Ghost town

The Upper Peninsula holds a lot of history. With the Elites grounded, we check out a local ghost town turned into a park.

A lot of the legendary fisheries in our sport are on bodies of water created in the last hundred years. A dam is the oldest thing you'll see, because that's what made it possible for you to fish the lake. That's just not the case with Lake Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.  So when the wind blew out our Day 2, I thought the best use of my morning was to find something really old and show it to you.
A lot of the legendary fisheries in our sport are on bodies of water created in the last hundred years. A dam is the oldest thing you’ll see, because that’s what made it possible for you to fish the lake. That’s just not the case with Lake Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. So when the wind blew out our Day 2, I thought the best use of my morning was to find something really old and show it to you.
First, something not old. As I neared my destination, I saw my first giant windmill...
First, something not old. As I neared my destination, I saw my first giant windmill…
These pictures do not do them justice.
These pictures do not do them justice.
They are tremendous, and dot the countryside.
They are tremendous, and dot the countryside.
The place I found was a town called Fayette. Emphasis on the word
The place I found was a town called Fayette. Emphasis on the word “was.”
Fayette's furnace burned 237,000 tons of charcoal-iron from 1867 until 1890.
Fayette’s furnace burned 237,000 tons of charcoal-iron from 1867 until 1890.
The furnace is a large stone building, built to last.
The furnace is a large stone building, built to last.
Unlike it's fiery past, it's now quite peaceful.
Unlike it’s fiery past, it’s now quite peaceful.
And has a great view.
And has a great view.
Birds now live in the smelting stacks.
Birds now live in the smelting stacks.
A charcoal kiln was used to create the charcoal used to make iron. More than 80 of these existed within a 10-mile radius of Fayette during it's heyday.
A charcoal kiln was used to create the charcoal used to make iron. More than 80 of these existed within a 10-mile radius of Fayette during it’s heyday.
The remains of the dock, along with the rocky beach, made this a peaceful place to rest.
The remains of the dock, along with the rocky beach, made this a peaceful place to rest.
I'm not the first one here, I see.
I’m not the first one here, I see.
The clear water meant I was on the lookout for bass, but none were found.
The clear water meant I was on the lookout for bass, but none were found.
Remains of a storehouse and General Store.
Remains of a storehouse and General Store.
Fayette was all but abandoned in 1890 when the furnace shut down.
Fayette was all but abandoned in 1890 when the furnace shut down.
But some things are built to last.
But some things are built to last.
Since then, the state of Michigan has made Fayette a park, rebuilding and restoring some of the structures to provide a learning experience about the time period.
Since then, the state of Michigan has made Fayette a park, rebuilding and restoring some of the structures to provide a learning experience about the time period.
This is an original building- the machine shop.
This is an original building- the machine shop.
The company hotel.
The company hotel.
A rocky beach.
A rocky beach.
This beach became less appealing when I learned that citizens regularly threw their trash on it, earning it the name Slag Beach. Time has been kind to it, though. It's a pretty nice beach.
This beach became less appealing when I learned that citizens regularly threw their trash on it, earning it the name Slag Beach. Time has been kind to it, though. It’s a pretty nice beach.
If you're ever in Escanaba and you can't go fishing because of winds, drive over to Fayette Historical Park. It's worth the trip.
If you’re ever in Escanaba and you can’t go fishing because of winds, drive over to Fayette Historical Park. It’s worth the trip.