By NIKKI YOUNK

Staff Writer

IRON RIVER – A sinkhole was discovered Tuesday on the Tailings disc golf course in Iron River.

The course is located above and around the former Riverton Mine, which operated from 1882 to 1931.

Iron County Mine Inspector Tom Karvala said that a passerby who was walking along the disc golf course on Tuesday morning found the sinkhole and reported it to local law enforcement officials.

Workers from the Iron River Public Works Department fenced off the area, which is located near the course’s number two basket, later that morning.

According to Karvala, the hole is about 20 feet in diameter. He said that the depth is not known, since the surrounding ground is too unstable to allow a detailed inspection at this time.

Iron River City Manager Perry Franzoi said that the hole is continuing to cave in, and may eventually join with a nearby sinkhole.

Karvala pointed out that there are numerous sinkholes to the old mine throughout the area. This sinkhole is the first in about seven or eight years, he added.

“We’re monitoring it, and we’ll keep it fenced off,” said Karvala. “The others (sinkholes) are fenced off, too.”

Franzoi has closed the disc golf course for the time being as a safety precaution. However, the adjacent Apple Blossom Trail is still open.

The course runs along the Apple Blossom Trail and the Iron River. It was constructed in the summer of 2010.

Nikki Younk’s e-mail address is nyounk@ironmountaindailynews.com.