Die Hard 2 Visit northern Michigan where scenes from this iconic film series were filmed. It’s Christmas Eve. John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, is waiting for his wife to land at Washington Dulles International Airport when terrorists take over the air traffic control system. He must stop the terrorists before his wife’s plane, and several other incoming flights that are circling the airport, run out of fuel and crash. Die Hard 2 (sometimes referred to as Die Hard 2: Die Harder), is a 1990 American action film and the second movie in the Die Hard film series. Die Hard 2 had a budget of $70 million and made $239.5 million worldwide, almost doubling that of the first film. problems and cost overruns. Initially, Tarmac scenes were filmed at the Star and distinguished Flying Cross, as director Renny Harlin planned on using airport and featured many locals as well as an flying ace in the Korean War. the normally snowed-in Stapleton extras in shots inside the plane, during Kincheloe Air Force Base served as a International Airport in Denver as the the evacuation scenes, and on the refueling base for aircraft heading to primary location. But the snow melted tarmac. Alaska during WWII, and as an air base early in the season and the crew was for defense of the Soo Locks. Without forced to move farther north, to Moses Meet Odin, the official wildlife control the use of the Soo Locks, America could Lake, Washington. Unseasonably warm dog for Alpena County Regional not effectively operate its war machine. temperatures sent them packing again Airport. He has the serious duty of keep If the locks were bombed, ships carrying ALPENA COUNTY to Minnesota, which also did not have the runway clear of birds and other Upper Peninsula iron and copper ore REGIONAL AIRPORT any snow. Finally, they decided to film in animals so planes can land safely and to the mills of the lower lakes would be Alpena Alpena. Although there was some snow wildlife can stay healthy. unable to sail from Lake Superior. in Alpena while filming, they needed Numerous scenes from the movie were more and had to make artificial snow Some of the jets that were stationed filmed at Alpena County Regional before going further north to Michigan’s at Kinross were Northrop F-89H Airport, including the exterior shot Upper Peninsula town of Kinross. Scorpions, and Lockheed F-94B of the grating door on the runway. Starfires. After filming completed However, the weather in Alpena was “We went to four locations and as soon at this air force base, the crew and not as corporative as the crew hoped. as we got there, it stopped snowing,” production staff returned to L.A. where Temperatures dropped as low as -5 reported actor Bruce Willis. “So we final shooting was done on refrigerated degrees Fahrenheit the first night of had to pack up 150 guys and take them sound stages where they covered the shooting and four days later it was in somewhere else. We even considered ground with crushed ice to resemble the 60s. Lack of snow was at the heart going to Greenland. And that’s a true snow. of many of the production team’s story.” PHOTO: ALPENA CVB PHOTO: ALPENA CVB COUNTY AIRPORT PHOTO: CHIPPEWA KINCHELOE AIR FORCE BASE Kinross Die Hard 2 stunt doubles and crew filmed at this air force base for the scene showing a plane landing and rushing toward the screen. Kincheloe Air Force Base was a U.S. Air Force base during the Cold War. The base was named for Iven Kincheloe, an aeronautical engineer and test pilot from Michigan. Kincheloe was a recipient of the Silver tour. For more information, visit www. you away for an up close look at majestic by French missionaries in 1668, it is alpenashipwrecktours.com. elk. Afterwards, back at the Antler home to the historic Soo Looks and the WhileArea in Alpena attractions the cast and crew enjoyed Cabin, guests are greeted by a warm Soo Locks Boat Cruise, a top attraction the small-town charm of the community. THUNDER BAY NATIONAL fire, wine tasting and a five-course meal that has been offering exciting tours Alpena’s winding bike paths, locally owned MARINE SANCTUARY prepared in 100-year-old wood cook through the famous Soo Locks since restaurants and boutiques, taverns and Alpena stoves. It’s a phenomenal experience. 1934. Experience “locking through” parks offered a relaxing environment Alpena is home to the nation’s only where Lake Huron meets Lake Superior when filming wrapped each day. While freshwater preserve protecting an with a 21-foot drop in elevation. Cruise filming, Willis rented a historic private astounding 200 historic shipwrecks. alongside giant lake freighters and residence on the dignified State Avenue, Visitors can get an up close view by ocean vessels. It’s an experience you near Campbell Street, on the shore of Lake diving, snorkeling or kayaking the area. will never forget. For more information, Huron. Crew and production team filled Be sure to stop in at the Great Lakes visit www.soolocks.com. up the area’s many hotels. Maritime Heritage Center, a museum devoted to the history of the ships on the GLASS BOTTOM BOAT Great Lakes. Highlights include a wooden SHIPWRECK TOURS Great Lakes schooner and shipwreck Alpena where visitors can walk the decks, feel a PHOTO: CIRCLE MICHIGAN Beautiful and spooky at the same time. Great Lakes storm, and touch the massive There are dozens of wrecks in the timbers of the boat resting on the lake MILL CREEK DISCOVERY PARK Thunder Bay area of Lake Huron. The bottom…all without getting wet! Mackinaw City crystal-clear waters and large, glass Soar like an eagle on this zip lining bottom, viewing wells on the shipwreck INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PARK adventure and trek though the treetops tours in Alpena allow you to dive into Alpena on the Adventure Tour! This special the wrecks, without getting wet. Learn Meet the stars of Alpena! Alpena is guided nature experience takes visitors the exciting tales of many famous ships, centrally located to three of Michigan’s over the Forest Canopy Bridge, down TAHQUAMENON FALLS the history, and legends and lore of newest officially designated Dark Sky the 425-foot Eagle’s Flight zip line, and Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Paradise Lake Huron aboard this unique boat Preserve Parks. This is the perfect place up the five-story Treetop Discovery These thundering waterfalls are one for dark sky viewing of constellations, climbing wall. For more information, of the largest waterfalls east of the aurora borealis, and meteor showers. visit www.mackinacparks.com/parks- Mississippi. It has a drop of nearly 50 and-attractions/historic-mill-creek- feet and is more than 200 feet across. THUNDER BAY RESORT discovery-park. A maximum flow of more than 50,000 ELK VIEWING gallons of water per second cascades Hillman SOO LOCKS BOAT CRUISE over to the river below. A sight to Thunder Bay Resort is known for its Sault Ste. Marie behold and worth the short trip—there award-winning Elk Viewing Dinner Ride Only 50 miles north of the beautiful are several miles of walking trails, a pub and Wine Tasting Adventure. You can Mackinac Bridge is the oldest city in and brewery and gift shop. For more also board a horse-drawn carriage and Michigan and the third oldest city in information, visit www.michigandnr. PHOTO: ALPENA CVB let a mighty team of draft horses whisk the U.S.—Sault Ste. Marie. Founded com/parksandtrails. GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECK PICTURED ROCKS BOAT CRUISE PHOTO: CIRCLE MICHIGAN MUSEUM Munising Whitefish Point About an hour to the west, you’ll come Be sure to check out this benchmark to the picturesque harbor town of shipwreck museum situated on the Munising. Nestled along the shores of largest of all the Great Lakes, Lake Lake Superior, Munising is home to Superior. Deceivingly beautiful, the famous Pictured Rocks Boat Tour. Lake Superior’s unrelenting fury has This narrated boat tour tells of stories earned the reputation of being the in stone as you cruise by towering most treacherous of the Great Lakes. formations of rock made from wind and Throughout the museum and theater, water. This is the spectacular Pictured visitors will see maritime legends Rocks National Lakeshore. It was voted come to life. Artifacts and exhibits by “Good Morning America” viewers tell stories of sailors and ships who as one of the top 10 most beautiful braved the waters of Superior and those places in America. When you take the who were lost to its menacing waves. boat tour, you’ll see why. For more One of the highlights in the museum information, visit www.picturedrocks. focuses on the story and legend of the com. For the more adventurous, country’s most famous shipwreck, the experience Pictured Rocks by kayak. PHOTO: CIRCLE MICHIGAN Edmund Fitzgerald. It is a hauntingly Join the Pictured Rocks Kayak KITCH-ITI-KIPI (THE BIG SPRING) HISTORIC FAYETTE beautiful exhibit and the complex Company for guided tours. Visit www. Palms Book State Park, Manistique Garden includes a lighthouse and lightkeepers paddlepicturedrocks.com for more Sixty-five miles south of Munising and Historic Fayette is Michigan’s only home, which is open to the public. information. For more information, visit www. just west of Manistique is Michigan’s restored ghost town and where the shipwreckmuseum.com. largest underground spring, Kitch-iti- Jackson Iron Company produced “pig kipi. An unbelievable 200 feet across iron” back in the 1800s. Hugging Snail and 42 feet deep, the big spring delivers Harbor, Fayette has a gorgeous setting 16,000 gallons of crystal clear water per among white limestone cliffs and the minute that gushes from fissures in the sparking blue waters of Lake Michigan.