The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. It closed for good in 1993, 25 years ago. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. Not one thing mentioned on the dance hall being 100 years old this year. Ive always wondered about the island and have wanted to go back. The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. (LogOut/ The 1878 Mangels-Illions Carousels 44 horses, two goats, and two deer were sold for more than $1 million. Share. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. The ferry is a short four minute ride to the island. 6 reviews #1 of 2 Restaurants in Pointe Aux Pins American Pub. The Columbia's ship keeper, Sam Buchanan, said the St. Clair has "a prominent role" in. why did boblo island close. We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. Particularly down at White Sands beach below the Lighthouse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33535417@N05/4112593095/), where two boats were anchored during my visit to the south end of the island with a large group of partying young people. [1] Screamer, a double corkscrew; Nightmare, an indoor all-dark ride; and Sky Streak, a steel out-and-back design, were its three roller coasters. I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. You know what I think, I have never been over there. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. By golf cart or bike or on foot are the only ways to navigate the crushed limestone trails that cover the remainder of the island,but for the residential area (the only place where cars are allowed). Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. What I remember about Bob-Lo Island specifically, the entrance coming off of the boat, one of the last times I went the Simpsons were the mascots and I met Bart and Homer. I believe the unfortunate combination of being a Canadian island with almost all American history is the reason its not being cherished by people in Canada. The 375-foot Sky Tower, rusting and visible from the Powerhouse and most of the island, as well as from other locations on the river like Grosse Ile: And a few other buildings, like the open one that may have housed the dodgem cars built in 1928, and another with more shattered windows, the Souvenir building. Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. wayne hills high school marching band; code postal ariana borj louzir; homes for sale on cary drive auburn, al Competition came in, e.g., Sea World. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. The SS Ste. Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. It had e. I mean Harbour House is nice, but would be nice to have a better view of the water (other than the marina) where you can watch the big ships go by. We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. I had the pleasure of delivering a load of stuffed animals to the Park in the early 1990s, was a trip i will never forget, driving my Freightliner truck and a 48 foot trailer onto the wharf to make the trip across the river in the middle of the night over to the island then driving around the the park, having to stop and wait for the park benches to be moved for me to able to get truck and trailer around the turns stopping here and there to off load these stuffed toys into little electric carts for the arcade games before the park opened the next day, Friday of a May 24 weekend. Embark on a CRUISE FROM DETROIT for the first time in decades, Stay the night at this ghostly-looking MICHIGAN CASTLE, SECRET VINTAGE COKE MUSEUM inside a Michigan 50's diner. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. The fire could not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks. The park opened in 1898 and closed its doors for good on September 30th,1993 as a result of poor management, rising maintenance costs and declining attendance thanks to more attractive parks in the region like Cedar Point. . The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. I remember the log ride, where we''d all get wet but would soon dry out running about, the carousel, and of course the roller coaster. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. Today it is overgrown: The Powerhouse, which looks like small limestone chapel, that provided electricityto the Carousel: The Dance Pavilion a 35,000 feet steel and limestone building designed by Albert Kahn and John Scott and completed in 1913. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. Did you work on both the SS Ste. Bois Blanc Island, commonly called Boblo Island, is an island in the Detroit River on the Canadian side of the border and is part of Amherstburg Anyone remember how much fun the dance floor was and how beautiful the boats were. Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. As I have written to the owner of the company that bought the island: You have no idea how much Boblo Island Amusement Park was to our society. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. I agree. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. Livingstone writes that the white sand beach was created in 1957 when a vein of sand in the mouth of the river was dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they deepend the Amherstburg Channel to St. Lawrence Seaway standards, opening the Great Lakesto the world.. The ruins of what remains can be seen via the waterway that separates both Michigan and Ontario, but for many, the memories of this once-bustling park are what truly keep it alive. The remnants of Boblo Island Amusement Park: A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . Boblo Island (correct name: Bois Blanc) is an island in the Detroit River on the Canadian side of the border and is part of Amherstburg, Ontario. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. Save. The name of the island was changed to Boblo in 1929 when visitors had problems correctly pronouncing the original French name. See all (4) British troops captured 60 of the attackers and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. I dont think it is sad at all! DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Please dont judge us without knowing us! St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. mike smithson tutor perini; ford f 350 ignition switch replacement. Valentine and Sons United Publishing Company - This image is part of the Canadian Copyright Collection held by the British Library, and has been digitized as part of the "Picturing Canada" project. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. The Carousel Building, built in 1905 to house the first amusement ride on Bob-Lo Island, served as a convention hall and later, the roller-skating rink (beginning with the 1940 season) before ending up as a theater. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. The Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority found a way to end a 100-year agreement that gave the Moroun-owned Ambassador Port Co. sweeping control, but questions remain about the speed at which the deal gained approval of the public authority's board, transparency about the deal and what it means for the port going forward. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. (LogOut/ Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. Although the name will seem new to most of us, it's actually the original historic name of the island that was home to the historic . Second case of COVID-19 confirmed in Windsor-Essex City of Windsor declares state of emergency, Devonshire and Tecumseh malls to close Boblo Island residential development plan moving forward. The homes come with all appliances. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 Though not all is lost. Boblo Island, originally names Bois Blanc (White Woods in French) opened as a Park in 1898. [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. I agree; it would be wonderful if the park could be restored or perhaps, reinvented to serve in a new way of bringing community together! [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. The ferrys were known as "Bob-Lo Boats" and held about 2,500 passengers each. You can just picture all of the kids having fun smashing into each other in their cars. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. Thank you again for the information. Boblo Island is an Island in the Detroit River located directly west of Amherstburg, Ontario, on the Canadian side of the border. - Sally. Over the years, the crowds going to Bob-Lo on the boat would were increasingly loud and rude and some people avoided going to Bob-Lo to avoid the noise. 'Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale' is a new documentary, created by Aaron Shillinger, that tell the tale of Dr. Ron Kattoo, who is on a mission to restore the SS. The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. The Park which eventually became Boblo Amusement Park got its first ride, the 178 48-animal Mangels-Illions Carousel. Really sad. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. Other islands Ivevisited have their own historical societies or have joined with other nearby islands to form a historical society: Johnson Island Preservation Society, Lake Erie Islands Historical Society, St. Clair Flats Historical Society, Beaver Island Historical Society, the Grosse Ile Historical Society, and Friends of Bell Isle (now a part ofthe newBelle Isle Conservancy). Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. The price is around $500k. Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. [7] Though one expert felt that Boblo was too big to fail outright and could be turned around,[8] By June, however, no firm offers had been made for the park. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. An old silent family home movie of a trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park, no longer existing. It was a Canadian Island and had passenger boats that sailed from Detroit, Gibraltar and Amherstburg Ontario. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. He previously worked for Ringling Brothers Circus and captivated children with adventurous tales and knock-knock jokes until his retirement in 1974, at the age of 90. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. If anyone has Meade Gougeon's cell number, seriously, call him. Wild grapevine has made it to the second floor balcony of the gallery. Sq.Ft. Barely visible remains of the park. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. 2022-09-26. He was 20 years older than me. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. Boblo Boats Documentary Hitting Select Theatres in Detroit This Fall [VIDEO], Metallicas 72 Seasons Global Premiere Where You Can Watch in Michigan, Detroit Chef Named Chopped Champ Donates $10K Prize, Tri-County Ninja & Collectibles in Fenton Approved for Liquor License, Compete in Cedar Point Trivia from the Comfort of Your Michigan Home, Michigan Has Enforced the Death Penalty a Remarkably Low Number of Times, Celebrate 21 Years Of The Machine Shop In March, 13 Suggestions to Fill Flints Empty Sears in Genesee Valley Mall. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. - Brandon, I am 73 years old and remember my parents taking me to Bob-Lo after picking me up at Willow Run Airport after a visit with relatives in Miami FL when I was 8 years old. Series: DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, 1972 - 1977, via National Archives and Records Administration, Photo: Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, A glass blower puts on a demonstration in the craftsmen's area - 1970s, A child takes a spin on a ride at Boblo Island - 1970s. BOBLO ISLAND - The echoes from the screams of delight have long faded from Boblo Island Amusement Park, the Cedar Point of Michigan for most kids growing up in our region. It was like a little cruise. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. Call (519) 979-9949 to reach your Amherstburg real estate team, Team Goran of RE/MAX CARE Realty. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Answer: 90% of the time, it's because the parks don't have enough money and/or business to keep up with running costs, and the parks simply close and are left to rot. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. The SS Ste. I am only 12. Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. This is the structure that once housed the Boblo Island Amusement Park bumper cars. During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. There are two total bedrooms in this home. You will find even more information in: Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, by Patrick Livingstone (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2008); Bob-Lo: An Island in Troubled Waters, by Annessa Carlisle (Royal Oak, MI: Momentum Books, 2005); and for more photographs, Bob-Lo Revisited, by Bill Rauhausuer (Chicago: Lorentz, 2003). This is now the only ferry which goes to and from Boblo Island. To get to Bob-Lo Islandin the 21st century, you takea ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario, instead of from the old dock on Jefferson Avenuein Detroit. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. Boblo Island is accessible by a 16-car ferry that departs from the dock next to the Bob-Lo Island Discovery Centre, which is at 340 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg, ON. The Detroit river is very short - it merely connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. Officially, Bob-Lo Island is now billed as a Marina Resort Community, but Bob-Lo currently exhibits the most profound split personality of any islandperhaps any placeIve ever been. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. One to pick up, and one to return people. There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. In 1898, the Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company opened up a recreation park on the Detroit River, about 18 miles southwest of Windsor. You can take a tour of the model homes on Boblo Island on Saturdays and Sundays with an island specialist by calling 519-736-1111. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. . A tri-plex home. This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. Heres an article that was in this past Sundays Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/article/20140706/NEWS05/307060053/boblo-island-memories-boat-development Speaking of Sugar Island, have you heard, as of last year, theres now a public beach there? Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/grosse-iles-sugar-island-beach-opens-to-public-saturday/ (Sorry, you may need to copy and paste the website addresses above; my link feature is not successfully linking at the moment. (From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina), BOBLO BOAT TOUR: Take a video tour of the historic boat that traveled the Detroit River for 81 years. Each year the largest gathering was sponsored by the St. Andrew's Society of Detroit, which would often draw more than 10,000 visitors to their Scottish Games. The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant Visiters to the marina can visit the small gallery of photographs and paintings of water scenes or rent bikes to explore the island (although what appeared to be the bike rental building was closed on this July Saturday, so perhaps not). Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. I am so sad every time I think about Bob Lo. The island has quite an interesting history. Yes, I list http://www.boblo.ca as a source where one can get more information in my book Great Lakes Island Escapes: Ferries and Bridges to Adventure (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2016). Here's what we saw as we recently explored the amusement park area. The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. 11 Properties from $2,300. Boater can also dock at the Boblo Wharf on the west side of the island, to eat at the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant. Visiters to the marina can visit the small gallery of photographs and paintings of water scenes or rent bikes to explore the island (although what appeared to be the bike rental building was closed on this July Saturday, so perhaps not). 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. You can also visit Boblo.ca. On the south side of the road leading from the ferry dock is a five-story condominium: Between the river and the condominium is a trail which heads south along the islands perimeter and allows a walker orbicyclist to view a number of historical structures, including the Sailors Monument, which still graces the eastern shore of the island: The commemorative plaque affixed to the Sailors Monument reads: Dedicated to 134 years of American-Canadian friendship across 4500 miles of unfortified border, protected only by the mutual respect and understanding one nation holds for the other. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who spent summers riding the ferry to Boblo Island, visiting its amusement park or just enjoying a picnic. Filming of the movie began across Metro Detroit earlier this year. We also traveled from. Plants and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle. [14], The 1993 season proved bumpy and was marred by miscues including disputes with island residents and the Canadian Coast Guard, compounded by the leader of Enchanted Parks, Michael Moodenbaugh, being seriously injured and breaking his spine in a car accident in Toledo, Ohio, in September.
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