Ted Bell starts designing and building lightweight performance canoes, gaining attention in the paddling world for innovative composite construction and wilderness-focused designs.
Bell Canoe Works is officially established in Minnesota, quickly becoming one of the most respected canoe manufacturers in North America.
Throughout the 1990s, Bell Canoe becomes widely known among Boundary Waters paddlers, racers, and expedition canoeists for its lightweight Kevlar and composite canoe lineup.
Bell Canoe continues pushing canoe design forward with advanced hull shapes, lighter materials, and high-performance touring canoes that help define modern wilderness paddling.
Following the acquisition, canoe production shifted from Minnesota to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where ORC continued building many of the respected Bell designs.
Bell Canoe Works ultimately shuts down production and the Bell Canoe brand disappears from the market, leaving many paddlers concerned the iconic designs were gone permanently.
Even after the Bell name disappears, Redfeather Outdoors (Known for their snowshoes) retains the molds, tooling, and knowledge behind many of the original Bell Canoe designs.
The Bell canoe line is officially reintroduced under the Redfeather Canoes brand, bringing many of the proven Bell-inspired canoe designs back to paddlers under a new identity.
In 2026, Redfeather Outdoors expanded its presence into Ely, Minnesota, opening its first-ever retail location in the near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Located in downtown Ely, the store was created to serve paddlers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts with handcrafted Redfeather canoes, snowshoes, and premium outdoor gear built for Northwoods adventures.
Redfeather Canoes now carries forward the legacy started by Ted Bell, combining classic canoe craftsmanship, modern materials, and a renewed outdoor brand vision for a new generation of adventurers.
