Iron Mountain, located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, was founded in the late 1800s as a mining community. In 1879, the nearby Chapin Mine was formed, and after several unsuccessful shafts were created, miners were desperate to find anything of value. However, it was the very last shaft that successfully hit a deposit of iron ore, and then Iron Mountain was gifted its historic name.
In order to reach the iron ore deposit, the surrounding swampy land had to be pumped. A mining engineer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin designed and brought the Chapin Mine Pumping Engine to Iron Mountain. At 725 tons in weight, this was the largest steam-driven pumping engine to exist in the United States, and it still sits in the town today. This pump was in use until 1932, and then the Chapin mine was exhausted of iron, so the pump was given to the city to become a historic mechanical engineering monument.
Part of the old mine in Millie Hill is now home to the largest bat habitat in the Midwest, known as the Millie Hill bat cave. Between 25,000 and 50,000 bats hibernate in the cave every winter, and visitors can see the bats take flight in the fall and spring by going to the Millie Hill Bat Viewing Area.
Near Iron Mountain is the Pine Mountain ski jump and ski resort, which has one of the largest artificial ski jumps in the world. World Cup Ski Jumps and other competitions are hosted at this resort. For beginning skiers, there are two relatively small ski jumps at the resort aside from the largest one. Residents and visitors alike love Iron Mountain for its downtown district, and it was even named one of only 13 "Michigan Main Street" communities by the Michigan governor in 2006. Downtown, visitors can try British pasties and rich Italian cuisine at the many local restaurants.
FIS Continental Cup - At Pine Mountain Ski Jump, the FIS Continental Cup has been hosted every year in February since 1939 and tests contestants' ski jumping skills.
Annual Upper Peninsula History Conference - Yearly in June, the Historical Society of Michigan hosts an event to connect the public to Michigan's historic past.
Annual Bring-a-Bear Teddy Bear Toss - Annually, the local high schools assemble in Iron Mountain and compete in hockey games to collect donated stuffed animals to gift to local crisis centers.
Isle Royal National Park is a little over 150 miles from Iron Mountain, located on an island in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The park itself is accessible only by boat, and there are no motor vehicles on the island. However, this makes for a unique visitor experience, and park visitors are known to see wildlife, like moose and ducks, frequently on the island.
Known for its spectacular display of water in different forms, Voyageurs National Park is located about 370 miles from Iron Mountain in Minnesota. Roughly 40% of this national park is water, so kayaking, canoeing, boating, and fishing are all popular activities.
Indiana Sand Dunes National Park is about 330 miles from Iron Mountain, Michigan, and is home to a stretch of 15 miles of Lake Michigan beachfront. Water sports are popular here, and RV camping is an option.
Bewabic State Park is a Michigan state park that sits on Lake Fortune. While lots of visitors come to the park to play on the water, many also come to see the preserved Civilian Conservation Corps monuments on the park's land.
Another park near Iron Mountain is Wells State Park. This park is located in Cedar River, Michigan, right along the Michigan and Wisconsin border. Inside the park, visitors have lots of opportunities to photograph wildlife and forested areas. Wells State Park is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Peninsula State Park is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and is a popular camping destination with an outdoor theater for guests in the summer. The park has over 3,776 acres of recreational area to use, and hiking and biking are always popular on the park's many trails.
While there are a couple of Michigan landmarks near Iron Mountain, Iron Mountain itself is home to plenty of famous landmarks. For example, the World War II Glider and Military Museum is home to the Cornish Mining Pump and lots of World War II-era vehicles and travel equipment. Nearby is the Upper Peninsula Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which is at the top of a 500-step hill and honors those who served in the Gulf Wars, the Vietnam War, World War II, and the Korean War.
Lake Antoine Park Campground is a public campground with 57 campsites that include both electric hookups and water lines. This campground also has a couple of playgrounds, a volleyball court, a basketball court, a disc golf course, and shower facilities, as well as paddleboard, kayak, and bike rentals.
Summer Breeze Campground is another option in Iron Mountain with recreational amenities like a heated swimming pool, horseshoe and corn hole games, and volleyball and basketball areas. It also offers free WiFi and video game rentals to guests.
Country Village RV Park in nearby Ishpeming offers numerous amenities, including full hookups, a seasonal pool, and WiFi. There's also a convenience store on-site, and you'll have access to several hiking trails during your stay.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Iron Mountain, MI, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Iron Mountain?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Iron Mountain from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Iron Mountain?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
