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 . Im glad you made this comment. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). The park, which. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. Purchasing a home on Boblo Island? Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! Here's what we saw as we recently explored the amusement park area. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. So when we went to the Island, we took a cab to the downtown docks to catch the first boat out and then we would return on the last boat. If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. 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. 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. As one can use motor vehicles only in the northern residential tip of the island, if you plan to explore the island, you may want to bring a bike with you. 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. '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 is about 2.5 miles long, 0.5 mile wide and 272 acres in size. 2,000. Answer (1 of 2): I have barely recallable memories of POP. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. Today, 24 years after the park was closed and 118 years after its grand opening, little remains as a reminder of the islands history. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. The park has been closed since 1993 DETROIT - Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. My husband is on the Grosse Ile Historical Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island in its heyday. The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! Can you go over to the island any time? It disappeared for the same reasons like Marineland of the Pacific, and the park in Long Beach. My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. Baths. I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. 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 Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. McLeans Mansion (Holly Lea): The historic building that was saved by the local community from demolition, The ruins of Richmond Castle: one of the oldest Norman fortresses in England. 3 F 1 1/2. 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. [5] The boats were sold off as a result of a decision to shutter operations at the Detroit dock. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. 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). One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. Hundreds of small amusement parks went out in 1980s as families all went to super amusement parks like Cedar Point and Six Flags and did not visit small ones often. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Detroit Publishing Co via the Library of Congress, This appears to be the SS Columbia Boblo Boat, which was built in 1902, Ferry dock on Boblo Island - between 1890 and 1901. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. [6] In February 1992, the park was put up for sale for US$9 million, half of its 1988 purchase price, though it committed to opening it for that summer. A street sign shows people where they are as they arrive on the island. The Columbia's ship keeper, Sam Buchanan, said the St. Clair has "a prominent role" in. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. More waterfront dining. Enjoy 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. Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. (LogOut/ Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. This is now the only ferry which goes to and from Boblo Island. Why did Boblo Island shut down? It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. 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. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? . A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night. Mon-Wed 8:30 - 7:00 Thu-Fri 8:30 - 7:00 Sat 8:30 . This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. Only about a third of a milea 5 to 10-minute walk, depending on your speedfrom the ferry dock on the west side of the island, east on Bob-Lo Island Boulevard, to the marina on the other side of the narrow island. Share. Only one blockhouse remains today. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. . If the boat looks familiar, it is not your imagination. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale A woman leans against the fence in the foreground to take a picture of the ride. Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. why did boblo island close; william monroe high school why did boblo island close. Bleacher seating remains intact in the abandoned theater. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. One step on the old dock, and I saw an old run-down white platform, no life, no care in worldlike everyone was evacuated and told not to come back. The existence of such an organization would certainly be complicated by the facts that 1) Bob-Lo is a Canadian island with an overbearing American past, and 2) today Bob-Lo primarily serves asa retreat for the wealthy, who I can imagine would not want people coming to visit the historical remains there,any more than they would want hunters (although if theyown a cat or a small dog, the latter might be welcome if they could take care of the coyote population). There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. It is now an expensive, gated housing community with a private clubhouse. Bois Blanc Island, French for White Woods Island, was named on account of its numerous white-barked birch and beech trees, and is today commonly known as Boblo Island, an English corruption of the original name. RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - 585. Neither will my grandchildren. On that visit, the very air between the Wild Mouse and the Whip was fraught with hormones dancing to a Top Ten soundtrack which included Sitting on the Dock of the Bay and Grazing in the Grass.. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. The 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. I am only 12. Did you work on both the SS Ste. We dont save anything for history any more. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. You support the mega millionaires who dont care about anything else in life except their bank accounts. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. why did boblo island close. Find the best offers for your search boblo island. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. Opened in 1898, Boblo Island was one of North America's. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 Though not all is lost. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. Bois Blanc Island, Pointe Aux Pins, MI 49775 +1 231-634-7100 + Add website + Add hours. They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. It is the remnant of a place where river boats took passengers to an amusement park on a Canadian island just to the south western end of the Detroit River. Ironically, after Canada abolished slavery in 1793, the island became a rest stop for escaped slaves traveling the Underground Railroad. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. The control room area through broken glass. Boblo Island is an Island in the Detroit River located directly west of Amherstburg, Ontario, on the Canadian side of the border. 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. 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. Plants and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. The place is oozing history. This is the view now from the end of the tunnel. Wild grapevine has made it to the second floor balcony of the gallery. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. Ex-MSU dean sues interim president for leading alleged plot to remove him. [3] The company had claimed it could exclude her because it was a private concern operating in another country and that neither Michigan nor any other state had authority to regulate commerce with Canada (a foreign country); the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Michigan Supreme Court, which had upheld the jurisdiction of the state's anti-discrimination provisions and found against the company. 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. Over the roughly two-and-a-half decades that have passed since the closure, many of the most telltale signs of the park have faded away, including the ultra spooky-looking ferry boats that used to. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? 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. Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. 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). I learned this and most of what I know about the history of Bob-Lo Island from 1670 2006 in the book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island by Patrick Livingston (published in 2008 by the Wayne State University Press in Detroit as a part of their Great Lakes Books series): How does Bob-Lo Island appear today, Saturday, July 30, 2011? There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. An old silent family home movie of a trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park, no longer existing. Barb's Boblo Tavern. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. Before I rode on it on the Island I had gone to a local fair and 3 other girls and I rode together on it and we laughed and really enjoyed it. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. The fire could not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks. why did boblo island close. The price is around $500k. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. This was particularly true during the Great Depression and the World War II era, when finances were tight and the world seemed to exist in a perpetual state of anxiety. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. What Occupation Did The Boblo Boat Workers Have? He's been with WDIV since 2013. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? The only access was via one of two ferries from Detroit or Amherstburg, the SS Ste. There are no hotels. The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . 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. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. Check out the tracker on the SE side of Boblo! The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. See All Homes for Sale in Amherstburg. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. Few physical reminders remain from the amusement park, which closed in 1993, but the island has had a surprising resurgence - as a quiet but thriving residential community. We also traveled from past to the present on the island, which was a must-visit destination for families for decades. [11] Roger Fachini, a 40-year-old engineer for General Dynamics and owner of a waterpark in Utica, Michigan, placed the winning $3.8 million bid and proposed redevelopment after two years,[12][13] but Boblo's creditors turned it down; after the deposit cheque bounced, they took $600,000 less in the bid from Enchanted Parks of Seattle, owners of the Wild Waves Theme Park near that city. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. . "Living on the island feels like being on vacation everyday," said Gena Boschin, a former Tennessee resident who lives on the island and works in Amherstburg. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. . Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. [17], In March 1994, the rides were dismantled and sold off piecemeal to the Pacific National Exhibition and a series of U.S. theme parks, a moment that confirmed the "worst fears" of Malden Township officials; the amusement park paid 25 percent of its taxes. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Newly restored in the Spring of 2013 by the residents of the community, they now offer Blockhouse tours on most Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. All rights reserved (About Us). It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. [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. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. the building is not secure, given that one-quarter of a large window in the front is broken in, metal strips hanging from its frame. She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. mopar 727 transmission casting numbers. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Boblo Island, originally names Bois Blanc (White Woods in French) opened as a Park in 1898. One island. A shack which held dynamite used for dredging the near-by channel was fired into by a group of boys out hunting or fishing. There are two total bedrooms in this home. 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 Ste. . You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. 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). The amusement park was so famous in its day that Henry Ford himself provided money for a Dance Hall to be built, designed by the architect John Scott. 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. Scattered over the restof the island, there are still a number of structures left from other erasmidst overgrown grass, downed limbs from trees, and more than a few other surprises: At the south end of the island, two pieces of history, although damaged, still stand: In the portion of the island that was once the amusement parkBob-Lo as the babyboomers knew ita number of structures still stand: Unfortunately, despite a private-property-no-trespassing sign . The homes come with all appliances. Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. At the end of the turbulent 75 minutes, Boblo Boats brings us up-to-date on restoration efforts for both ferries while simultaneously summoning an unanticipated moral force. Would love to know more about your experience working on the Bob-Lo boats. It had e. The park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. Review. [9] The loss of the Detroit ferry service dented attendance severely in the 1992 season, which along with poor weather caused the park to miss its attendance goal. To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. Now surrounded by tall grass and weeds, the park's historic entertainment theater remains near the center of the island. I worked on the Boats in 1980. See all (4) [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". No one was injured, and there is no word as to what punishment the boys received. One to pick up, and one to return people. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 The reasons for its closure were numerous, ranging from rising maintenance costs and poor management to stronger competition from the nearby, more attractive Cedar Point Park. OBSCURIST TOURIST 025 - Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. Competition came in, e.g., Sea World. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. A tri-plex home. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale YouTube Channel The park closed in 1993 as a result of poor management and attendance was shrinking because of other parks like Cedar Point. Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. ), Thank you so much for the great information. caliyah mcnabb photos; singapore new first class; grilled chicken with marinated tomatoes and onions; common entry level jobs for aerospace engineering; sims 4 reshade presets 2021; why did boblo island close. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. wayne hills high school marching band; code postal ariana borj louzir; homes for sale on cary drive auburn, al Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. 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. Ray was removed from the boat because she was not white, enforced according to a Bob-Lo company policy "excluding so-called 'zoot-suiters', the rowdyish, the rough, and the boisterous, and it also adopted the policy of excluding colored.