Tsilly, Chelan's legendary lake dragon, closer to finding new home with boost from 12 Tribes Casino donation

CHELAN - Tsilly, the whimsical statue designed by local artist Jerry McKellar and depicting a legendary Lake dragon, is one step closer to finding its new home in downtown Chelan thanks to a $1,500 donation. Initially a Native American legend, Tsilly was a monster-like dragon living in Lake Chelan’s deep waters. Early settlers in the valley were quick to embellish the legend by including stories and adding theories about how it had arrived; however, always retained the fearsome aspects of the dragon-like creature. Today, Tsilly has taken on a new role, not as a fearsome creature but as a fun-loving, whimsical dragon that still lives in the lake but loves to swim, is full of fun, and loves having his picture taken with children.

The” new” Tsilly is a bronze statue 7 feet long and with a head and neck 7 feet high. The Lake Chelan Arts Council quickly adopted Jerry’s prototype dragon as the next public art project for the City of Chelan. The project has been funded from generous donations, including this grant from the 12 Tribes Lake Chelan Casino. Tsilly is expected to arrive back in the city sometime in late May and be ready for its new home in Chelan.