Fiborn Karst Preserve: The Most Peaceful Ghost Town Around

Fiborn Karst Preserve is a ghost town located between St. Ignace and Newberry in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. To qualify as a ghost town, the area must have at one point been a thriving community. So, the question is, was a limestone quarry an actual community and was it thriving?

Let’s find out…

Fiborn Karst’s Beginning

In 1898, Chase Osborn (who had been a one-term governor of Michigan) and his business partner, William Fitch, purchased some land in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In 1904 they opened the limestone quarry and incorporated it in 1905 under the name Fiborn – a blend of both of their names.

Employees of the quarry lived within the village which accompanied it. This included housing, a school and a post office. The school had an average of twenty students each year and took them through the seventh grade.

Since Michigan was so dependent on the lumber industry from the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s, it’s not surprising that a lumber operation had also been added next to the quarry. However, it burned down in 1910.

In 1908, Osborn and Fitch sold the quarry to the Algoma Steel Company. During the 1920’s, business fluctuated up and down through the post-war recession but more miners and their families came to the area, finding employment at the quarry.

The End Of Business

By 1936, Algoma decided to move it’s operations to Rogers City, Michigan where they could conduct business for much less cost. I’m sure this had a lot to do with using ships to move the limestone versus trains.

The mine shut down in January of 1936 and in a matter of months the post office had also closed. By the end of 1936, the village was virtually gone.

Today, the quarry is owned by the Michigan Karst Conservancy, who purchased it in 1987. They created the Fiborn Karst Preserve to protect the land and it’s historical value.

The Start Of My Visit

Traveling the UP in August, I decided to make Fiborn my first stop. We were staying in Newberry and since the quarry is very close – about 30 minutes – we were able to go at a leisurely pace and enjoy some time here.

I’ll be honest, I am glad we weren’t in a hurry because, as I’ve said many times, never trust your GPS in the Upper Peninsula. Yes, I passed right by Fiborn Quarry Road. Luckily, I realized it pretty quickly and was able to double back without a problem.

The road is roughly graveled and the signage around the quarry is not very helpful. It is also a narrow road in places so be prepared to make way for someone else to pass from the opposite direction at times.

A Wandering We Shall Go

Do not look for a “parking lot”. I don’t know why but I just assumed there would be distinctive parking areas – but there’s not. I kept driving until the road became a path and then I knew I had gone too far, especially when people in gators were going past me.

Actually, the parking looks like a driveway and cars will be parked one behind the other.

But, all was not lost! I did find a hiking trailhead, an information board and a cool quarry overlook.

A Peaceful Stroll

Once you do find the right parking area, just enjoy the stroll through the quarry!

Even if you see six vehicles parked at the entrance, it’s unlikely you will see another soul as you walk the grounds. I believe we saw two other couples for a total of thirty seconds! Fiborn offers hiking trails, as well as, the grounds to explore and it’s a large area.

Remnants Of A Community

As you do make your way around Fiborn Karst Preserve, you will see that there are very few remnants of the community that once thrived here.

There are concrete skeletons of only the sorting bin, powerhouse and the building where the railroad cars were once stored.

The sorting bins still have pieces of railroad track in them from days gone by, as well as, present day graffiti.

All of the buildings are accessible for exploration.

My Final Thoughts

I enjoyed my day at Fiborn Karst for a couple of reasons.

First, there is no fee to enter the grounds. Not an entrance fee or state recreational pass – zero cost. And, if you’ve read even one of my previous posts, you know I am all for adventures with the lowest cost possible.

Second, it’s all outdoors and you can wander anywhere your heart desires! What is there to not like about an afternoon in the great outdoors investigating the area around you? This is an excellent opportunity to let small (supervised) children explore, get dirty, learn a little and, most importantly, run off some energy! Win win!!

To learn more about the caves that in the preserve – which I did not spend time searching out during this visit – click HERE. You can also study more about the trails within the preserve by clicking HERE.