ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty and a top U.S. Steel executive have sealed an $18 million land deal to create a new 3,000-acre state park on the shores of northeastern Minnesota's Lake Vermilion.
Pawlenty and executive John Goodish signed the purchase papers at the Capitol in front of reporters on Tuesday.
State Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Holsten says the land will be open for tours later this summer, but full development could be six years and as much as $30 million away. He couldn't immediately say how much it will cost to run the first major new state park in 35 years.
Pawlenty has long sought the new park next to Soudan Underground Mine State Park, calling it "pristine, beautiful, glorious lakeshore."
