Portage North and Sundog Sport, formerly Kondos Outdoors, was born in Ely, in 1980 out of a need of the outfitters to have gear that could withstand the rigors of being on trail all season long. With a roll of fabric, some thread, and the determination to craft the best gear, began the course for the next 40 years. I grew up venturing into the Boundary Waters from age three and spent much of my formative years exploring the Ely wilderness. In 2017, I married my wife, Corissa, who had been guiding BWCA trips for seven years and has been the director of Rock Ridge Christian Camp since 2015. We enjoy being able to take our personal experiences and knowledge and incorporate that into how we design and build products for Sundog Sport. By bringing in state-of-the-art cutting and sewing equipment, implementing continuous improvement philosophies, researching the best materials, and having a 1.4 million acre test lab to vet our products, we strive to craft for you the toughest gear that will last you and the next generation a lifetime.

At Ely’s Old-Fashioned Candy you can step back in time, be a kid again or have your kids experience something NEW that’s OLD. Featuring candy from as early as the 1800’s up to favorites of today and a touch of history. Select from over 100 bulk candies and Salt Water Taffy to create a personal mix. Handcrafted Chocolates, Truffles, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Maple Syrup, old time pure cane sugar Sodas, Wildflower Honey, Jams and more. Our candies are sorted by the decade in which they were invented. Come see historic photos of Ely and read interesting stories/facts about how your favorite candy came to be… let us make your day a little sweeter!

10 DAYS OF CELEBRATING WINTER! The Ely Winter Festival is 10 days in February celebrating winter. Activities include the amazing snow carvings in the Park, along with the Ely ArtWalk and other events. Our Headquarters is Northern Grounds at Central Ave and Sheridan St in Ely where you can purchase Festival pins and T-shirts. The Festival hotline is (218)365-7669 (365-SNOW) The Ely Winter Festival is made possible by donations from people like you. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit and deeply appreciate your gifts!

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.

At Alley A Realty, our passion for historic preservation meets the great outdoors with our work in restoring some of Ely’s most unique and historically significant downtown buildings. We’re proud to begin contributing to Ely’s rich heritage and bright future! With years of experience in historic preservation and redevelopment, Alley A Realty repurposes properties with integrity and a goal of preserving history for the future. Whether you are a new entrepreneur looking for an inspiring locale or an established venture in search of change, joining the downtown community means you’ll be apart of an expanding business district with all of your favorite cultural amenities. Our vision is a growing creative community full of artists, entrepreneurs, businesses and restaurants that make downtown a place where people want to be.