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    International Wolf Center

    4.3 (33 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Frank B.

    I learned so much about wolves and so many things I (and scientists) assumed but recent studies had changed that. Very educated staff and exhibits that really are founded on research. Was appreciative to learn from what the center has built and what their studies have shown. Definitely recommend getting their early when they open as it's when the wolves are most active. Also, take the time to jump in to a few of the educational sessions they host the throughout the day. We sat in on three (3) and each were extremely enjoyable. The documentaries in the theatre are also great on the history of the center. Lastly the "Discover Wolves" exhibit was also great. Easily spent 3 hours here and snagged some great gifts for the family on our way out. I enjoyed seeing how the staff were protective of their wolf ambassadors & ensured their safety & comfort at all times. We watched an enrichment session in which the wolves were given frozen peaches. Since wolves in the wild wouldn't encounter a frozen peach, it was a fun experience to witness their response to a foreign object (one wolf loved them). Lastly, the wolves had received a feeding the night before & it was exactly what they would hunt in the wild. In previous animal exhibits I have seen wild animals receive a chicken thigh or pork chop, which they would not naturally eat. It was great to see these wolves treated like the wild animals they are. Bravo!

    A wolf at the center
    Arren S.

    This place is truly amazing. My wife and I love coming to Ely, MN not only for the food and the hikes, but for places like this to visit. Today my family and took a wonderful trip up to visit the wolf center. These creatures are so majestic and beautiful. You have to see it to really appreciate it. As we made our ways to the front door the kind lady at the front desk asked if we have happened to pay ahead time which we did. For my wife, myself and our three kids, it was only $55. Our daughter Piper was free because she was only one when we were there. The first thing you see when you walk in is just how massive this structure really is. The gift shop is on both sides of the front entrance. Plenty is sweaters, hats, stuffed animals, books and more. As we made our way down the hall we spotted and little gallery of stuffed wolves and information on each wolf. Did you know red colored wolves are the rarest in the world? I didn't until today. On the right hand side was glass paneled that you could view to the outer side of the enclosed area for the wolves. Four of them were running around and one of them had a deer head in its mouth. The word "awesome" comes to mind when I see them. There was a young lady in what appeared to be a small seating area explaining the importance of having wolves in our ecosystem. There was plenty of knowledge to learn as you gazed outward to the wolves eating, sleeping, and playing. This place would be fun for you and the whole family. Definitely come check it out, you won't be disappointed. #schroyerfamilydaily #wolves #wolf #arrenschroyer #internationalwolfcenter #familyouting #family #wild #wildanimals #adventure #explore #animals

    Wolfs

    Everything we had a amazing time the people know what they are doing and u will Remeber this forever

    Elmir M.

    Before visiting IWC, I did some internet research on wolves, and I thought I learned some useful information but I was wrong. The gentleman that works there ( I forgot to ask for his name 20ish, wears a " staff" shirt ), was so knowledgeable that he was able to answer thoroughly all the questions I had without taking a break Also, I recommend everyone reading all of those labels and watching videos about wolves. Overall, a great place to visit regardless of how old you are.

    International wolf center
    Xia Y.

    So fascinating watching these beautiful creatures. This is a very well organized facility and they take great pride in what they do.

    Brian B.

    What a cool place. It's a modern facility with excellent amenities. It's formed in a semi circle so you can see the wolves in their natural habitat. There are 4 wolves living in the sanctuary and 3 in retirement. They were eating a deer when we got there. We came in with our scout troop and spent the night in the auditorium. You have an option to turn the mic on and hear them howl at about 4:00 am. We skipped that, but it sounded cool. Great times

    The snack bell rang and they all came running out of the woods.
    K M.

    This is a really lovely facility. I love the presentations they give in the auditorium area. There is a wall of windows to watch the wolves - if they're not hiding in the woods. Our son was having a lot of fun in the Wolf Den (play area) so we waited until they feeding time so we could get a chance to see something. Once those chicken wings came out, all the wolves came running. They're really stunning when you see them up close. I do wish there was a bit more to see. There is a theatre but I didn't peek in to see what was playing. Other than that there is one large room with a wealth of information to read. There are a lot of cool programs that would be neat to see if we lived closer - overnights and special feedings (I believe they get a deer every Saturday night, but I could be mistaken on that). It can be a little spendy, especially if you don't get a chance to see any animals. If you have a larger household or visit twice a year, a membership might be a good idea for you. It looks like they offer a lot of cool perks. Since we visited the bear center on the same day, we all got $1 off admission.

    Arctic wolf
    Edmund G.

    We decide to stop here because we had half a day before our Boundary Waters trip. Not only did I learn about wolves, but we also got to see wolves in their natural habitat. I know about the fact that zoos are kinda being kind of mean to animals just by putting them in pens, but this place seemed far better than an ordinary zoo. They have an acre of land for just four wolves and the wolves seem really well cared for. Sadly, they only educate wolves and use donations only to help care for their ambassador wolves and not actually hello the wolves. If I ever come back to Ely, then I will definitely check out the national bear center.

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    8 years ago

    Don't expect to see any wolves unless you pay extra fee and show up on Saturday night during the weekly feeding.

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    Review Highlights - International Wolf Center

    Not only did I learn about wolves, but we also got to see wolves in their natural habitat.

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    Dorothy Molter Museum

    Dorothy Molter Museum

    (15 reviews)

    We loved our little visit of Dorothy's museum. We thought it would be just a kitschy, niche little…read morelocal experience, maybe like visiting Paul and Babe, but it was so much more than that. We didn't do any formal tours but opted to explore the cabins on our own. You could really get to know the kind of person Dorothy was through her purposeful misspellings and quirky home decor. As we finished looking through the first cabin, it really sunk in with us that Dorothy had become a pillar of her community and the communities in and around the BWCA. She served such a unique role as the last non-Indigenous person to live in the Boundary Waters, offering emergency medical care when needed due to her nursing background or offering lodging or root beer to those passing through. I can tell you we did not expect to be crying at the Root Beer Lady's museum, but the eulogies for her hit us right in the heart. I aspire to be such a firecracker and build that beloved of a community. If you're humble, work hard, and share your gifts and fortunes, the world will be a better place. As we imagine our own futures and purpose, we will definitely ask ourselves, what would Dorothy do?

    Considering my maiden name is Molter, I am a little partial. :)…read moreMy family and I enjoy taking trips to visit & pick up root beer every few years. Every single time, we look over everything & read it all again as if it were the first time. We truly enjoy it & even submitted some magazines and photos the last time we were there. We had to leave the items with the museum to make copies and entrust them to return them to us, and they absolutely did. Jess is wonderful and our family is super thankful for her.

    United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum - Ice Capades zamboni

    United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum

    (4 reviews)

    After having been to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto thisnpast spring, hubs and I said "hey, we…read moreshould really check out thw US one that's basically in our backyard". While it definitely had a MN focus, it was fun to see a lot of the artifacts and displays here. Being a Minnesota kid who grew up on hockey, I recognized most of players and games being depicted. It was even fun to go take a few slapshots, something I am admittedly not good at, since I was a goalie. Staff were friendly. A couple areas that could be improved were the gift shop being a little lackluster and some of the displays just had printed out computer paper, rather tham a nice plaque or something, so made it look a little cheap.

    I'm a Wild fan, not a hockey fan, meaning my knowledge of the sport goes little beyond the last 4…read moreyears of the Wild but I enjoyed perusing the Hall of Fame. There is three floors of art and memorabilia. I especially enjoyed the displays on the Miracle Team, 1980 US gold medal winning Olympic hockey team. I also liked seeing some of the history of hockey, such as old uniforms and skates. I was happy to see some female hockey athletes honored as well. I loved the interactive areas where I could shoot a puck with a real stick to check my accuracy as well as shoot to measure puck speed. If you are in the area, for the $8 entry fee, it's worth a stop. It's looking a bit dated but it's clean and the people working there were so nice.

    International Wolf Center - museums - Updated May 2026

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