In the 1950s, a bustling little town sprung up along the shore of Lake Superior. The tiny two-block town was built by the Erie Mining Company. Its purpose was to house the employees of the nearby taconite plant and their families. The town was called Taconite Harbor and from 1957 until 1990 it was a picturesque mid-century American small town. Then, in 1990 the town was abandoned by the Erie Mining Company and dismantling began. Taconite Harbor became one of the North Shore’s most well-known ghost towns.
An Affordable Town for Young Families
Taconite Harbor had two main streets in town: Brandon Drive and Erie Drive. The entire town was built in a matter of days and consisted of 22 pre-fabricated homes that were brought in on trucks.
In the beginning, the convenience of living near the plant was a big draw to many families. To accommodate the growing community a fire hall, community center, playground, baseball field, basketball court, and tennis court were constructed. The town’s close proximity to Lake Superior meant it was a town with a view. Quite a desirable place to live. It was especially perfect for young families just starting out.
It was also an affordable place to live. For just $400 down and $100 a month, families could comfortably live in the tidy three- and four-bedroom homes. Each home came with a paved driveway and a spacious tree-lined backyard. In many ways, Taconite Harbor was the idealistic 1950’s neighborhood with pastel-colored homes and a car in every driveway. During its peak, close to 75 children called Taconite Harbor home, and in the evening’s kids would run around playing games in the streets and the yards until the street lights turned on and it was time to go home for dinner. It was a postcard North Shore town.
The appeal of the town began to fade in the 1970s and 80’s when the original families began to retire or chose to move away due to the growing issues of taconite dust and noise pollution from the plant. In 1982 the taconite business took a hit and the workforce was reduced to only about 100 employees. Most families left the area to find work elsewhere and Taconite Harbor started its descent into a ghost town.
The Beginning of the End
In 1986 the remaining residents were told the town was no longer going to be supported and they would have to start moving. Those residing in the homes were offered the chance to purchase them for just $1, but were told they’d have to remove them from the land. Many of the houses were moved into nearby Silver Bay and privately-owned plots along Highway 61. In 1988 the final resident left, officially making Taconite Harbor a ghost town.
In 1990 the remaining homes were packed up and sent out on trucks. By 1991, all of the buildings that were once part of the community had either been torn down or relocated. All that remained of Taconite Harbor were the foundations, streets, street lights, the basketball course, and the remnants of the vibrant community that it once was.
30 Years Later, Nature Has Reclaimed the Land
You can still make out two of the main streets in town, and a rusted old street light still sits at the entrance to the town. The lightbulb is still there, though it hasn’t illuminated in decades. There are still holes where the sewer system once was, and if you venture off the beaten path you can still find remnants of driveways and foundations. If you proceed to what remains of the southern street (closest to the lake) and venture off the path a bit you will find a dilapidated old basketball court, with one hoop still somehow attached. This once active part of the North Shore now sits abandoned.
A Safe Harbor and boat launch were created down by the Lake Superior Shoreline along with a small, outdoor museum shows off some of the machinery used to dredge out the harbor. Because of this, the main road off of Highway 61 continues to be maintained. Most who come down the road have no idea they pass right by the North Shore’s most well-known ghost town.
Besides the development by the lake, Taconite Harbor has mostly been returned to nature. Leaving only the memories of those who once called this place home.
The Future of Taconite Harbor
Even after the town of Taconite Harbor ceased to exist, work continued at the Taconite Harbor plant. Over the years the plant has switched hands and purposes several times. It was last owned by Minnesota Power who used the plant to create coal-fired energy. In 2016, Taconite Harbor Energy Center idled its operations at the plant, affecting most the remaining 42 employees. After sitting idle under the watch of a skeleton crew for several years, the plant was decomissioned in 2023. The empty building was torn down and hauled away over the summer of 2025, leaving behind prime Lake Superior shoreline real estate.
The Taconite Harbor Redevelopment Project started looking towards the future when it received $200,000 from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to create a strategic plan for developing the Taconite Harbor property. Schroeder Township, where Taconite Harbor is located, has discussed the potential of using the area for residential, commercial, and light industrial uses. As of October 2025, no plans have been set as clean up of the former industrial site has just begun. What can be assured, however, is that there are now many stakeholders who have a vested interest in seeing the site come back to life and remain open to public.
Will the developers beat nature and take back the town before it’s gone forever? Will this once famous North Shore Ghost Town become our first North Shore Zombie Town once it rises from the dead? Only time will tell. But it does mean that the days of Taconite Harbor in its current condition may be limited.
Getting There
Taconite Harbor is now a safe harbor with a small outdoor museum that tells the story of how the harbor was built out. Follow signs on Highway 61 for the Taconite Harbor Safe Harbor. Shortly after making the turn, look to the right. A single street light still stands, marking the entrance of Taconite Harbor. There isn’t much to see anymore, but it’s a quiet and peaceful place. Perhaps it’s worth a quick stop and look around before heading out to other destinations along the shore.
Watch Our Taconite Harbor 2025 Update:
Watch Our Original 2018 Taconite Harbor Video:
Listen to Joe and Jaye explore Taconite Harbor on the Exploring the North Shore Podcast: