Today, we're in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and we're visiting a haunted ghost town.
Okay. Do it, jump.
If you saw our last video you know we have some very special friends joining us for today's
adventure, meet the Snow Dogs Vlogs family; Jessica, her hubby Jamie and they're obnoxiously
adorable Huskies Kira and Memphis. You've probably already seen their YouTube channel,
but if you haven't made sure to check it out, the level of cuteness and joy, these pups
and their owners bring to the world is sure to make any day brighter.
Today, we're exploring a really unique State Park in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We're
at a place called Fayette State Park, and it was actually an old mining town in the
late 19th century. The crazy cool thing about this is it's not like any normal State Park.
The buildings that are here are the same from when over 500 people used to live here and
work in the mines.
Whoa. Look at this thing. Press the magic button
In 1867, just two years out of the end of the civil war, the Jackson Iron Company, began
melting iron.
In the mid 18 hundreds. Fayette was a major iron or hub or was shipped into the town,
melted down and prep for transport to steel making centers.
And we went from Lake Superior. Now we are at Lake Michigan.
Yep.
Okay, we're going to enter an old machinist shop. Let's check this out. Master mechanics
at the time made $75 per month. Meanwhile, machinists only made a dollar 80 per day.
The Jackson Iron Company operated in Fayette for 23 years and produced over 230,000 tons
of charcoal iron. It was a busy place, but by the mid 1890s, the iron industry began
decline, which would ultimately lead to its abandonment and the eerie feeling you get
walking these once busy streets and bustling buildings. This
building behind us is where all of the accounting for the company was done. Get this. Their
payroll was $5,863 a month for over 163 workers. That's mind blowing. When people came to visit
the mining town, this is the hotel they stayed in.
When a laborer came to stay at the hotel, they paid 15 cents per night for a single
bed in the hotel dormitory or 10 cents per night for double occupancy, which was about
10% of their daily wages. And yes, it was owned by the company, double dipping much?
You can almost feel the spirits of the ghosts that used to live here.
This is where the iron was melted down in these huge white furnaces, here the heat roar
and odor of this melting operation merged with the shouts of men, world of engines and
shrill screams of steam whistles. Can you even imagine?
So we were looking on the ground here at the rocks, which Jamie and I do all the time and
we found slag. And if you guys don't know what slag, is a byproduct of the smelting.
So when they smelt things in the kilns and everything that you guys have seen, the impurities
are left behind and it turns out with, I mean, there's literally just pieces of it everywhere.
It kind of resembles glass. You can see how it's a little bit shiny. What is that piece
of this one? But look in this one, you can see the rust from the or that was in it. Yeah.
They would add sand and everything to the metals.
And the impurities would stick to the sand.
Yep. And then this is what, they were left with. So these pieces of rock that you're
seeing here are from what? The late 18 hundreds.
That's green.
It's light too.
Light too.
Yeah. So you can see how it's like shiny and it's like glass and purple, cool.
I think the puppy will decide spend the day rather playing in the water than with the
rock.
Yep. They're like, we're not into history. We are along to play.
It's a big step through. It's a big step for me. I'm short. I Did it. I did it
Walking around the town and through the buildings, you can't help but imagine what the lives
of these people were like, who lived and worked here, mostly immigrants from Europe and Canada.
These people were far away from their homes. And although they were paid a wage, their
options to leave were limited due to resources and how remote Fayette it was. And really
still is today.
Now we're walking up to the big man's house. The big man, AKA, the superintendent lived
in what the Fayette residence called the white house, which you find after walking past the
docks and up a winding trail, but before you catch a glimpse of the manner you arrive at
the neighboring home.
So this is the doctor's house. And it was positioned strategically right behind the
house of the guy who ran the place.
I feel like that means he probably got preferential treatment. He had the good insurance.
Welcome to the second floor.
I think this place is kinda creepy.
It's super creepy. I want to be here at night.
That's cute.
Yep. What do you think? You think those cookies are stale?
They've been there since the 1880's.
Yeah, but that cheese is still good. You can give me some 1880 cheese any day, all day.
I'm assuming they would taste a little plastic. What do you think?
Sure
They were get a partner right here. Oh yeah. Look at that.
This looks like it came straight out of Westworld. There.
There's the big guy house.
There it is.
While the white house had many unimaginable luxuries compared to the laborer's homes,
it didn't have running water and most superintendents and their families left within three years.
Rumor has it, living in this town wasn't exactly easy.
Like a professional apple picker.
They're so little though, but they're perfect.
That's good.
I'm pretty excited about this. I don't think I've ever seen an apple of its tree.
If it's no good. Throw it away.
Yeah. I think it's too different.
Did you try it? I've never eaten an apple right of the tree.
That is freaking delicious.
Yeah.
No I just hope we don't die.
It's a, sort of quiet organic free range apples.
You approved too? What about you Memphis? Memphis is like, will you bite a piece off
and feed it to me?
What about you?
Yeah! Bite a piece off and feed it to me. That's how it works. Yeah.
Yeah. That good? No, you didn't even need it huh. You're like, nah.
Memphis don't like apples. Memphis likes the apples in our yard. Oh yeah. That's great.
Okay. That's it.
As I said that seemed a little dumb, but. Yeah. Act a little bit harder.
So this building is the town hall and you'll notice a very important sign out front it's
for the barber. Unfortunately, no one is here to cut Daniel's hair.
It's where Daniel needs to go.
I feel like people in the 1880s would've appreciated this beautiful mane right here. So I don't
think there would've been too much work to be done. Maybe a little trim. That's about
it.
With over 500 people living here, the average family size of a worker was six to seven people.
So, that's quite a few kids. And for those kids, they needed a school.
How cute is this? And all the rules are in cursive. So obviously that was still taught
back then.
Welcome to Kitch-iti-kipi. Kipi.
Yep.
Kitch-iti-kipi Big Springs.
Located in Palm Book State Park, the big spring, which was named "Kitch-iti-kipi" by the Native
Americans, meaning mirror of heaven. Is the largest natural spring in the Upper Peninsula.
And if you're planning, the ultimate Michigan road trip, this place cannot be missed. A
short walk into the park will bring you to a unique looking raft where you can climb
a board to take a tethered ride across the Emerald green Springs. This was Kira's first
time here. And she was so excited to see what all the fuss was about.
So blue.
Oh, you can see the springs.
It's probably a lot deeper than it looks.
That's what I'm thinking too.
Well there's a sign right there. Of how deep is.
That's 45 feet. [inaudible 00:14:15].
It's funny, the fish is just following the boat.
You see the fish? What do you think Kira? So, he's like, how do I get down there guys?
Guys, I would like to eat them fish, please. We see them?
How old are they?
This one's eight and this one's two. This one wants to go fishing. Apparently.
Yes.
A little boat allows you to see in the middle. So you can see straight down to the bottom
of the Springs, which is approximately 45 feet deep, AKA about the same height as these
trees that are around the border. This place is beautiful. It's also the largest natural
Springs in Michigan.
What's down there? Is there a fish down there?
Yeah. Do you want to look?
Yeah.
Want to look? Okay. You can look. I won't let you go.
He is like, I'm going for the fish guys. The fish is where he is at.
You need to go further north and you have to really experience Michigan because the
Upper Peninsula is totally different than the Lower Peninsula. So I would come visit
the state, but I live here. So I get to visit it every day.
With another successful day of exploring the Upper Peninsula of Michigan under our belt.
It was time for the Snow Dogs Vlogs crew to head back home and for us to begin our journey
towards New York City, to run a marathon. And yes, obviously we now want Husky pups
of our own, but that's for another day. Until then, make sure to wander local this week
friend, as you know, it's good for the soul.