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King of the Lode.

Mineview in the Sky (Gone)

Field review by the editors.

Virginia, Minnesota

This romantically-titled attraction is in fact a viewing platform on a hill that overlooks a part of the abandoned Rouchleau open pit iron mine. At 450 feet deep and three miles long, the pit is a kind of mini-Grand Canyon, and signs explain that your vantage point was once enjoyed only by the privileged pit foremen.

Our Chamber of Commerce contact was especially enthusiastic about the "nicely graded road" that leads up to this attraction -- and, indeed, you don't want a terrifying series of switchbacks to spoil your mood. But we were most impressed with Mineview in the Sky's gift shop, which had an excellent assortment of bleak open pit postcards.

Also here, as a photo op, is a giant ore truck named "King of the Lode."

Update: Mineview in the Sky was destroyed to make make way for the expansion of a taconite mine. The Mineview will be moved nearby, but no word yet on when or where that might be.

Mineview in the Sky

Directions:
South of town, on the north side of US Hwy 53 just north of its intersection with Hwy 135.
Hours:
Closed Oct. 4, 2015, to make way for more digging.
Admission:
Free.
Status:
Gone

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