by Tom Coombe
Despite ongoing wildfires and the closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, visitors still have much to do and enjoy in the Ely area, according to local officials.
That message was conveyed repeatedly Friday afternoon during a press briefing related to fire activities.
“Ely is open for business,” said Mayor Heidi Omerza. “I just want to reiterate that.”
Numerous resorts and lodging establishments are open, as well as various attractions, along with lakes, trails and the downtown’s retail district and restaurants.
Ely’s signature summer event, the Blueberry/Art Festival is also on as scheduled July 24-26.
Several business owners and lodging operators have reported they’re dealing with cancellations, even some weeks in advance, given the widespread publicity that has resulted from the fire situation.
The dilemma has at times been exacerbated by inaccurate reports, including several that Ely itself was subject to potential evacuations.
Omerza addressed those concerns head-on and, in front of a media throng that included representatives from the Twin Cities, called on visitors to come to Ely.
“We really need people to come back and see what we are,” said Omerza. “There is a lot more for Ely to offer than the Boundary Waters, believe it or not. We have a lot of great restaurants. We have a great trail system. We have a brand-new trailhead. So we are open for business and come on up and check us out.”
Via social media, some lodging operators have lamented that guests have called with cancellation inquiries, spurred in part by the reports related to the fires and subsequent smoke and air quality conditions.
By late Friday, however, air quality in Ely was much better than that in Duluth, and far better than the readings in town just 24 and 48 hours earlier.
At the press briefing, it was also noted that many parts of the country are also dealing with air quality issues as the result of ongoing fires.
Omerza’s message was also reiterated by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D), U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D), and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R).
All spoke of the hardships businesses have suffered as a result of the fires and urged people to support Ely.
“This area is personal for me,” said Klobuchar. “My dad grew up here. My grandparents’ house is still there on Madison. It’s also a treasure for our state.”
Klobuchar added, “We need people to come. As the mayor said, Ely is still open for business. We need people to come here, to go inside, to frequent these businesses. If you can buy something online, don’t buy from Amazon, buy it from right here. There are places to go that aren’t closed down.”
Smith said, “We’re here to support the hundreds of small businesses, particularly in this time of the year; this is the sweet spot for these communities.”
She urged visitors to follow the example of a family from Indiana who she encountered in town.
“Even though it’s little crazy right now, the streets are calm and they’re out there shopping and buying things and that is what this community and these businesses need more than anything else,” said Smith.
Stauber offered a similar message and said that he and the senators are working on a unified front and in a bipartisan manner to make sure Ely has the resources it needs.
“Northern Minnesota, Ely matters,” said Stauber. “I can tell you I brought my group of folks to the Grand Ely Lodge and had the sandwich special and we were at the Ely Dairy Queen. Ely is open.”
Check out the Pulse of Ely Podcast for more info:
