Well a trip to Ely should also include a trip to the Chainsaw Sisters Saloon. Here's a great shot of me by the sign outside the bar and one of Dave, Ellie and myself enjoying a afternoon toddy in the wood heated saloon (thanks for taking over the photo duties Makita).This place is something. We traveled 18 miles north of Ely on the Echo Trail to end up driving down a snowmobile trail in the truck to the most remote bar I've ever been to. There is no electricity there. The place was absolutely packed. We happened to luck out and get this booth after a group of snowmobilers offered it to us as they left. We were the only people there via vehicle. Everyone else had arrived on snowmobile.
The saloon overlooks Picket Lake and is the only privately owned entry point in to the Boundary Waters. Michele Richards, originally from Richfield Minnesota, and her twin sister Marlene eventually moved to Ely after spending several of their summers working and living up north. They bought the forty acres of land from the Potlach Corportation in 1986. The buildings on the lot include the saloon, the family cabin, a shed and an outhouse (yep .... that's the only place to "go"). The only power comes from a generator. Most appliances are run off propane.
The twins acquired the Chainsaw Sisters name while working for the U.S. Forest Service planting trees and clearing trails of dead falls. They didn't particularly like the name at first but it stuck.
And here's the best part. You can actually buy the saloon. Yes it's for sale! Check it out at http://bearislandland.com/data1151.html
Hey Lorrie....what do you think?
2 comments:
sounds great but thats a lot of cash! How much you got? Would we have to camp there? I didnt see any living quarters listed!
Lor
Do we really care where we live? Pitch a tent. I'm loven' it. But you're right 1.6 million is quite a bit of cash. But I thought if there were ever two Chainsaw Sisters it would be us.
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