Excuse the pun, but attendance at a popular Iron Range tourist attraction is sky-high.

In its final season of operation, Mineview in the Sky in Virginia has so far this summer attracted more than 10,700 visitors, said Lori Beth Maki, whose company "Mineview in the Sky The Shop at the Top" operates the facility.

The 36-year-old scenic overlook, high atop a waste stockpile along Highway 53, closes for good in September to make way for a mine expansion at United Taconite.

Highway 53, a primary main north south corridor connecting the eastern end of the Iron Range to the south and to Canada, is being rerouted to make way for the mine expansion.

"We're seeing a lot more local people coming by to see it for the last time," said Maki. "A lot of old miners and people that worked at LTV (Mining Co.) are stopping by and talking about mining. And we've had a lot of people stop here who are surprised that it's closing."

Over its life, Mineview in the Sky has attracted tens of thousands of visitors from within the United States and across the world.

The simple guest book in which visitors write their names and hometowns, reveals visitors from throughout America, Europe, Australia, Russia, Brazil, New Zealand and beyond.

"Working there is like being on vacation and meeting people from all over the world," said Maki. "It always amazes me how many people come to northeastern Minnesota in the summer."

Overlooking the water-filled former Rouchleau mine, United Taconite's active mine pit, and the city of Virginia, the mine view offers visitors a snapshot of former and current mining operations and a glimpse of "the Queen City." On the horizon are Minntac, North America's largest taconite plant, and thousands of acres of thick northeastern Minnesota forests.

"I started coming up here with my dad when I was a kid in the 1960s and I remember coming to the mine view," said Scott Jensen, 53, of Pickwick, Minnesota, as he visited the mine view with his family. "We'd come up here to go blueberry picking and fishing. I still love coming up here because I am fascinated with mining and logging."

Along with the panoramic view, Mineview in the Sky offers a wide range of handmade items for sale within its tourist center atop the mine view. Among the locally-made items are taconite jewelry, hand-painted rocks, towels, quilts, children's toys, tee-shirts and "Iron Range" stickers. Proceeds help fund mine view operations

Last year's total attendance was 18,928, said Maki.

With 10,000 already in the books, Maki says last year's total attendance could be shattered.

"We saw an increase of 400 in May compared to last May and in June and July it's been just crazy," said Maki

All of the mining equipment on display, along with playground equipment, picnic tables and the visitor center, need to be removed this fall, said Maki.

Maki is planning to have a big "shutdown" party atop the Mineview after the center closes for good in September.

Until then, Mineview remains open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Meanwhile, Maki is working hard to find another mine view location.

"The new bridge will be a boon for us," said Maki of a new 1,100-foot-long bridge that will span the Rouchleau Pit as part of the Highway 53 reroute. "But my quest is to start planning Mineview II. It's such a jewel that we have. We have six people who work there who just love what they do. It's sad for all of our staff. We've created this fun thing and I'd love to start a committee and start planning a new Mineview II as a business. There just has to be a Mineview II."

Pictured above: Rich Johnson of Cotton points out where a new Highway 53 bridge will be located while visiting Mineview in the Sky.