Bena, Minnesota - Big Fish Restaurant

Bena, Minnesota - Fish Landmarks: Is Being on Land the Problem?

The Big Fish: The Big Fish (formerly the Big Muskie Drive-In) appeared on the 2009 list of "Minnesota’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places." [05/18/2009] Complete Story...

Bena, Minnesota - Big Fish

An article in the Sept. 12, 2009 edition of the Minneapolis Star/Tribune says that the big fish will be repaired. Gary Kirt, owner of Minneapolis-based Bell Mortgage, who grew up in Bena, will be footing the bill for the restoration. The owners, Paul and Linda Reimers, along with his carpenter brother-in-law, have been doing the necessary carpentry work. Kirt is trying to find local painters from Red Lake to complete the job, expected to be finished in the next few weeks. [Mary Wilson, 09/14/2009]

Bena, Minnesota - Big Fish

The Big Fish Supper Club is still in business but it opens in the Middle of May (a sign attached to the door read "Opening May 11" when I visited there in 2006). My guess is it's only open during the late Spring/Summer/Fall season. The huge fish statue is still next to the supper club but it's not complete, with only the bottom teeth in and a blue tarp covering the top inside of its mouth, unless they add the top teeth when the restaurant is back in operation. [Joel Pokorny, 04/20/2006]

Bena, Minnesota - Big Fish Restaurant

The big fish in Bena had been up for sale and was sold. They are actually talking about opening up the big fish again for tourists. [rick, 12/21/2004]

Bena, Minnesota - Big Fish Restaurant

The Big Fish Supper Club is on Hwy. 2 just outside of Bena, Minnesota, about halfway between Bemidji and Grand Rapids. The restaurant itself is in a normal building beside the fish. At one point, there was a hamburger stand inside the fish's belly, but that's long since been closed. Now it's just a roadside oddity. Fun tip: you can stand inside the mouth and pose for a picture. They only put the teeth in during the summer, though.

At last check, the Big Fish supper club was up for sale. No word on whether it's been sold yet. [Tonia, 09/20/2000]

[RA: Photo provided by Elaine Ramstad.]