BREITUNG TWP— The highly anticipated Murray Spur campground, designed for off-road vehicle enthusiasts, will not open as scheduled this summer, with officials now targeting a spring 2026 opening due to contractor delays.
The campground, located just east of Soudan and originally slated to open in July 2025, has encountered construction setbacks that have pushed the project timeline back by nearly a year. The facility is designed to connect directly to the Prospectors Loop ATV trail system, which links communities across much of northeastern Minnesota.
Park assistant manager Jim DeVries acknowledged the delays but emphasized that progress continues on the $5.8 million project funded through state bonding in 2020.
“We’re very close, but the project isn’t moving as fast as we’d hoped,” DeVries said.
Outstanding work includes completion of the main bathhouse, construction of the campground’s third loop, and installation of fiber optic cables that will provide Wi-Fi access to campers. The contractor issues have particularly impacted the timeline for these critical infrastructure components.
Despite the delays, the campground represents a large addition to the region’s growing network of off-road vehicle trails. The facility will feature pull-through campsites considerably wider than typical state park sites to accommodate the loading and maneuvering of ATVs and other off-road vehicles.
Unique amenities will include an ATV wash station designed to help prevent the spread of invasive species—a growing concern as seeds from plants like dandelion and tansy often hitchhike on off-road vehicles traveling between trail systems.
The campground was carved out of a 400-acre section of what was originally planned as part of Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. The area was re-designated as a state recreation area in 2020 after opposition from lawmakers and outdoors groups concerned about allowing off-road vehicles in state parks.
When completed, the Murray Spur campground will accommodate both tent camping and RVs, with facilities managed by state park staff similar to other camping facilities in the region.
Underground mine tours
DeVries also provided an update on underground mine tours at the state park. Tours were put on hold after flooding caused significant damage in June 2024. Supply chain issues have slowed progress on repairs, but DeVries said he’s hopeful tours will be able to resume in early fall.