Adventure Mine Located in Greenland, Michigan

Adventure Mining Company in Greenland, Michigan offers visitors a chance to experience mining like it really was in the 1800s. They offer mining tours that are void of electricity and fancy walkways. Adventure Mining Company is a must for anyone who wants something to engage in that is truly simplicity.

The mine operated from 1850 to 1920 and is one of the best preserved mines of its age. As with almost all of the mines that are located in Copper Country, the Adventure mine was opened on existing prehistoric excavations on Adventure Bluff, with the prehistoric workings dating back to about 5,000 years.

The copper that was mined from Adventure Mine was only in pure native metallic form. It was not uncommon for masses of pure copper weighing up to several tons to be encountered. Common copper oxides like azurite and malachite are not present in the Adventure Mine.

Adventure Mine is home to primarily two species of bats. The North American Little Brown Bat and the North American Big Brown Bat both use the mine for hibernation during the fall and winter. It is during this time that Adventure Mine will limit access to certain parts of the mines. The bats will usually spread throughout Michigan and other states during the summer months. Don't worry though; these bats can not bite through human skin. Their teeth are designed for small insects only. The limitation of certain parts of the mines during hibernation is not to protect you from the bats but to protect the bats from you.

Adventure Mine offers 4 different tours of the mine. Each tour will show you a different level and aspect of the mine. Adventure Mine offers something for everyone to suit your comfort and interest levels.

Historic Surface Tour- This tour is about 45 minute long walking tour. During this tour you will get a chance to learn about the historic features of the mine. Walk around while tour guides explain the local history and geology, while showing you the mine openings and shafts, prospector pits and old mine foundations. Look on in awe as the tour guides show you prehistoric mine workings from approximately 5,000 years before present time.

Trammers Underground Tour- During the trammer underground tour you will enter by the No.2 shaft and take a 45 to 60 minute tour. During the tour you will be provided with a hard hat and headlamp. Go through tunnels and see large rooms in the mine where pure copper and silver had removed. Keep your eyes open because you can still see areas where copper is still within the rock walls.

Prospectors Underground Tour- With this tour you will enter the mine through the No.1 shaft and spend around 1 hour and 20 minutes walking through the mine. This tour will incorporate all the experiences of the Trammers tour along with much more. This tour provides you with helmets and headlamps. Take the time to look at native copper weighing hundreds of pounds that had been left behind by previous miners. During this tour you will walk past shafts to lower levels of the mine. There is limited maneuvering through low spots, so I only recommend this tour for people who can physically handle tight areas.

Miners Underground Tour- This tour is the most daring of them all. If you are truly adventurous then I recommend this tour for you. During this tour you will get the chance to rappel down a mine shaft into total darkness, crawl through low areas and down slopes. Hope you don't mind getting dirty because it is more than likely that you may get wet and muddy during this tour. But that is just part of the fun of this tour. The tour will last around 3 hours and you will have a trained guide with you to provide required instructions. This tour will allow you to see the oldest and most intriguing parts of the mine.

When it comes to taking the children with you, Adventure Mine has no age limit on certain tours. The trammer tour and surface tour are possible for even infants. The prospector tour is alright for children as young as four years of age. You know your child best and know what your child can handle as far as walking, behaving and being underground. The miner tour however is usually recommended for people 12 years of age and up. This is due to safety gear not fitting properly on someone younger. Plus the miner tour can be dangerous if someone wanted to goof off and not follow safety directions.

Contact information:

Adventure Mine is open from Late May through Mid-October 9 am to 6 pm daily and 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday.

Email: mportfleet@yahoo.com

Phone: 906-883-3371