young man in the original group photo who was later replaced with another fellow deemed more, "one of the guys", by the person requesting the commission for the painting.
 
That quiet young man was my dad, and over the years I have wondered how it must feel to be the famous guy no one knows....

It has been an old locals  secret.  When we see the print, we grin a private grin knowing...that quiet young man dodged fame and went fishing...

Taking the Plunge

What made us take the jump from day-dreaming of how neato it would be to own our own business into the crazy madness of actually starting one?

First it is important to state that Dick and I have never started a business together before.  Years of study and years of working for the government in Dick's case, and various design firms in mine, has given us lots of chances to see what we do and do not like in our work.  We have had good bosses and bad bosses, stress and ease.

We have also enjoyed working together on projects.  Some families are recreational, some are social, some are plugged into cyber-life.  Dick and I, along with our boys, are project people.  Always distracted by some great next thing that we can build or make, learn about, volunteer for, get involved in, take charge of, help with etc.

But through it all, we have enjoyed most when we are shoulder to shoulder in whatever it is we jump into.  The process of building the concept for the Aqualand Ale House and the Frog House Shop has been such a learning process for all of us-  Dick and I, our sons Dan and Perry and our married into-us -daughter Stacie.  Step by step we have been focused, chaotic, determined and hopeless, depending upon the day.

Dick has discovered the thrill of the hunt-  on-line equpiment auctions have been his best friend and sometimes worst compulsion, but overall we have benefitted from his prowess.  I second guess his bids- challenging his logistics officer training at every turn.

I have been pushing and prodding and sometime dragging him along with my design ideas for the remodeling of the spaces.  It like-wise cracks me up how I am trusted by major clientelle with the biggest of projects, but my husband is always at ease pushing me to defend my ideas.  I am able to take commentary from my clients, but commentary from him is so much harder.

I am a hide it- sorter, wanting filing systems and order.  My husband is a stacker/piler and a visual organizer.  If he can't see it, he can't keep track of it.  We have each carved out complimentary tasks in our marriage, but are finding in a business all boundaries are soft.  We each need to back fill every position held by the other. 

I have been known to salute him in  what we call, "the international symbol of friendship" fashion, and he has been known to spank....but enough about that.

There has been a cost to our close circle relationships.  Some are pretty sure we are nuts, but they support us.  We have sadly lost contact with everyone who hasn't volunteered to hold a paint brush. Working 80 plus hours a week hasn't left us any space for dinners, parties, baby showers, weddings and even a few funerals.  I am a book club drop out- which makes me very sad.  There are a few people who do not support us, who have dropped us, which also breaks our hearts.

There is a cost to every big decision.  We knew that going in.  But we feel very sure that our live's destiny lies up north, our future is in owning our own place, and  Aqualand Ale House and Frog House Shop is that place.

We are getting ready for our chance to care for our guests, celebrate a memory, and explore an experience of artisan craftsmanship in food, drink and gift, all  in the heart of the north woods.

We have taken the plunge, and have felt the chill and scald of it by turn.  At the end of the day, we won't have to ask ourselves, "what- if", because we will have found out the answer to what happens when we "go for it".

The Traveling Muskies of Boulder Jct.

One of the old promotional photos of the local residents with live muskies that would become part of the "Traveling Muskies of Boulder Jct" exhibit that was taken to the sport shows to promote both Boulder Jct and Musky Capital of the World.  My dad- Bruce, is the young man kneeling at the far right with a baseball style cap on.  There are lots of familiar faces in this picture aren't there?!

I am told that my memories of Aqualand are the color of my childhood. Bright with sunshine and always rose-colored. But after Aqualand, the pride of my childhood years is the quality of the north woods people. As I have traveled away, lived in many places, I am amazed that there is a mistaken notion that the people of the north woods are hicks, rednecks, and somehow special in that "not so bright", "not the sharpest knife in the drawer" sort of way. Those of us born in the woods know a different truth. The people who live in Northern Wisconsin are in the woods because the choose it, because they find in it value that less observant might not see. It takes strength, wit and sacrifice to stay. Above all else, it takes the ability to make peace with the voices within. Living at times in the city, I observed that the hustle, bustle and busyness provides a way to escape oneself. Hurry and worry and distraction give the opportunity to remain blissfully unaware if unaware is the way one wants to be. You cannot avoid yourself in the woods. The positive side of this is, you can hear yourself think. The woods holds tight to the poeple who wish to know themselves well. Visitors who come, come back again and again because the special draw. Like drinking water from a cold mountain stream, the refreshment is unlike any other. A retreat of self-discovery can happen in a very short amount of time while sitting with a fishing pole, walking in the woods or biking along a lakeshore trail. The real truth about the northwoods people is that they have taken the time to know themselves well. They have often moved through the world and chosen to return home. Some of them have been among the strongest successes in the business world, some have been wounded by careless mis-treatment of the unappreciative in their past, but all know why they are returning. I have never been able to call another place home. Though my place has been at my husband's side for thirty years of military career travel, whenever people ask me where home is, the answer has always come easily- the northwoods of Wisconsin. I tell people I am earning my right to come home. I truly believe that to be the case, and two years ago my husband Dick and I began the shift. Starting with a "not so big" cabin in the woods, we are now on to the hair-raising risk of a northwoods business. The Aqualand Ale House is a dream come true for both of us. This long, snowy winter in the north has been my husband's first opportunity to really see what I have always known. There is beauty in the solitude and peace in the quiet. A white north woods winter is sunnier and brighter, far more beautiful than the winters farther south. I am so happy that my soul mate has embraced the woods I love. I am looking forward to meeting all the residents of Boulder Junction who do not know me, those who have made a full or part time home in my home town in the thirty plus years that I have been away. My husband is enjoying meeting my old friends and making new ones. We long to earn your trust as we join the community of the north woods.

Sam and Sara

I have been talking with my folks allot about their memories of the Aqualand years. I asked them what one of their favorite stories might be. Mom grinned at Dad and said she always loved the wild geese pair. I sort of, slightly remembered something, but could not piece together a clear memory, so asked them to tell the story. Each spring my family would watch for Sam and Sara. Sam and Sara were a mating pair of wild Canada geese. Early in May, Sam and Sara would fly over Aqualand, circling several times lower and lower as if to inspect the place and confirm for themselves that everything was as it should be. Then they moved on out of site. But my father knew where they were headed. The ponds at Aqualand we a flowing series of inter-connected water that flowed from the three lake chain of Irving, Ballard and White Birch lakes. Once through Aqualand, the water continued on through Bob's Lake, fondly called "The Puddle" by our family, and then ran out the far side as White Birch Creek, which would flow all the way to White Sand Lake about three miles down the road. Dad knew that Sam and Sara would head to Irving, the farthest of the three lake chain, where the process of nesting took place- always in the same place and about the same time. In several weeks later, in early summer, excitement would build when Sam and Sara and young ones would begin their journey. Fishermen and the guests at nearby White Birch Lodge would notify us at Aqualand, "Sam and Sara are coming!", as they headed to their "summer place" among the safe ponds and abundant cracked corn of Aqualand. They would herd their brood across all three lakes, down the short stem of White Birch Creek before it spilled into Aqualand, and, having kept informed of their progress, my father would head out to stop any traffic on county K after opening Aqualand's gate, located across the road from the creek. Dad's escort provided safe passage for Sam, Sara and their little ones. Sam and Sara and babies would summer with us, tame and friendly with visitors. But when the winds began to blow each fall, they would get restless, teaching the children to fly bit by bit. Watching as their lurching paddle-running across the ponds soon become short bursts of flight, we knew they would soon be off. One Day, they would magically be airborne. Circling low, then progressively higher, Sam and Sara seemed to wave goodbye, driven by instinct to migrate south. Mom and Dad would watch wistfully, half wishing they could fly away too as the winds blew cold and the snow began to flutter with the still falling leaves. For many years, this ritual of spring continued. Even after Sam and Sara were surely gone, there were always a few wild geese that would land and settle in at Aqualand, becoming a part of our family just for the summer season. I am sure they were the offsrping, born on Irving to Sam and Sara, drawn by instinct back to where they subsequently grew and were safe, warm and well fed until they could fly away each fall. Many animals called Aqualand home and a few, like Sam and Sara chose us. Though they were free to come and go as they wished, they chose us- a testimony to the love and care they trusted to find within the park known as Aqualand.

Why The Aqualand Ale House?

People who know us have asked this question. There are really just two reasons. Love and War. My husband Dick is a career military man, retiring in late 2011 with over 35 years of service. Beginning his military career as a "barely" high school graduate, better known for his crazy motorcycle riding than his academics, Dick finished as a senior field grade officer with an MBA. As was the case for so many others, 9/11 marked the beginning of a shift in our priorities. Preparing for the first of three year-long missions, the first to Nicaragua and the last two to Afghanistan, we were suddenly aware of how fragile life can be. There was a tugging that began in that shocking event. I had always longed to moved "home" back to Boulder Jct, to be near my parents and to listen to the quiet that is never empty- the sound of the woods. So for me, I started to long more fervently. For my husband, he began to consider what would come next, once his military life was done. His motto of "never get comfortable" meant that he would not just retire and porch sit. Jobs in the military nearly always send people into retirement before they are old enough to long for that. In the next few years during endless hours of self contemplation available to a soldier far from home, Dick began to delve into what was possible. There were two things that rose to the top, he desired to have a place in the sun, a place in a foreign country to go to, to be warm and to diversify investments. Second, Dick knew he wanted to control his own destiny- business ownership. He didn't know what business, but had the desire to have a business that he could run in such a way that he could become a part of the community around him, hiring young adults, mentoring, meeting needs, helping and building something for his sons. It took ten years, but in summer of 2012, we finally found a property and a business that would fit both of us. To own a small business in Boulder Jct would draw me home and to go into a business where we could promote our interests and hobbies would give us an endless opportunity. We knew a craft beer venue with fresh, homey foods, baked goods, casseroles, fine cheeses, pretzels and sausages would be a great fit for our interests and seemed to be an area of opportunity in Boulder Jct. The Frog House retail shop would extend the opportunity for customers to shop for the same great things to take home with them as well. Once we knew we had a business, the question of what to name the business came next. There was one thing we knew for sure- among many of our generation, there was a fond memory of Aqualand and it's attachment to out childhoods. We talked to my parents- the owners of the name and asked what they thought. Bringing back to life the name Aqualand, using the photos and memorabilia as decor, and selling logo items, they thought this idea would be fine and would be fun for them too. As a dabbling writer, I discussed with my sisters the thought that we should write a book to tell the story- the story of one generation's Narnia. It is my hope that sometime this summer, a small volume will be available in the Frog House Gifts. I loved Aqualand, loved my very special childhood, love my family and love the northwoods from whence I came. My husband loves me, loves craft beer and desires to start a business for our family and to be part of the community. So that is how the Aqualand Ale House was born; Born as I said at the beginning- through Love and war.