Bear Island Boats builds and sells handmade wood strip canoes that are functional works of art to honor the heritage of traditional boat building. Our functional works of art are made available to nonprofits at cost to serve as a funding model to support their organizations’ mission.

Brandau Plumbing & Heating is a family owned and operated business established in 1989. The owner, Mike Brandau, has a Master Plumber’s license and is a certified Uponor Wirsbo installer. He oversees all the plumbing and heating operations. Jeremiah Brandau holds a Master Plumber’s license as well and handles bidding for various projects. Jeremiah is also a Certified Wirsbo Installer. Richard Moravitz is our third master plumber. Brandau Plumbing and Heating has been in business for over 28 years.

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 Boathouse Brewpub is a place to gather with friends and enjoy great food and drinks. We brew a variety of beers in our in-house brewery and offer “to-go” beer growlers in glass and plastic (BWCA Approved). Restaurant Hours: 11am-10pm Tavern Hours: 11am-11pm Growler Hours: 11am-10pm   Photos by Chris Ellerbroek

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.