Griffin - The Lake Superior Riverboat

Channel your inner Mark Twain. Read, rock, and relax on the water, at the foot of a retired Northern Pacific Ore dock. The Griffin is a functioning riverboat, driven by paddle wheels, originally modeled after historic Mississippi steamboats. It is located at a mom and pop boat yard, which is quite different from a fancy marina. Work happens here. Metal is welded here. Engines are torn apart and put back together here. Friends become family here. Come and become a part of the Griffin’s story. The space The Northern Pacific Ore Dock was commissioned to be built in 1912. She stands 80 ft tall, and about 1900 feet long. In the mid 2000s, the approach track was scrapped, to make room for the current Loon’s Foot Landing. The Griffin was built in 1959. She was modeled after old steamships, which were known for their elegant and over the top style. I have been working tirelessly to bring the boat back to her former glory, and am so excited to be able share my passion project with you! The Griffin will remain docked during your stay, she’s not quite ready to take on the open seas yet! Guest access The boat is yours to enjoy at the dock! Spaces outside the boat are shared, so be respectful of others. We need help getting rid of the driftwood surplus at the beach, so we’d appreciate it if you had a bonfire or two! The water around the boat isn’t the greatest for swimming, but sometimes people do swim, and also fish the area. Feel free to bring kayaks or canoes, however, pay attention to the lake. Lake Superior can change quickly, and you don’t want to take chances with her! Other things to note Staying in a boat is much different than staying in a house. It is a unique experience, but there is some “roughing it” involved. If you are not prepared for somewhat of a camping experience, you will probably be happier elsewhere. Things are tiny! Beds are tiny, sinks are tiny, doorways are tiny... Everything moves and creaks! There is nothing better than being rocked to sleep! There are boaty ladders to climb, you’ll need to climb a ladder to get to the upper deck, as well as to the pilot house. There is a big step down to get onto the boat this year, due to the low lake level. Water and electricity are limited. Use both sparingly! There is not a toilet on board, but there is a porta-potty right outside the boat. There is an outdoor shower off the back of the boat, but it’s not private, swimsuits would definitely be warranted. Boating can become dangerous when too much alcohol is consumed. Drink responsibly!