Motley was started as a railroad village in 1874. It was named by the officers of the Northern Pacific Railway. (I still always think of the band Motley Crue) Calvin Priestly was the earliest resident who was sent by the railroad company. Soon after, the lumber industry took off with two mills opening up in the late 1870’s and early 1880’s. (The town lies near the Crow Wing and Long Prairie Rivers, which meets up with the Mississippi River quickly.) In about 40 years the lumber industry started to decline and raising animals for furs took off in Motley.
Now days Motley is a small town of around 700 people on US Highway 10 and MN 210. It is home of the Morey Fish Company and Trident Seafood Corporation. A fisherman from the Lake of the Woods stopped in Motley to sell his catch and Ed Morey traded him corn. The rest is history so to speak. The city has a nice skate park, dog park, and plenty of winter activities. I have been coming to Motley for over 10 years to get groceries and fishing license. A few things have changed like the little grocery store is now a smokehouse for wild game.
Silo Ice Cream Parlor
When headed South on Highway 10 pull over to the Silo Ice Cream Parlor. They sell all types of Kemps Ice Cream Flavors (20 total) from literally inside a silo. They have the regular staples, but also have some pretty unique flavors too–black licorice!!!! I don’t know about you, but I only know one person who would eat that (my mom). I went for Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler and it was delicious! If you want to see some cool unique antiques head over to the other side of the silo for Olde Tyme Trading Post. It is a quirky, fun and some unique ice cream!
Camp Shamineau
As I said earlier, I’ve been coming to Motley for over 10 years. We would stay at a nearby resort (see Cushing, MN coming soon) and they used to have a partnership that guest could come use some facilities at the camp. Those activities included horseback riding, rock wall climbing, and ziplining. My husband and I would normally leave before the opportunity to do ziplining. (They only allowed it 1 time a week.) However, approximately 14 years ago we went ziplining there with my cousins (age 4, 9, 13, and a few more).
My young cousins had no fear, but I definitely did. Here you would run a bit and then jump. After this you flew over a forest valley? Gorge? Ravine? (See below) and would end up on the other side. You then had to walk the rope back for the next person. I remember taking my first steps and asking myself, “what in the world am I doing? I am perfectly safe on the ground, why am I going jump/step off this?” Needless to say, I’m pretty sure the fearless youth went first, and I finally went. I screamed the entire time for my first ride but was much calmer after that. This has been the only time I’ve been able to go ziplining, so I do not have anything to compare it to, but it sure was fun!
Camp Shamineau is a Christian Camp (associated with Evangelical Free Church of America) that runs throughout the year it looks like. They have different kids and youth camps along with family camps during the summer. This location first started having guest in the summer of 1958. It was formally apart of the Scandinavian Young People’s Society and based in Buffalo, MN before 1957. If you are interested in it check out their website.
Source
History of Motley – City of Motley, Minnesota
Motley Community Events Organization – Home | Facebook
Olde Tyme Trading Post and Silo Ice Cream | Motley MN | Facebook