HGTV, Chaos, and Our Unfiltered Wambolts Adventure!

Prepare for an inside look into our family's extraordinary HGTV journey, transitioning from a pandemic-induced project to proud owners of the vintage Wambolts Cabins in enchanting northern Minnesota. So, grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let me unravel the tale of our Minnesotan adventure with an added touch of behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

Now, we've undertaken some remarkable endeavors (cue the purchase of a 123-year-old resort), but filming the Cabin Dreams episode of House Hunters last year is near the top of the list. Before you assume otherwise, we did own the resort before the cameras started rolling. Not only did we own it, but we were also in the final stretch of renovating the last four cabins.

The entire journey kicked off shortly after we closed the deal on the cabins. As we delved into our marketing plan, the reality of renovating and filling up 15 log cabins that had been dormant for over two decades hit us hard in the first few months.

By a twist of fate, I stumbled upon a casting call for individuals who had upended their lives by purchasing a cabin in the woods. Seemed like a perfect fit, so I casually filled out a form and promptly forgot about it. Fast forward a year, and I received a spam email from a "casting agent." Naturally, I ignored it (spam city!). A couple of days later, a phone call from a woman with a vaguely familiar name set me straight – turns out that email wasn't spam after all.

The interview process was a journey in itself – a lengthy form, a meeting with the casting agent, and a video interview. A month later, we got the news (around this time last year) that we were selected.

During this process, I reached out to my wise God-Daughter, Mary Margaret. As I expressed my worries about potentially looking like idiots on the show, she quipped, "Anne, you have 5 kids and bought a 120-year-old resort. You are an idiot.  Own it." We shared a good laugh, and I let go of my concerns.

Our actual 18-month adventure looking at Wambolts seemed less glamorous than the stereotypical property-hunting montage. We assume that most people who looked to buy Wambolts saw land development potential, and our initial view of the four uninhabitable cabins made the property seem more dilapidated than it truly was. It was a slow burn for us, trying to convince others to preserve this place - then when that didn’t work - consulting with nearby resort owners, bankers, the small business administration, and getting estimates for restoration.

We bought the resort as if it were a startup – no measurable revenue or historical data. Consulting with resort and business experts was a pre-offer essential, helping us gauge if we could turn the dream into reality.

The Counting Cabins HGTV episode was filmed in early June 2023, with us in a frenzy to finish the last four cabin renovations. The Pioneer Press had already run an amazing feature over Memorial Day weekend, resulting in a flood of calls and emails.

Here's a nugget for you – we didn't actually look at the other two cabins in the episode.   Since we have a long history with the Bottle Lakes - we spent 99% of our time focused on Wambolts.   When we thought we couldn’t get Wambolts - and as a family had fallen in love with the idea of running a resort together - we did take a look at another charming resort on West Crooked Lake. 

Now, filming those cabin tours was no walk in the park – each one took a full day! We had to traipse through the cabins repeatedly, giving a whole new meaning to the term "walking the talk." Adding a touch of reality, we enlisted our actual realtor, Cal Docktor, for the adventure. We love real estate and it was fun to tour the houses, but we had to keep reminding ourselves of the fact that we were always mic'd up – the crew could hear our every whispered thought.  The best part of the filming was absolutely the crew. It was incredible to see how a show like this gets filmed - and we felt comfortable with them right away and have stayed in touch.

We filmed all the planning and decision scenes at our home on Lower Bottle. Yes, it felt a tad silly and funny, but hey, it added a touch of homey chaos. Our teenagers, not quite thrilled about the filming, found it hard to embrace the surreal aspect of it all. They were grappling with the reality that wasn't quite real (but, then again, what is real on reality TV?). In between takes, we weren't lounging – we were deep into the world of painting, laying new floors, landscaping – the whole shebang.    At one point - we toured cabin 11 with the film crew - it was in shambles.   Within a few days - it was guest ready.   Fast paced hours of our log guy (Jesse Dennison) jacking up the logs, James/Seamus laying floor, whole family moving in furniture/appliances, and Anne/MJ doing furious finishing touches.   That particular miracle ended up on the cutting room floor!

Speaking of our realtor, Cal hadn't seen Wambolts since the last time he showed it to us. Unveiling all the transformations we'd made was a blast – it was like a surprise party for the property. We've always had a fantastic rapport with the previous owners, sharing photos and videos of our progress, turning our journey into a shared celebration.

For those heading to Wambolts Cabins, the 204-mile drive from St. Paul is part of the "Up North" experience. Join us on Facebook or Instagram at @wamboltscabins as we spill the beans on the highs, lows, and unforgettable moments of resort life. Visit www.wamboltscabins.com for a peek into the cabins, historic photos, and online booking options. And for more memories, check out Karen Mauer’s article.

Wambolts Cabins isn't just a resort; it's a testament to family, community, and the timeless allure of Minnesota's lakeside living. From pandemic uncertainties to creating a legacy, our journey embodies the spirit of resilience, passion, and the love for the beauty "Up North." Be part of our story and experience the enchantment of Wambolts Cabins for yourself.