Connell Lake Dam in Ketchikan, Alaska

The Connell Lake dam is an imposing, almost gothic structure. Weather-worn and cracked in places, it blocks fish passage on Ward Creek. Frequently flagged by federal agencies like NOAA Fisheries, the dam cuts off miles of vital fish habitat.

In 1954, the dam served as the backdrop for the climax of the film noir Cry Vengeance. A gun battle took place on top of the dam, and a dummy was thrown over the side to simulate the villain’s death—a movie that can now be viewed for free online.

This site offers a glimpse into the grittier industrial past of Alaska and the complex history of the Tongass National Forest. It once supplied millions of gallons of fresh water through a wooden-stave pipeline, portions of which are still visible decaying near the structure. The nearby pulp mill operations were also part of a broader reckoning featured in the March 1988 Sports Illustrated article “The Forest Service Follies,” which exposed heavy subsidization and ecological strain in the Southeast Alaska timber industry.

Several trails start at the parking lot near the dam. Visitors can follow the old pipeline corridor down toward the mill site, loop around the lake, or follow Ward Creek back toward Ward Cove.