Area Attractions
Fortune Bay Resort Casino
1430 Bois Forte Rd., Tower, MN 55790;
218-753-6400 or 1-800-992-7529;
Open 365 days a year; 174 deluxe rooms and suites, many overlooking beautiful Lake Vermilion
* 24 hour casino
* 84 Full Service slip marina
* Conference center
* RV park
* Bois Forte Heritage Center
Website: www.fortunebay.com/casino
Soudan Underground Mine State Park
This park is home to Minnesota's oldest iron ore mine, where visitors can learn about how mining shaped the history and culture of the Iron Range. Explore the dry house, drill shop, crusher house and engine house, and take the boardwalk past one of the deepest open mine pits. Take an underground mine tour and travel a half mile beneath the earth to the deepest area that was mined. And don't miss the hiking trails that take you through a northern hardwood conifer forest, past the famous Soudan Iron Formation!
2015 Soudan Underground Mine Interpretive Tours
Mine Tours
May 23rd through September 30 & Oct 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 Call for tour times
The tour leads visitors through the world of underground mining. Visitors don hard hats and enter a "cage" for the descent into the mine. The 1 1/2-hour mine tour will take you half a mile down into the earth. Once underground you will be treated to a 3/4-mile train ride to the last and deepest area mined. The mine is 51 F year-around, so remember to bring a warm jacket or sweater and sturdy shoes. The park offers group tours to schools, colleges, organizations and businesses. Tours meet at the visitor center.
Physics Lab Tours
May 23rd through September 30 & Oct 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 Call for tour times
The Soudan Underground Laboratory is the leading deep underground science and engineering laboratory in the United States today. Scientists from around the world have been working at Soudan for 25 years trying to answer basic questions about the Universe in which we live: Is matter completely stable? What is the nature of the fundamental forces? Can we identify the Dark Matter that seems to permeate our Universe? Learn about our first neutrino events using the neutrino beam from Fermilab and see the massive MINOS detector (Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search). Learn about CDMS (Cryogenic Dark Matter Search) and its continued search for a WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles).
Tours meet at the visitor center.
Location Main Park Entrance 1302 McKinley Park Road Soudan, MN 55782
Mailing Address and Winter Entrance 1379 Stuntz Bay Road, P.O. Box 335 Soudan, MN 55782
Phone: 218-753-2245
Email:
Download the Soudan Underground Mine Brochure:
Website: www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/soudan_underground_mine/index.html
The Wilderness At Fortune Bay
National Accolades for The Wilderness at Fortune Bay:
#1 - Top 50 Golf Courses You Can Play in America – Golfnewsnet 2017
#8 Overall, #1 Public - Best Golf Courses in Minnesota - Golf Digest 2017/2018
#42 - Best Resort Courses – Golfweek 2017
#57 - America's 100 Greatest You Can Play - Golf Digest 2017/2018
#2 - Best: State-by-State Courses You Can Play – Golfweek 2017
#8, #1 in MN - Best Casino Courses in America - Golfweek 2016
#1 in MN - Best 19th hole bar/restaurant – Golf Advisor 2016
Discover the scenic beauty of the new 18-hole Wilderness at Fortune Bay, part of Northern Minnesota’s premiere vacation destination at Fortune Bay Resort Casino. Carved from the beautiful landscape surrounding the shores of Lake Vermilion, the course offers some of the most scenic panoramas of any Midwest golf resort. But don’t be too drawn in by its dramatic views, this Minnesota golf getaway can serve up some of the most challenging play you’ve ever experienced.Designed by Texas golf course architect Jeffrey D. Brauer, The Wilderness measures approximately 7,207 from the back tees, giving long hitters all they can handle. With fours sets of tees, golfers of all abilities can pick a challenge best suited to their skill level. In addition, all carts at The Wilderness come equipped with a GPS system designed to maintain a sufficient pace of play and enhance the experience of those playing the course for the first time.
Located just hours North of the Twin Cities, few areas in Minnesota can match the scenic beauty of Tower and the Iron Trail region. Spectacular views of Lake Vermillion atop a high granite ridge are just one of the many wonders to discover at The Wilderness. The surrounding woodlands make for an enjoyable experience even on days when par is rare. The Wilderness at Fortune Bay with its vast array of amenities is also the perfect venue for outings and special events. This Minnesota resort features comfortable accommodations, casual dining, pool, fitness center, game room, a newly remodeled casino and much more. For your next Midwest golf getaway, just head North and experience all that The Wilderness at Fortune Bay has to offer for yourself.
Website: www.golfthewilderness.com
Call 800-992-4680
Pier 77 Mini-Golf is a family owned business dedicated to family fun. Have fun golfing our spectacular mini-golf course with unique northwoods themes and enjoy your choice of refreshments in our clubhouse.
Our establishment is nestled in the northwoods by the shores of Lake Vermilion, and contains the essentials for an afternoon of mini-golfing: 18 holes, followed by a soft-serve ice cream, malts, pizza, coffee and Wi-Fi access. We also provide a mosquito free golfing environment for your golfing pleasure.
Pier 77, LLC
4066 County Rd 77
Tower, MN 55790
Phone: 218-753-6004
Email:
THE NORTH AMERICAN BEAR CENTER
Great things await you inside! The North American Bear Center is the only black bear and wildlife educational facility of its kind. Dedicated to replacing old myths with facts, people learn from the bears themselves about bear behavior, ecology, and their relations with humans.
We work closely with our partners at the Wildlife Research Institute and renowned bear biologist Dr. Lynn Rogers to create exhibits and content for the bear center. You can spend hours or days exploring all of our exhibits and videos about black bear behavior and animals that coexist with black bears in the northwoods.
Dr. Rogers’s trust-based research methods combining scientific observation with modern technology reveal more about black bear life than was ever learned with traps and tranquilizers. Attitudes change as bears themselves refute our most deeply held misconceptions.
Never has education been so important. Bear habitat is shrinking worldwide as people move into bear habitat and refuse to coexist with animals they fear. The future of the bears that live around these people depends upon knowledge and attitude.
The videos of wild bears featured at the North American Bear Center let people learn from the bears themselves. They include videos on vocalizations, body language, mating, fighting, nursing, hibernation, care of cubs, exiting from the den, foraging for different classes of food, playing.
All bear mounts, which include polar, black, and brown/grizzly, are posed naturally. A huge life-sized replica of an extinct short-faced bear skeleton dominates the main exhibit area. A wall of windows overlooks the bear enclosure with its pond and waterfalls. Subtle background sounds of bears foraging, cubs nursing, and birds singing fill the air–all natural sounds that come from 60+ exhibits featuring TVs playing high-definition video footage of wild black bears, brown/grizzly, and polar bears as they go about their daily activities in the forests, coastal regions and tundra.
On Facebook @ www.facebook.com/NorthAmericanBearCenter
Website @ www.bear.org
North American Bear Center
1926 Highway 169,
Ely, MN 55731
218-365-7879 • 877-365-7879
Mailing Address:
PO Box 161
Ely, MN 55731
The Tower-Soudan Historical Society
Historical Center
404 Pine St. P.O. Box 465 Tower, Mn. 55790
Open Daily 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Daily
Memorial Day to Labor Day
218-753-5021
We are located on about an acre of land at the western entrance to the city of Tower. The center includes a museum in the historic train depot. A steam locomotive, a railway passenger car, Caboose, and homesteaders cabin. The land, steam locomotive, coach and depot were donated to the City of Tower for historical purposes by the Duluth, Mesabi & Iron Range Railroad Company.The Depot was built in 1915 through efforts of the city, the Historical Society, and the Tower Women's Club it has been kept in near original condition. The depot not only houses a museum with hundreds of artifactsand photos but also the information service for the Lake Vermilion Resort Association.The Homesteaders cabin was located in the woods near Smart's bay on Lake Vermilion. It was built in 1915. It was brought to Tower in the winter by hauling it across the lake.
Website: www.towersoudan.com
BOIS FORTE HERITAGE CENTER
We are located on the shores of beautiful Lake Vermilion and on the grounds of Fortune Bay Resort, Casino & Golf Course. We are dedicated to telling the Bois Forte Ojibwe story-as our name-Atisokanigamig or LEGEND HOUSE tells.Public response to our museum has been very positive, we hear over and over again how worthwhile & meaningful the museum is.The national Media Association has awarded our museum an award for interpretation. Additionally, we are featured on the cover of the IRRRB (Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board) Minnesota Tourism magazine. We are fast gaining recognition and becoming an integral part of a Northern MN visit and destination.In addition to award winning displays, we have a birch bark dwelling and tipi on our grounds, and a path that leads the visitor to the remains of an 1866 gold mine.We are group friendly, with plenty of parking and room for buses, we are also handicap friendly and offer the free use of a wheel chair.The tour takes about an hour not counting visits to the outdoor exhibits.
We would love to have you visit us and will work hard to make your time with us educational and full of fun.
PHONE 218-753-6017
Rates: Children 4-12 $3.00/ Adults $5.00/ Seniors $3.00/ Family of 4 or More $15.00/
CHILDREN 3 & UNDER AND BOIS FORTE BAND MEMBERS ARE FREE
Cooks Country Connection
Only a mile north of Cook on Highway 24, Cook’s Country Connection is a great way to spend a day! Come meet the animals and check out a piece of local history.
Farm hours:
May, September & October the farm is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm
June, July & August the farm is open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am to 4pm
Parties, groups and field trips by appointment.
Check out our website or call for more details.
Website: www.cookscountryconnection.com
218-780-8611
Unplug and let’s go outside!
1953 Vermilion Drive Cook, MN 55723
INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER:
Highway 169 Ely, Minnesota 55731-8129
Telephone: 218-365-4695TTY
Relay Service: dial 711
E-mail:
Website: www.wolf.org
HOWARD WAGNOR SKI TRAIL SYSTEM
“The City of Tower has the Howard Wagoner ski trail system right on the edge of town. The trails consist of approximately 11.5 kilometers of easy and intermediate trails that wind through red and white pines. We have a short lighted loop perfect for evening skiing after dark. These peaceful and beautiful trails are single tracked and groomed. State ski pass required. There are 2 parking lots- one is located across from Enterprise Drive on the south side of Tower, right off of Hwy 135. The south parking lot can be found approximately one mile south of Tower on HWY 135 with a parking lot on the west side of the road- marked with a wooden sign. Email at cityoftowerskitrails@gmail.com”
Follow them on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/towercityskitrails
