While Wisconsin has scores of lodging options that welcome travelers, there are a few places that are simply one of a kind. On the shores of Lake Superior, a remarkable floating villa welcomes guests, and the accommodations are just as unusual as the location. Read on to see why you need to plan a stay on the Griffin.

The Griffin may live on a Great Lake, but it’s a functioning riverboat that’s driven by paddle wheels. It’s modeled after historic Mississippi steamboats.

Airbnb / Griffin - The Lake Superior Riverboat

The boat was built in 1959, designed to capture the over-the-top elegance and grandeur of old steam vessels. Its current owners have been working to restore the boat to 1800s glory.

Airbnb / Griffin - The Lake Superior Riverboat

The boat’s location is also one-of-a-kind. It’s docked at the Northern Pacific Ore Dock, a massive structure that was built more than a century ago to help load high grade ore that was mined nearby.

Google / Andy Miller

The structure is massive; it’s nearly 1,900-feet long and it stands 80-feet tall. While it was in operation for decades, eventually the dock was decommissioned and an approach track was scrapped.

Google / Pilgrim-Sozidatel Volchok

The ore dock’s life wasn’t quite over. The Loon’s Foot Landing moved in and it became home to the Griffin. It’s a perfect place to enjoy the harbor.

Airbnb / Griffin - The Lake Superior Riverboat

The Griffin is not a luxury experience – it’s more like camping, as water and electricity availability is limited. There’s no toilet, just a portable toilet outside. Everything on the boat, including the beds, is small – it’s a boat!

Airbnb / Griffin - The Lake Superior Riverboat

There’s a lot to do on the Griffin – some people swim, fish, or kayak off the boat and it’s possible to enjoy a driftwood campfire on shore. Learn more about the this floating villa on Lake Superior at the Airbnb website. If you enjoy unusual stays, here’s a vacation rental that was crafted from an old shipping container.

Airbnb / Griffin - The Lake Superior Riverboat

Google / Andy Miller

Google / Pilgrim-Sozidatel Volchok

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Address: Loon’s Foot Boat Ramp, Superior, WI 54880, USA