one corn-a-maze-ing outdoor restroom

Traverse City, MI

Situation

Home to one of the largest corn mazes in Michigan, Jacob’s Farm attracts some 20,000 autumn visitors each year with its maze experience, pumpkin patch, wagon rides, fresh apple cider, local food, beer, and cocktails. Seeking an outdoor restroom upgrade from the “dreaded porta-potties” they used since opening in 2008, owners Mike and Laverna Witkop reached out to BoxPop for help building a more inviting, semi-permanent restroom solution to impress families and guests.

Solution

With BoxPop, creative entrepreneurs can “be their own contractor”—something the Witkops took advantage of when creating their restroom container. The spacious, 6-stall unit checked all their boxes by, first, delivering the look and feel of an upscale, indoor facility. Each stall provided a space designed around cleanliness and comfort. Great lighting, flushable toilets, insulated walls, and real sinks with hot and cold running water. The unit was designed to connect directly to the Witkop’s inground water/septic system. An exhaust/ventilation, and total HVAC/climate control was installed for odor control plus a custom paint job and decals outside so the unit blended seamlessly with its surroundings.

Impact

Any outdoor venue on private property like the Witkop’s 40-acre farm poses a number of problems when you have a large number of people who need to use the restroom. There’s was also a host of troublesome local building codes designed by county officials who had never considered using a shipping container as a restroom before. “The BoxPop crew was here multiple times to change, alter, and replace what county demanded,” says Mike Witkop. “But it was definitely worth it. Our visitors are constantly thanking and complimenting us. Like anything that is unique and done well, it’s a surprising thing to most people and that makes for a good memory [which how often can you say that about a restroom].”