Picture this: It’s 2007, Laura's teaching English to international students, and one night she's living her best life at a classy establishment called "Whiskey Dicks" (yes, really). A Chinese student who already calls her "Lola" (because apparently "Laura" is linguistic torture for some) spots her there.

Come Monday morning, he returns to school and excitedly announces to the entire class that he saw “Lola Whiskey Saturday!" Repeatedly. Incessantly. Despite nobody knowing what the hell he was talking about, the name instantly stuck, and from there it took on a life of it’s own.

Fast forward 18 years, and what started as an innocent pronunciation mishap has evolved into Laura's alter ego, Instagram handle, and now the perfect name for an adult summer camp—because "Lola Whiskey" embodies exactly what this weekend is about: unleashing your inner chaos demon, zero judgment, and doing whatever the hell makes you happy.

The waitlist is your golden ticket! It's our way of saying thanks for caring enough to raise your hand early.

Here's the deal: If you're on the waitlist, you'll get an email telling you exactly when booking opens for the inner circle (that's you). When that moment arrives, you'll get another email with the actual booking link - a full 24 hours before we release it to the public.

Fair warning: Camp Lola Whiskey has generated more interest than any trip we've ever done. Like, way more. People are apparently really into the idea of drinking in the woods with strangers who become friends. So when that waitlist email hits your inbox, be ready to pounce if you want your choice of rooms.

It's first come, first served - no special treatment for anyone (sorry, Mom).

Orange Tractor Retreat

3425 State Hwy 13, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

We’re going to recommend that you drive. We will coordinate a carpool chat closer to August if multiple parties coming from the same area are interested in consolidating cars, as our parking area is limited.

Please do not drink and drive while attending summer camp—or ever.

Dane County Regional Airport (MSN)
This is the closest airport to the Wisconsin Dells—just a 1 hour drive from Orange Tractor Retreat! Find rental car information here.

O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
This is the next most convenient option—2 hours, 40 minutes from Orange Tractor. Find rental car information from O’Hare here.

Minneapolis St. Paul Airport (MSP)
MSP is a 3 hour drive from Orange Tractor. Find rental car information from MSP here.

We will coordinate a carpool chat closer to August if multiple parties coming from the same airport are interested in consolidating cars. An Uber or Lyft is approximately $100, depending on availability.

Check in begins at 3pm on Thursday, August 14th and check-out is at 10am on Sunday, August 17th.

Not even close. These aren't the rustic death traps from your childhood camp nightmares.

We're talking modern, fully updated cabins with all the creature comforts your adult self demands: indoor plumbing (private toilets and showers), air conditioning, reliable WiFi, actual beds with mattresses (not those prison-style cots), fireplaces, living rooms, TVs, and beautiful views that'll make your Instagram followers hate you.

Basically, it's like someone took a nice vacation home and dropped it in the woods. You'll be roughing it only in the sense that you might have to walk a few extra steps to refill your drink.

Note that depending on which room package you select, you may be sharing rooms and/or bathrooms with other campers.

We'll have a solid mix of "move your body" and "park your ass by the fire" activities. There's optional yoga, some casual hiking, river tubing (which is basically lazy floating with drinks), and various camp games that require more enthusiasm than athletic ability.

But here's the thing - nothing is mandatory. If competitive flip cup isn't your jam, grab a drink and become the official scorekeeper (or heckler). If you'd rather nap than hike, I promise nobody will send a search party. This isn't CrossFit camp, and we’re not giving out participation trophies.

The only real physical requirements are the ability to hold a drink and occasionally stand up to get another one.

Our average traveler is around 40, but honestly, that means nothing. We've got 30-somethings trying to relive their youth and 60-somethings who party harder than anyone. All we care about is that you're legally allowed to drink (21+) and don't act like you're still in middle school (unless it's during the camp games, then regression is encouraged).

Age is just a number – what matters is your willingness to make questionable decisions around a campfire with strangers who'll become your favorite people by Sunday morning.

Hell yes, you can come alone! In fact, over half our travelers on international trips come solo, and they often leave with a whole new crew of friends.

Camp Lola Whiskey is practically designed for people to mix, mingle and bond over shared experiences (like discovering you're both equally terrible at camp games after three drinks).

The beauty of our group is that everyone's there for the same reason: to have fun and meet cool people. You won't be the odd one out - we're basically creating a readymade friend group for you, complete with inside jokes and slightly embarrassing photos by the end of the weekend.

Some of the strongest friendships in our travel community started with "Hi, I'm here alone too!" at the welcome cocktail hour.

Absolutely! We know dropping a chunk of cash all at once isn't always feasible (or fun).

Here's how we break it down: $625 is due at booking to secure your spot, and the remainder isn't due until May 15. That gives you plenty of time to recover from holiday spending and tax season before the final payment. Spots are limited and in high demand, so you will want to pay your initial deposit ASAP.

Fair warning though: If you ghost us on payment deadlines, we reserve the right to give your spot to someone on our waitlist who's ready to commit financially. We're not trying to be hardasses, but we've got local vendors to pay and a camp to organize.

Our goal is to make this weekend accessible without requiring you to sell a kidney or ask your parents for money.

Look, we hope you don't bail on us, but we're not naive enough to think life won't occasionally throw curveballs at your calendar.

Here's the deal: All trip payments are non-refundable.

We promise we're not being jerks - we're running a small boutique operation here, not Carnival Cruise Lines. When you pay your deposit, that money immediately goes to our local partners (who also don't offer refunds), and filling last-minute spots is a massive time-suck that our small team can't absorb.

If you're worried about potential cancellations, grab yourself some travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage. It's like a safety net for your wallet when life decides to be an asshole.

(See the next FAQ about travel insurance recommendations if you're the "but what if I break my leg the day before?" type.)

Nope! Unlike our international trips where travel insurance is mandatory (because foreign hospitals and emergency evacuations are expensive AF), it's not required for Camp Lola Whiskey.

That said, it's not a terrible idea if you're worried about unexpected cancellations or if you're the type who regularly injures themselves doing seemingly harmless activities like walking or existing. Laura Ericson Group Trips is not responsible for any illness or injury that happens during camp.

If you're interested in coverage, check out our travel insurance partner, Wanderwell. They're solid, and they don't make you jump through fiery hoops to file a claim.

Absolutely! When you register, you'll have a chance to tell us about your dietary needs.

We can handle the usual suspects like vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and common allergies. Our caterer is a pro at this stuff. That said, if you have a super complex situation (like you're allergic to the color red or can only eat foods harvested during a full moon), contact us so we can work out a plan. The earlier we know, the better we can accommodate.

Just don't be that person who never mentioned they're deathly allergic to strawberries until they're staring at a strawberry shortcake. Help us help you not die at camp.

Yes, but don't worry - we're not going to make you raise your hand to use the bathroom or ban running by the pool.

While this is absolutely a place for adults to party and play, we do have a few basic guardrails:

• Drink Wisconsinibly (or at least responsibly enough that we don't need to carry you to bed)

• Be mindful of quiet hours (some campers might actually want to sleep at some point, and there’s no loud music after 10 pm)

• Don't destroy stuff (you'll be on the hook for any property damage)

Basically, we're operating on the "don't be a complete asshole" principle. Have fun, go wild, but maybe don't set anything on fire unless it's supposed to be on fire. Think of it as the perfect balance between "summer camp freedom" and "not getting banned from renting cabins ever again."

Forget those traumatic childhood camp memories of lugging sleeping bags and pitching tents in the rain. This is bougie grown-up camp, which means beds exist and they're already assembled.

Bring:

• Whatever you feel comfortable sweating/hiking/lounging in

• Comfortable footwear

• Yoga-friendly clothes

• One towel that you don't mind getting river water/dirt/possibly alcohol on

• A couple "nice-ish" outfits for dinners

• Your personal toiletries and medications

We'll send a more detailed packing list closer to camp, but honestly, the bar is pretty low here. As long as you're dressed and have your toothbrush, you're already exceeding expectations.

Not at all! We'll have plenty of non-alcoholic options at every event where drinks are served. We're stocking everything from craft N/A beers to fancy mocktails to bougie sparkling waters. We’ll ask your drinking preferences at booking so we have an idea of what you like to drink.

Will other people be drinking? Absolutely. It's called Camp Lola Whiskey for a reason. But you won't be watching from the sidelines - all the activities, games, and general shenanigans are just as fun (and sometimes more amusing) when you're sober.

No pressure either way. Some of our most legendary campers from past trips don't drink, and they're usually the ones with the best stories and embarrassing photos of the rest of us the next morning.

Absolutely! Despite what the Non-Sconnies might think, the Dells isn't just cow fields and cheese shops (though the cheese is legit).

If you're looking to extend your trip or just want to explore during your free time, the area offers:

·         Hiking trails that don't require oxygen tanks

·         Fishing spots where you'll actually catch something

·         Local shopping beyond just "Wisconsin" t-shirts

·         Bars with surprisingly decent craft beer

·         Waterparks (if you want to release your inner 10-year-old)

·         State parks that will make your nature-deprived soul happy

We'll hook you up with a full list of recommendations if you're looking to make the most of your Wisconsin adventure and add a few days on either end to explore.

Just don't tell anyone from Illinois how nice it actually is up here. We like keeping some secrets.