Borderland Insurance

Borderland Insurance was once the Pure Oil gas station owned by Bronko Nagurski from 1960-1969. Bronko, who has a museum in his honor at the Koochiching County Historical Society, was a larger than life figure in International Falls, both figuratively and literally. He played for the Chicago Bears for nine seasons while also excelling in professional wrestling. He was never one to soak up the limelight; sports were simply jobs to him. He enjoyed living a quiet life with his family in the Falls, but his fame followed him regardless. This gas station became a tourist attraction, as visitors stopped to fill up hoping to meet the legend. It was said that if you filled up at Pure Oil station you never went anywhere else, because no one else could take the gas cap off after Bronko put it on.