Alright, car fanatics, buckle up, ’cause we’ve been busy! Remember the old farm we bought in Fitchburg, outside of Madison a few months ago? Well, things are starting to take shape out here. We just wrapped up the demolition and site prep phase, and we’re looking good! So excited!
There were so many more steps involved just in this initial demo and site preparation piece of the project than I imagined… like site surveying and getting the city out for inspections, filing applications for hazardous materials removal, bringing in a backhoe loader and a bulldozer. Once we got the final drawings from the architect and we were ready to bring the wheel loader, crane and excavator machines in, we spoke to a few Madison demolition companies and found one that specializes in garage removal and shed removal work, so they were a perfect fit for the selective interior demo of our old barn. They brought in their own equipment including a skid steer loader which they told me was used most commonly for interior demolition and clearing junk in small, confined areas. Looking at the reviews of Madison Demolition Pro’s owner, John Kinsky, their crew was known for completing really good work on a tight schedule. I can say that’s what we experienced! What was amazing is the demo guys didn’t knock everything down, we definitely want to keep the Wisconsin charm! They kept the bones and structure of the barn so that we can preserve the character of the old barn for our museum. So, John and his guys were super careful – like surgeons with sledgehammers.
They did a ton of selective demo, tearing down walls that were falling apart, clearing out old animal stalls, and basically just getting rid of all the junk that had piled up over the years. It was amazing how much bigger the barn felt once they cleared out and hauled away all the junk that was there. After the debris was gone, you could really start to see the potential, the way the light streamed through the old windows, the exposed beams, all that good stuff.
The demolition team also cleared out a bunch of old stuff from the outbuildings, making them ready for future projects. We’re thinking maybe a workshop space in one, and a cafe in another, but we’ll get to that later. For now, let’s focus on the museum.
John and his team also helped us out with site prep. I didn’t even realize all the work it would take to get the grounds level and ready for our slot car track. They have now finished excavating that area, dug out the dirt, and you can see the track now according to our plans. The rest of the site was graded and leveled out. It’s ready for landscaping which we’ll get to in spring-time when the weather is better
We’re starting to get a better sense of how the museum is going to flow. We’re thinking about creating different zones, with each zone showcasing a different era of automotive history. We’ll have a classic car zone, a muscle car zone, maybe even a hot rod zone. It’s going to be epic! We’ll keep you posted when the next phase is complete and for now, we’re on track for our schedule to open this summer. In the meantime, make sure you join our mailing email list so you can stay on top of updates and get the official grand opening invite!