I would like to relate some info about this site to you. In October, 1968 while four wheeling and grouse hunting with my father in that area we came across a black top road one mile west of M-77 off the Adams Truck Trail going north. We drove up it to find the radar site.

At that time the tower was complete with a circular observation platform near the top. The building was enclosed in a ten foot high chain link fence with barb wire at the top facing inward and outward. All the electronic equipment had been removed. Also the black top road leading to the site was in excellent shape as was were the rail road ties which supported the road hill sides.

We were interested in buying the site for a hunting camp even though I was living outside Detroit, MI and Dad was in Chicago. We contacted the Federal Government "Surplus land sales" or something like that and found we could get the site at a very reasonable cost. However, the state of Michigan owned the property where the road was located and they would not give us access rights thereby making the site "Land locked".

In 1974 I met a friend who owned a cabin one mile west of the radar site and I spent many times there primarily snowmobiling. Since first seeing the radar complex in 1968 it has been vandalized badly. Several sections of stairs are gone (perhaps six flights or more), all the fence has disappeared and the road has partially washed out and there are trees growing through the black top... a very sad sight.

Currently, there is an operational radio transmission antenna with a small power supply building at the site. I don`t know what that is for but will try to find out and pass that information on to you. Although I was never involved with the "Dew Line" back in the 50`s, finding such a beautiful spot overlooking Lake Superior 15 miles from anything was exciting.

I am now retired from Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, live 40 miles from Traverse City and my wife and I usually get to Grand Marais at least once a year. Each time we try to visit the old tower. Hope this gives you a little more insight into the Grand Marais AFS.

Although this has nothing to do with the AFS you will find this of interest. The cabin that my friend use to own was the forest fire lookout`s home. The fire tower was 1/2 west of the G.M. radar tower off the Adams Truck Trail and also located at the high point of the land scape. The fire tower was sold back in the mid 70`s for $200.00 cash and the buyer had to take it down. The cabin had propane lights and fridge, an outhouse, pitcher pump for water at the sink and very little insulation. The bugs will kill you in the summer and snow so deep it will bury a car in no time. I have many fond memories of being there over the years with friends.