Since opening in 1998, the Chainsaw Sisters Saloon quickly became a cultural icon in the Ely area.
Located near Mudro Lake on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, it has been a popular stop-off point for canoeists and anglers, and a winter destination for snowmobilers and skiers alike.
But the rustic establishment has closed its doors for good, and the buildings and land associated witht he saloon has been sold to the Trust for Public Lands, with funds provided by the Friends of the Boundary Waters. The property, which sold for $500,000, will eventually be transferred ot the U.S. Forest Service, according to Shaun Hamilton, senior project manager for the trust.
The property had been for sale for about a year, according to Michele Richards, who started the business with her twin sister, Marlene, 18 years ago.
Marlene eventually left the business, which has been run by Michele and her husband, Mark. While the business has been a popular one, Richards said the high value of the 25-acre parcel on which the saloon sits made it difficult to sell as a business. After a year of trying, the couple made the decision to sell to the land trust.
"We were ready to move on," said Richards, who is looking forward to a less rustic lifestyle in town.
Hamilton said both the land trust and the Friends were interested in maintaining the popular entry point at Mudro Lake. While the Richards had kept the entry point open for years, there was no guarantee that a new owner would do so, Hamilton said.
The trust bought the property with money from the Friends' Edge of the Wilderness Fund, established to simplify acquisition of private property along the borders of the 1.1 million acre wilderness.
Hamilton said the trust frequently facilitates such purchases because the organization can act more quickly than a public agency like the forest service.
The group will eventually transfer the property to the service once the agency receives funding.
The saloon and other buildings on the property will be removed. The current parking lot will remain, and parking will be free.The Timberjay
