A powerhouse that supplied electricity to the nearby Carousel which is no longer there. I did notice, however, the last time we went the island had gone downhill quite a bit. - Sally. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. It was like a little cruise. 3 F 1 1/2. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. 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. Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. And I stood and looked across the river, and what I remember is no longer there, and Im 54 years old . It had e. You can also visit Boblo.ca. The Bobl-Lo Island of today? This is private property and the doors are chain locked. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? Boblo's trains made a 20-minute circuit around about 2 miles of track . 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. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. The once site of the infamous amusement park has been renamed erasing one of the last remnants of days gone by. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. 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. Each year the largest gathering was sponsored by the St. Andrews Society of Detroit, which would often draw more than 10,000 visitors to their Scottish Games. We also traveled from. Only one blockhouse remains today. The dance pavilion built in 1913 was the largest in North America until 1925. We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. 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. The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. In this respect, today, Bob-Lo Island appears a bead broken off from the strand, adrift in more than just the Detroi River, its historic integrity drowned in the current of a sequence of ill-fated development schemes. How to rent hobbit-type MUSHROOM HOUSES in Northern Michigan, Haunting insides of the abandoned NORTHVILLE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, See Michigan's only ALPINE MOUNTAIN SLIDE, 1,700 feet of fun, Inside Michigan's OLDEST OPERATING INN built in 1835, This may be the MOST PICTURESQUE spot in Michigan, Inside the SMITHSONIAN OF MAGIC, located in Michigan, We explored WARREN DUNES, the Sleeping Bear of Southwest MI, GoPro video riding MICHIGAN'S LONGEST ZIPLINE, Exploring Michigan's abandoned, haunted ELOISE ASYLUM, Country's LARGEST AUTO MUSEUM is in the middle of nowhere, Michigan. Locate and compare 4423631-Canada-Inc in Colchester Country ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company, From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. I vaguely remember going to Boblo Island Amusement Park as a kid and recently found myself wondering what happened to the place. 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). why did boblo island close. The island has quite an interesting history. I, too, went there every year as a child from Detroit. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. My husband is from why did boblo island close. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. Comments Off on why did boblo island close; June 9, 2022; why did boblo island close [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. The control room area through broken glass. You know what I think, I have never been over there. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. 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. The island is now a residential community. This is what the more than 100-year old steamer looked like a few years ago. I am only 12. 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. Boblo closed for good in September 1993. I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. Save. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. There are no hotels. The last screams of joy could be heard from the little island of fun 25 years ago as the Cedar Point of Michigan closed for the final time. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. Boblo Island closed for essentially the same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed. The ship in mid-swing. Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. This is the structure that once housed the Boblo Island Amusement Park bumper cars. [5] The boats were sold off as a result of a decision to shutter operations at the Detroit dock. It was great to see all the vintage photos and stories from the good old days of classic boating when wooden boats were the norm, not the exception. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. Thank you again!! 0 Comments Comments The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale All rights reserved (About Us). These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. . The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. Posted . http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/17/historic-boblo-island-blo_n_1098807.html, http://www.flickr.com/photos/33535417@N05/4112593095/, http://www.boblo.ca/pages/living/restaurant.html, https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina, http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit, http://www.freep.com/article/20140706/NEWS05/307060053/boblo-island-memories-boat-development, http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/grosse-iles-sugar-island-beach-opens-to-public-saturday/, Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant Houzz Home, Slaves (traveling the Underground Railroad), The south blockhouse, built in 1838 (Update: See. It may be under different management than when I had a pretty tasty perch sandwich there, but you can find out more, including their hours at: http://www.boblo.ca/pages/living/restaurant.html, Thank you very much for info. Larry Benaroya, his associate, and his Northern Capital took control of the property; Mancini was fired, and the ownership group put it back on the market in January 1994. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. 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. There are two total bedrooms in this home. 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. 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.. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. The price is around $500k. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. All Rights Reserved. Sue Cicala. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. In fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! 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. It's docked in New York. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. Here are some we found on various blogs and forums: I was one of the last generations of people who were able to enjoy Bob-Lo island amusement park. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. 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). [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. ), Thank you so much for the great information. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. Boblo Island Timeline from the Detroit News, "Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, 333 U.S. 28 (1948)", "Boblo amusement park purchased by U.S. firm", "Park yours for $9 million: Owner says sellany development OK", "Boblo remains viable business, observer says", "Boblo Island gets no nibbles, no takers, says realtor", "Bad news rains on financially troubled Boblo", "Michigan investors unlikely to appeal Boblo ownership", "Boblo tradition seems safer with Seattle owner", "Dance band on the Titanic: Boblo's last tangle", "Former Boblo partner sues ex-partners over sale", "Boblo's roller-coaster saga ends: Piece by historic piece, popular park dismantled", "Boblo's heyday not forgotten: New owner has ties to area", "New Boblo owner offers few details to packed house", "Boblo Island to get 52-home development", "Oram outlines plans for Boblo Island's condominium project", "Boblo in receivership: Island awash in $19M in red ink", "Boblo adrift in red ink: Receiver KPMG finds no money left", "Boblo rising from the dust: New ownership infuses elite island community with optimism", "Amherstburg reminisces after Boblo Island tower demolished", Boblo Island Dance Hall Story from the Detroit News, "Detroit Free Press: Former Boblo Island music machine may draw up to $2.5 million at auction", "Boblo Island then and now: See historic photos and amusement park remains", "Boblo Island boat owners hopeful for restoring of damaged boat", Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive: Boblo Island (Ontario), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boblo_Island_Amusement_Park&oldid=1114994535, Tourist attractions in Essex County, Ontario, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 October 2022, at 09:00. The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. Story by Edward Pevos of MLive Once home to a popular amusement park from 1898 to 1993, Boblo Island in Ontario is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. [25], American investors were scared away after the September 11 attacks, which hurt the financial outlook for the development. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. 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). The Park which eventually became Boblo Amusement Park got its first ride, the 178 48-animal Mangels-Illions Carousel. 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. After 1796, British interests controlled the island and it was the staging point for the first local action in the War of 1812. The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years until they ceased operation in 1991. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The last screams of joy could be heard from the little island of fun 25 years ago as the Cedar Point of Michigan closed for the final time. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. "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. The park, which. The name of the island was changed to Boblo in 1929 when visitors had problems correctly pronouncing the original French name. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. Technically speaking, the island was a part of Canada (Bois Blanc Island, Ontario to be exact) but was just a short ferry ride up the Detroit River from the city of Detroit. Locate and compare Service d'ambulance in Mersea ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. [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. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". Opened in 1898, Boblo Island was one of North America's. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. While incapacitated in hospital, he lost legal control of island. With all the history on that island, I dont get it why it was left to die. 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.

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