When visiting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, take in a round of golf at the Ely Golf Club. The grass on the greens consist of a bentgrass and poa annua mix, which is typical for most Northland golf courses. The fairways and tees consist of a bluegrass/poa annua mix. With adequate growing conditions the greens will be some of the best in the Northland. Jacob Curtiss, course superintendent, is committed to making the Ely Golf Club the premier Boundary Waters Golf experience in Minnesota. Eco-friendly course management and a commitment to our environment are what drive Jacob and his team to continue development of the most beautiful golf course in northern Minnesota. It’s a great day for golf in the north woods of Minnesota! We would love to have you come out and enjoy our beautiful course.

Sustainable Ely is the home of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters in Ely, Minnesota. Visit Sustainable Ely when you are in Ely to learn more about the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, the risk posed to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from proposed sulfide-ore copper mining and talk about your trip to the Boundary Waters. Our Ely staff and volunteers are ready and willing to help. The Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters and Sustainable Ely are projects of Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness.

Kekekabic Studios has extensive experience in Art Glass Creation and Restoration. Rosemary Shepherd and John Bowe are craftspeople living and working in Ely, Minnesota. Stained glass creation, restoration, and fine woodworking have been their life’s passions. They learned their craft through traditional studio apprenticeships and hands-on training. They have done work all over the country and have been fortunate to have restored some very significant windows. Some examples that stand out are “The Gift of the Magi” by Maitland Armstrong, Faith Chapel, Jekyll Island, Georgia, and The Fox Memorial Window, by Louis C. Tiffany, Kelsey Museum, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kekekabic Studios is the culmination of their 30+ years in the stained glass business. Their love of the wilderness brought them from Michigan to northeastern Minnesota, where they have relocated and set up their showroom and workshop on Chapman Street in beautiful downtown Ely, Minnesota. When they aren’t busy in their workshop, you will find them exploring this extraordinary place: hiking, camping, and occasionally paddling out to their favorite, Kekekabic Lake (and the namesake of the business), in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

From ethnic cooking classes to basket weaving, jewelry making, furniture building, photography, fabric arts, writing, painting and other arts, stained glass making, gardening, sustainable living, herbs and health, foraging, canoeing and canoe building, dances and music, there are classes for most every interest at Ely Folk School, conveniently located at the top of the hill in downtown Ely, Minnesota.

Grab a cold beverage, enjoy a savory sandwich, and take in the view of Shagawa Lake indoors or from the deck—it’s a great place to converse with guests and locals alike. Antlers Lounge is a relaxed Ely, MN bar that serves up the town’s best wine list, specialty drinks, and most impressive lake views. Order one of our four beers on tap or choose one of our wide range of bottled brews, including local favorites like Iron Range Amber, James Page and Nordeast. Add one of our specialty sandwiches – try the Caesar Prime Rib Sandwich, Shagawa Combo, or Fish In The Weeds and nine flavors of wings to create the perfect lakeside experience. For our sports fans, munch on free popcorn and watch your favorite team play on our four flat-screen TV’s, while for all families, children under the age of ten eat for free from our kids menu. Antlers Lounge is a place to enjoy great company, beautiful views and a good time—join us soon at our bar in Ely, Minnesota. Antlers Lounge Hours: 11:00am – 1:00am* Daily *Closing time may vary without notice based on business demand.

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.

Since 1976, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness has been the voice for clean water and wilderness. Our vision for the future of this national treasure lies at the intersection of people, communities and wilderness. Visit our website to discover more about this national treasure, from how to plan your next (or first) visit to how you can help preserve the wilderness for future generations.