This Summer, Take A Wisconsin Vacation On A Floating Villa On Lake Superior

While Wisconsin has scores of lodging options that welcome travelers, there are a few places that are simply one of a kind. On the shores of Lake Superior, a remarkable floating villa welcomes guests, and the accommodations are just as unusual as the location. Read on to see why you need to plan a stay on the Griffin.

The Griffin may live on a Great Lake, but it’s a functioning riverboat that’s driven by paddle wheels. It’s modeled after historic Mississippi steamboats.

The boat was built in 1959, designed to capture the over-the-top elegance and grandeur of old steam vessels. Its current owners have been working to restore the boat to 1800s glory.

The boat’s location is also one-of-a-kind. It’s docked at the Northern Pacific Ore Dock, a massive structure that was built more than a century ago to help load high grade ore that was mined nearby.

The structure is massive; it’s nearly 1,900-feet long and it stands 80-feet tall. While it was in operation for decades, eventually the dock was decommissioned and an approach track was scrapped.

The ore dock’s life wasn’t quite over. The Loon’s Foot Landing moved in and it became home to the Griffin. It’s a perfect place to enjoy the harbor.

The Griffin is not a luxury experience – it’s more like camping, as water and electricity availability is limited. There’s no toilet, just a portable toilet outside. Everything on the boat, including the beds, is small – it’s a boat!

There’s a lot to do on the Griffin – some people swim, fish, or kayak off the boat and it’s possible to enjoy a driftwood campfire on shore. Learn more about the this floating villa on Lake Superior at the Airbnb website. If you enjoy unusual stays, here’s a vacation rental that was crafted from an old shipping container.