(Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Getting to the dock in Detroit early in the morning, the anticipation of boarding the boat, the ride on the river, the views, the fact I could play an arcade game on a boat blew my small mind. Big changes for Sugar Island, good changes-it has made the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the island.It was not safe. All the passengers who had purchased round-trip tickets were comfortably aboardall, that is, but one. You can find the Boblo Island Beach House restaurant on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina Also the Boblo Island Marina: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina You may be able to get the information you need by writing to: BOBLOMARINA@BOBLO.CA You may want to mention youre coming from the States; I dont know the protocol for private boats crossing the international border in the river to dock. It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. - Marva, I am 63 years old and I remember Bob-lo so well. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. 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 Skip to content Menu I worked on the Boats in 1980. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. [5] The boats were sold off as a result of a decision to shutter operations at the Detroit dock. 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? These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. It was set on Ontario's picturesque Bois Blanc Island (frequently known as "Boblo Island") and featured everything you could want in a theme park. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. . 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. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. OBSCURIST TOURIST 025 - Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. - Bonnie, Oh! Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. . Touch device users . 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. Today, We take a look at the history and destiny of an iconic Detroit Metro Area former amusement park; Bob-Lo Island. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. But the partnership soon dissolved into a clash of wills that led to the collapse of the amusement park and a bitter lawsuit. However, due to lack of demand, the park closed in 2001 and never reopened. Having trotted out into the intersection, clearly not expecting anyone to be on the trail, the animal froze and then turned and shot back up the path, between thetall vegetation on each side, its hind legs trying to gain purchase on the crushed limestone. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans owns the deteriorating dock, which once served as a gateway for ferry passengers heading to the former Boblo Island amusement park. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from a dock next to the "Bob-Lo Discovery Centre.". Both doors are were chain locked. . Bois Blanc Island (sometimes referred to as Boblo Island despite complaints from people downstate who are familiar with the Boblo Island Amusement Park in Bois Blanc, Canada, in the Detroit River) is an island in Lake Huron in the southernmost part of Mackinac County. when was the last day of this park operated (i mean the last summur )when it was open for public for the last and until what day was the ferry or the steamer making trip, and can you visit it now. Flags at the Amherstburg Dock. [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. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. Suddenly, without any warning, there was a relatively large mammal in the middle of the trail, directly in the line of my front bike tire. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. The homes come with all appliances. Opened in Orlando in 1976, River Country was Walt Disney's first waterpark. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. You can visit the island now, as I did in July of 2011 (all the photos accompanying the blog posting above were taken on that visit), by taking a small car ferry across a narrow strip of the Detroit River from the Bob-Lo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. Obscured in a small wooded area between the Dance Pavilion and the Terminal are the remains of the minature golf course: Consider this: I did not see another person during my entire afternoon exploration of the historic sites on the island, except for three young teenage girls I observed leaving the Resorts community pool and making their way down to the river alone, to the channel between Bob-Lo and Amherstburg, where, nestled next to the Terminal, is a very small sand beach where they swam. $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. You can explore and find the foundations of the dance floor ruins. A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night. Rides, music, thrills, and lights attracted thousands of visitors year after year. Known as Boblo Amusement Park, it was wildly popular with American tourists throughout much of the 20th century until it closed in 1993. i need a boblo island abandoned amusement park date pic . Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. I agree. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. Well I would say as a resident (who by the way is not a mega millionaire), that we dont mind having company on the island and share it with those who want to come out. And I stood and looked across the river, and what I remember is no longer there, and Im 54 years old . The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. In June of 1999 Oram announced that he wished to recreate the amusement park on the mainland near Amherstburg, Ontario. The park closed in 1993 as a result of poor management and attendance was shrinking because of other parks like Cedar Point. Or not. A company called Premier Parks acquired the classic amusement park in 1995. Everyone has a memory to tell. More than a century later, in the 1920s, the amusement park opened on the sitethen closed in 1966 after the accidental deaths of two young patrons, including one on the spooky circular swing. Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. Only one blockhouse remains today. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. Bois Blanc Island, former site of the Bob-Lo Island amusement park, is located at southern endof the DetroitRiver before it enters Lake Erie,and is about one-half mile wide and three miles long. The price is around $500k. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. On June 21, 1945, the steamer Columbia blew its whistle and left the Detroit dock to make the eighteen-mile trip to the Bob-Lo Island Amusement Park. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. 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. Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. It is sad, Cheryl. The steamers, the Ste. The island has quite an interesting history. what a fun and exciting place. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. Interestingly, the islands history starts long before the amusement park was even planned. Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new. Thank you again for the information. The marina on the west side of Boblo Island. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. Boblo Island was very special. This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The sociology of unemployment - Tom Boland 2015-07-01 The sociology of unemployment is an analysis of the experience and governance of unemployment. 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. It was the site of a conflict in 1838 during the Upper Canadian Rebellion, where 50 attackers were locked in one of the three blockhouses that had been built on the island. Four million tourists flock to Liberty Island in New York each year to see the architectural marvel, The Statue of Liberty. Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. The earliest historical reference, from 1718, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land. . Since 1989, Kevin has collected miniature amusement park rides, and built a loose replica of Boblo Island in his home. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. Now surrounded by tall grass and weeds, the park's historic entertainment theater remains near the center of the island. I agree, Jennifer, very sad. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. In 1958 the island was the site of joint Canadian-American war games, addressing a hostile force presence with amphibious units from around the Great Lakes. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. Today, 24 years after the park was closed and 118 years after its grand opening, little remains as a reminder of the islands history. Take a look at the link below as we take you a journey through what was once Boblo Island Amusement Park, right up to its emerging transformation. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. 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. Founded in 1906, it was located on the Detroit River just west of the Belle Isle Bridge, an area that's now Gabriel Richard Park. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. It is not fair that these people can just take away the little bit of history we have left just so they can watch their bank accounts rise. 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. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. By 1910 the first amusement park rides, the carousel, ponies and a dancing pavillion were available. This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). It was finally decided in 1949 to officially re-name the island and the park Bob-Lo, in a matter of simplification (today it is still referred to by both names on maps of the area). [2], Though it was not looking for a buyer, the Michigan AAA sold Boblo Island in 1988 to the International Broadcasting Corporation, a Minneapolis-based concern that owned the Harlem Globetrotters and Ice Capades. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. From the U.S. (departing from Detroit) your routeto the ferry would looklike this: The ferry boat captain had to take the Detroit Rivers strong current into consideration in maneuvering the ferry boat to the dock. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on . 2y Gord Bailey OMG I worked that Ride! Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. . To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. Although I had $8.00 in Canadian currency in hand to pay the ferry toll, I rode the ferry without being charged and with no questions asked. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. A sign leads residents and visitors to dining venues and the marina on Boblo Island. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . 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). Bois Blanc is known regionally as the former home of the Boblo Island Amusement Park, which began operation in 1898 and closed on September 30, 1993. It opened in 1898 as Boblo Island Amusement Park on Bois Blanc Island (not the Bois Blanc up near Mackinac Island, but the one on the Detroit River). Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. 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). As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! 525 55 shares Like Most relevant Ryan Hance How long ago did this place close and why did it close down? 2y Julie Enmei Bondy While incapacitated in hospital, he lost legal control of island. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. Claire and the SS Columbia? The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. After 85 years of operation, these two sister steamships - the oldest in America - awaken from a deep slumber to find a devoted team of enthusiasts have set out to rescue them from their deteriorating state. These are the remains of some of the washrooms. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. . We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. 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. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. - LJ. Only a few buildings and the sky tower structure still stand. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. 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. Why did Boblo Island shut down? The people of Detroit, Michigan characterized it as that city's Coney Island. Bleacher seating remains intact in the abandoned theater. The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. In 1993, after nearly 100 years in the business of entertainment, it was decided that the park was to be closed. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. Cedar Point, which has world-famous roller coasters and a wider range of attractions, is close enough to the Detroit area for a day trip (for the very hardy). The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. Did you work on both the SS Ste. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. The boat was taken to Toledo on Tuesday. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". 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. We live on the east shore of Grosse Ile, we would love to take our boat to eat at the restaurant. Finally, A young entrepreneur who successfully turned around a floundering amusement park in suburban Seattle bought Bob-Lo hoping to turn it around. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. The rides were sold to other amusement parks around the country. He was 20 years older than me. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. About Boblo Island: saki, Japan. Beginning in 1952, Joe Short, a man of diminutive physical stature, was employed as 'Captain Boblo', and traveled on the boats entertaining passengers of all ages. Can you go over to the island any time? But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. My husband is on the Grosse Ile Historical Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island in its heyday. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. Its sister. Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. What a wonderful goal, Andrew! Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. What did you do? The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. Id built up this image of perfectly cut green grass, flowers, water slides and party halls, but what I saw when I stepped onto the old white dock was far from the oasis I was told about. Even the words scrawled across its portal announced simply "Eastwood Park.". At one time, the amusement was one of the top summer vacation spots in Florida. Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. Thank you again!! 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. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! I can forward them to you if you would like. It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. [20] Oram then leased and shut down the White Sands boater's hangout adjacent to the park site, citing trespassers but infuriating boaters; as a result, the lease was dropped within weeks. 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. The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. 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). 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 . Shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money from a dock to. Foundations of the dance pavilion is now home to residential property,,. To search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on some millionaires... 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