The Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club was organized in 1960 and became the first club of its kind in the USA. The Ely Igloos were also one of the founding members of the International Snowmobile Association (ISA), which later became known as today’s Minnesota United Snowmobile Association (MnUSA).
Members of the club have developed trails in the Ely area, and each year in preparation for the upcoming snowmobile season, numerous club members volunteer their time to clear the trails of trees and branches.
An important mission of the Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club has been, from the very beginning, training of young snowmobile riders with a Snowmobile Safety Class taught each year. These classes teach boys and girls of at least 11 years of age about the proper etiquette of snowmobiling and the rules of the trail.
In recent years, the Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club has taken on the task of grooming the Ely area trails. The club receives funding from the state to maintain and groom the grant-in-aid Tomahawk Trail. Other local trails like the Bianchi Trail (off the Taconite Trail), the Ely/Winton Railroad Grade, and the 13 Corners Trail are also groomed by our club.
In addition, our club has taken on the task of staking and grooming numerous lake trails including Shagawa Lake/Fall Lake Trail, Burntside Lake Trail, Bass Lake Trail, White Iron Lake/Birch Lakes Trail, Little Long Lake Trail, Fall Lake/Cedar Lake Trail, Grassy Lake Trails and the Mud Lake Trail to Lake Vermilion.
The North American Bear Center is the only black bear and wildlife educational facility of its kind. Dedicated to replacing old myths with facts, it lets people learn from the bears themselves about bear behavior, ecology, and their relations with humans.
Great things await you inside! Whether you visit us in Ely or here on our website, we hope your time with us gives you a better understanding of the world of black bears.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit that relies entirely on the support of visitors, merchandise sales and people like you. We do not receive any state or federal funding. Help support our mission.
The Foundation, founded in 2002, provides financial resources to support the mission of the hospital in its commitment to caring for and enhancing the health and well being of the community it serves.
Ely Community Resource…helping make Ely a great place to grow up!
Our mission is to foster positive youth development through activities designed to increase self-esteem, build a sense of community, and provide positive adult relationships that allow effective interventions.
Ely Rotary Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable service organization located in Ely, Minnesota
We meet every Wednesday at the Grand Ely Lodge and welcome guests and visiting Rotarians to join us at noon for lunch. For weekly program information, please visit our Facebook page.
Noon Wednesdays
Buffet Lunch
Grand Ely Lodge
400 N Pioneer Rd
Ely, MN 55731
The Spiritwood “Forget Me Not” Foundation is Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease Through The Arts as a Non-Profit 501(c)(3)
In 2004 I lost my dad to Alzheimer’s following a very ‘long goodbye.’ We formed the Spiritwood Foundation to help others on a similar journey. Our mission is to raise not only awareness regarding Alzheimer’s Disease, but also critical funds that support community organizations, programs, and facilities working with victims and families dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The Foundation has many different fund-raising tools. One of them is a musical ‘happening’ we wrote called Remember When – The Songs Of the 60s and 70s. We perform this show in communities around the country involving local performers and musicians. Our Foundation then gifts the profits to the community for its specific Alzheimer’s needs.
P.O. Box 179
Ely, MN 55731
Well Being Development is a 501(c)3 organization located in Ely, Minnesota. The Northern Lights Clubhouse is the main program of Well Being Development.
Well Being Development is also the fiscal agent of the Ely Behavioral Health Network and the Ely Community Wellness Fund.
Our Vision
All people achieve their potential and are respected as friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers
Our Mission
To inspire and foster activities that develop and enhance the mental well being of residents in and around Babbitt, Ely, Embarrass, Soudan, Tower, and Winton, Minnesota
Visit our website for more.
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 714
Ely, Minnesota 55731
From the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota, Widji is uniquely situated to provide access to some of the finest wilderness areas in North America. Four generations of young lives, spanning over eighty years, have been transformed by a Widjiwagan experience. Through wilderness travel and environmental learning experiences, they have built leadership skills, gained confidence and explored extraordinary listings.
Camp Widjiwagan offers programming for teens, ages 11–18.
The Dorothy Molter Museum is a seasonally operating, historic museum focusing on the life and legacy of Ely Area icon, Dorothy Molter.
Click Here to View Visitation Updates and Temporary Hours of Operation
Through tours of Dorothy’s original cabins, self-guided exploration of our outdoor, natural areas, community programming and a wide selection of mission-driven retail merchandise (including our own Isle of Pines Root Beer), visitors will leave with an understanding of who Dorothy was, how she lived in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and a greater appreciation for the Ely Area’s natural and cultural history.
With the uncertainty of future public health initiatives and guidelines, the operation of the Museum will be significantly different this season. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate these uncharted waters.
The Dorothy Molter Museum preserves and interprets Northwoods wilderness heritage through learning opportunities inspired by Dorothy Molter, the last non-indigenous resident of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
As a private, non-profit organization representing part of the unique and rich history of northeastern Minnesota, the Dorothy Molter Museum strives to not only honor the legacy of its namesake but also, be an active and positive member of the Ely Area community and family of Minnesota museums.
Through tours in three of Dorothy’s original cabins, self-guided exploration of our outdoor, natural areas, community events, public programs, and a wide selection of mission-driven retail merchandise (including our own Isle of Pines Root Beer), visitors will leave with an understanding of who Dorothy was, how she lived in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and a greater appreciation for the Ely Area’s natural and cultural history.
The Ely Community Care Team (CCT) was created to identify and address gaps in care in Minnesota’s Northeast Iron Range communities. The partnership of community members and 20 organizations that represent health care, behavioral health, education, social service and non-profit organizations serves the entire population of this remote, rural geographic region with special emphasis on individuals and families in poverty or experiencing mental illness.
The Community Care Team provides collaborative care and targeted care coordination to insure adequate resources are available for physical health, mental health and psychosocial challenges; professionals are trained in recognizing such challenges and are prepared respond to the full spectrum of a person’s needs; and patients have the tools and resources to be a partner in their wellness, treatment and recovery goals. A robust process and outcome evaluation is already showing significant benefits to patients and professionals, in addition to reduced healthcare costs.