This is NOT a stuffy ol' museum!…read more When logging was the primary industry in northern Wisconsin (late 19th - early 20th Centuries) the logging was all done in the winter. The ground was frozen and logs could be moved without slogging down in the mud that would happen during Spring and Summer. A camp would spring up until the area was fully logged out, then over the summer, the camp would be relocated, anywhere from four to ten miles further away, in the next stand of lumber. Camps were sometimes named but often just numbered. Often a town would spring up around the camp but die off as soon as the camp was moved. Some survived, Laona is an example. In Laona's case, the Connor Family built a successful sawmill here, which is still in operation. When Camp 5 was logged out and moved on to Camp 6, a farm sprang up so the company could supply the camps with meat and vegetables for lumberjacks with voracious appetites. Descendents of the family that started it all decided to preserve the old lumber camp and farm, and formed a foundation to operate and preserve Camp 5. It's on the National Register of Historic Places, and you'll find the historic farm (some of it still operational) and a logging museum as part of the old logging camp. Special events are held throughout the season (check the website for schedules) and it is all very educational while being fun! There's a guided tour of a managed forest that shows you how modern logging operations differ from the clear-cut-and-move-on method of logging from the 19th Century. You'll find displays of stump pullers, skids, water tanks and other logging equipment from the past. Check out the retired, heavy equipment and a Wisconsin Central switch engine that you can enter. Kids will enjoy the petting zoo, although the managed forest tour might not hold the attention of youth who haven't learned about the history of logging in Wisconsin. Be sure to visit the operating blacksmith shop! There's only one way to enter the museum, and that's by steam train! Climb aboard the Laona and Northern Railway for the three mile ride to the museum. You can sit in an open-air observation car behind the locomotive, or opt for riding in an antique passenger car or a caboose. (Yes, you can ride in the cupola.) The season runs from mid June to almost Labor Day each season, plus some Fall dates. Check ahead. A flyer with coupons is available at most hotels and tourist info kiosks in a 50 mile radius. There is a gift shop and lunch is available with a limited menu (freshly grilled burgers, brats and hot dogs) at prices you might expect in a captive situation. All in all, it's a fun couple of hours for the family. (Don't tell the kids they'll be learning something!)

This is not your average museum. There's no big fancy building with a marble entryway and…read moredressed-up docents. There *is* a big old steam train to ride on (you can even climb up a little ladder and see what's what). My husband went here as a kid and was dying to share it with our little rascals. You buy your tickets then hop on the train (it leaves maybe five times a day) for a short ride (15 minutes?) to an old logging camp. There are a couple of buildings with old equipment and pictures (and a buffalo hide rug that grossed my kids right out), which are good to browse through for a little while. Then you can pay extra for a pontoon boat ride (they take you on this very muddy river, tell you about the logging camp history, and hope for some wildlife) or take the included-with-train-ticket wilderness tour. We didn't take the wilderness tour because the kids were having too much fun in the petting zoo. There were goats, chickens, ducks, a little cow, and turtles to look at in their enclosure. They had adoptable kittens, too, but we resisted their fuzzy adorableness. There is a concession stand on the grounds (crazily expensive, as they all are) and the old camp slaughterhouse, which was eerie. There is a little nature trail with signs, but the bugs made sure we didn't get much out of that. There is a store they call the Cracker Barrel store, but it had zero in common with Cracker Barrel restaurants. It was full of souvenirs and candy (fudge and gummy), and that's where you buy the pontoon boat tickets. Next to this building is the Nature Center, which is a taxidermist's dream come true. Lots of dead stuff in there (again, the kids found it gross) but also some cool minerals and ammonites (I loved them!). We were there for about 2.5 hours and were ready to go by then, but it was a fun little place. It's staffed mostly by high schoolers, with train enthusiasts running the steam engine. We hopped back on the train for the return to the depot, where the kids got to line up and blow the horn. That was COOL. The guy in charge enjoyed it more than the kids, I think.

This is a great place to take family and friends to not only venture down into a mine but to hear…read morethe history and stories of when the mine was open and running. After taking the train ride into the mine a guide will lead you thru the mine. Im 63 and always take first timers to the UP to the Iron Mine. I probably have been through this mine 30plus times. I feel I could be a guide since I can practically recite what they tell you. LOL Don't miss a chance to tour this mine. P.S. A word of caution don't wear new shoes. Weat an old beat up pair. There is moisture on the walking path and with all the iron in the soil your shoes will become a rusty rea color,.

Must see! Great history lesson and fabulous tour. Make sure you bring a sweatshirt or coat if you…read moredon't like the cold, it's 42 degrees in the mine.

Great way to spend a day with family…read more We stay in cabins in Fay Lake and this makes a great day trip. If you little ones there isn't much better: petting zoo, real steam train to ride, nature trail, hay ride, old trains and big construction equipment they can climb on and play on, museum, ice cream, tours and more. My 4 year old grandson had a blast. Price is high. $20 per adult, $10 for kids over 2.

I happened to see a small advertisement for this place at a cabin we were staying in Eagle River…read more I am happy I did. About an hour away was a place that was so much fun to visit. We took an old fashioned steam train to a logging "town". Toured a museum on the logging industry in WI (very interesting) they had a working blacksmith, a petting zoo, a tour of the forest (very cool) and a general store. It was so much fun, my 6 year old loved it. People were so nice, the place was so clean. We did not do the walk to the one of the houses (no time but we will next time). We had so much fun and I am so glad that we found this place. I am now telling everyone to go visit this really cool gem in the north woods.

Jim, the fabulous museum educator, is an absolute treasure! His wisdom and gentle sense of humor is…read moreworth ten times the cost of admission.

Not a lot of money to get in and kids have lots to do. Definitely worth the admission price. Our…read morekids are 8 and 11 they had hours of fun. I see some say it is dated but kids will LOVE it. Interactive, and the little town area is adorable. A car garage, fire station, hair salon, cafe , ambulance, airport, hotel, phone booth, music studio, etc. kids have a lot to do. For 2 kids and 2 adults it was around $30. Worth it!

I really enjoy visiting Lakenenland and it is a must stop anytime I'm in the area…read more The last time we visited was in the summer and it is a wonderful experience to see it in the winter. And although. With some of the political messages on the sculptures, I must say that what this man does with metal and steel is very impressive! on the day that I visited, I was able to witness the dog sled race, and snowmobiles going by even though there has been some issues with the sled riders in the recent past by defacing some of the artwork. this place is truly a gem if you're ever in the area do yourself a favor and visit you won't be disappointed!

This place is so cool and well done. We came on a cool day and the giant fire place was in to warm…read moreus. They have a few port a potty if needed. You can drive it walk the park to see the sculptures but they also have a walking only trail. They run in donations and I love they do that. My kids loved it and we liked it as well. Definitely stop by here if you are in the area!

Greg is the best tour guide! He has really great authentic stories. We almost invited him to lunch…read moreso we could hear more! Highly recommend going on a tour with him.

Greg tour guide is awesome with first hand stories. Visit on a cold windy day makes it more…read moreauthentic.

What a diamond in the rough! I thought this would be a small museum but you should probably allot…read moreyourself 2 hours to get through the very interesting artifact segment, interactive exhibit, and outdoor nature paths (that teach you a little about the native peoples and lands!). Not only does this place teach you about the industry but it also gives you a sense of the local area and the history behind it all. The museum is free but does accept donations with a box up front so if you enjoy yourself as much as I did, five dollars, as suggested, is certainly worth it. The lady at the shop was very nice and it's a thoughtful and well-maintained museum and an overall very casual experience that immerses you in the human history of the UP. Definitely recommended!

This is a wonderful museum. It's small. But it's well done for its size, and the exhibits are…read moreinteresting. The museum is located adjacent to a rail trail. There's opportunity to let your kids run around a bit, and there's an overlook-style view along the trail that's interesting. Figure an hour to visit and see everything and read the display signs, and kids will rush through a lot faster.