Iron Mountain provides small-town character and outdoor adventure
Located in a tranquil pocket of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Iron Mountain is an area flush with outdoor recreation. From the Pine Mountain Ski & Golf Resort to Lake Antoine, residents have their pick of ways to experience the region’s varied landscape. Yet homes here remain relatively affordable. “I would say that Pine Mountain is a big offering for Iron Mountain residents,” says Heather Nelson, owner of the U.P. Sweets bakery in the neighboring community of Kingsford . “They do the ski jumps every year, in February that draws in thousands of people from all over. Plus, at Pine Mountain, they have golfing, swimming, skiing and snowboarding. They have a lot of bike trails, whether you want to go out for a leisurely ride on your bike or extreme biking.”
Outdoor activities for a range of people
The Pine Mountain Ski & Golf Resort features several slopes and trails for skiers and snowboarders, almost 20 mountain biking trails, an 18-hole golf course, and an indoor pool and hot tub. Pine Mountain’s signature feature, though, is its 176-foot-tall ski jump, the country's largest slide of its kind. Those who prefer to be on the ground can hit the beach by Lake Antoine at Lake Antoine Park. The park also has a 90-site campground and a playground. Nelson says people in the area also use the trails around Fumee Lake, a bit farther east — there are three different paths, totaling roughly 8 miles. Locals who enjoy viewing wildlife can head to Iron Mountain’s Millie Mine Bat Cave, particularly in the spring and fall. “It is one of the very few places that actually have a bat cave that you can go and explore,” Nelson says. The cave is an abandoned iron mine that sometimes contains around one million bats.
Eclectic homes present a range of choices
Iron Mountain is a roughly 140-year-old community, and its wide streets are a canvas for an assortment of classic architecture. The area has a mix of bungalows, colonials, Cape Cods and gable-front homes. Many homes sprang up between 1890 and 1930. Most come with lawn space on lots between one-tenth and one-fifth of an acre. Buyers can find properties needing upgrades for $20,000 to $60,000, while move-in-ready homes may sell from $70,000 to $500,000 based on age, square footage and lot size. Still, Iron Mountain’s median sales price of about $180,000 is less than the $260,000 median in nearby Kingsford.
Iron Mountain has a taste for high-flying entertainment
Pine Mountain hosts the FIS Continental Cup every February, attracting world-class ski jumpers and thousands of spectators. Nelson says many people also travel to the area to see performances by the Badwater Ski-ters Waterski Show Team in Spread Eagle, Wisconsin, about 5 miles away. The team showcases all sorts of acrobatics on the water and is in action twice a week during the summer. Other traditions in the area include Iron Mountain’s Italian Fest in August, with a wine tasting, a grape stomp, live music and food vendors.
Local restaurants and grocers offer convenience
Though the community does have a Walmart Supercenter and The Home Depot, Iron Mountain largely eschews big-box retailers and chains for mom-and-pop spots, Nelson says. Carlos Cantina has become a hot spot since it opened in 2014. “One of the most popular restaurants is Carlos Cantina,” Nelson says. “They have grown to be so big that they are building another restaurant across the street from Walmart," Nelson says. Spiro's Downtown Restaurant is also popular, offering an upscale feel and known in part for its burgers. For breakfast, B's Country Cafe and Catering is a draw, and it's close to The Braumart in downtown, a theater that dates to 1925 and still hosts a variety of concerts. Besides Walmart, locals can pick up groceries at regional chains such as Super One Foods and Marketplace Foods.
Public schools emphasize the arts
The Iron Mountain Public Schools system gets a B rating from Niche. North Elementary scores a B-plus, includes early kindergarten through fourth grade and provides music and dance instruction. The B-rated East Elementary features grades 5 and 6 and offers piano lessons. Central Middle gets a B-minus rating, includes grades 7 and 8, and counts cinematography among its electives. Iron Mountain High carries a B rating and has a jazz ensemble course.
Residents have quick access to commercial flights
Iron Mountain is roughly 4 miles from the Ford Airport in Kingsford, a small facility with daily flights to Minneapolis and Detroit through Delta Airlines. U.S. Route 2 runs directly through Iron Mountain, a highway that leads east to Interstate 75 for drives to Minnesota’s Lower Peninsula, about 200 miles away. The community's Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson is off Route 2 and includes an emergency room.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
