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. It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. . What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The far end of the island is now all luxury homes. 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 Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. 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. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. Neither will my grandchildren. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? Built all the way back in 1898, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was a shining beacon of wholesome fun. [1] The "Bob-Lo boats" boats were sold in November 1991. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. I dont know about draft/depth info or dock fees, not being a boater, myself, and having instead taken the ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." Thank you again!! Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. The best time was 8 hours and 42 minutes turned in by 17-year old Dorothy de Caussin and 15-year old Ida Mutnick, both of Detroit. 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. "That's probably because I have about twice as many rides as Boblo Island." But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. What a wonderful goal, Andrew! The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. [2] Can you go over to the island any time? Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. 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). 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. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from a dock next to the Bob-Lo Discovery Centre. The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take whenone departedon the other side of the border. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. http://boblo.ca/. In fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. 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. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Riding the Rotor at Kennywood Park near Pittsburgh in 1955. 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. 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. Plants and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. [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. 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 Ste. Now surrounded by tall grass and weeds, the park's historic entertainment theater remains near the center of the island. There are two total bedrooms in this home. The homes come with all appliances. 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. "For people who don't know, Boblo was an island amusement park that . I am only 12. Which theme park has the most deaths? 2y Shelly Premer Neault Still closed. Ray was there to celebrate her graduation from secretarial school with her classmates. Only a few buildings and the sky tower structure still stand. Kathi. 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. 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. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. When I was riding my bike on a trail that runs through the middle of the island, I came upon a T-intersection buried amidst tall, tall grass, with the Carousel Building on my left and the Powerhouse on my right. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. The ship in mid-swing. 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. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. 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. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. Sad that it no longer exists. The haunting pictures show graffiti, decrepit rides, and overgrown greenery. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. 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). By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. . The folks from the residential areas use golf carts toget to the community pool in the center of the island, just a stones throw from the almost hundred-year-old, still standing Dance Pavilion: And here is where things get interesting. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. Poison ivy now grows in the ring of mature trees in front of the Lavatory building, where I imagine the men in hatsretiring for a smoke while they await their dates inflapper attireto emerge from The Ladies Room.. How to live on Boblo Island: The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. 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. I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. This historic boat carried passengers to and from Boblo Island, and amusement park located on the Detroit River. The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. 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. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. The 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. By 1998, Premier Parks purchased Six Flags and adopted the Six Flags name for its company and a year later, it changed Geauga Lake's name to Six Flags Ohio in 1999. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. The park closed in 1996 after several personal injury lawsuits were filed against it. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. These steamers could carry more than 2,000 passengers from Detroit to the island. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? Or not. The park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. You can just picture all of the kids having fun smashing into each other in their cars. All rights reserved (About Us). 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). Since the amusement park's closure, Boblo Island has been renovated for luxury homes. Interestingly, the islands history starts long before the amusement park was even planned. Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, Photographer Joe Clark. Very little remains, physically, of the amusement park attractions, but what we did find is fascinating, as you'll see in the link below. After the boats docked at night back in Detroit, Mr. Short continued entertaining at the local bars and taverns he frequented.[33]. Both doors are were chain locked. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. 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. 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 plan is to restore it and have it run in the Hudson River Valley. Here's what we saw as we recently explored the amusement park area. 2y Guy Adelini One of my favorite rides! I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. 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. Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. Anyone . 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. The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. Its entrance is at Vernon Boulevard and Main Street in Astoria. 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. [25], American investors were scared away after the September 11 attacks, which hurt the financial outlook for the development. It's docked in New York. 1937 Technically, it was known as Eastwood Amusement Park, but nearly everyone called it Eastwood Park, or just Eastwood. How to get to Boblo Island: The dance pavilion built in 1913 was the largest in North America until 1925. Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. 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). He was 20 years older than me. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. [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. I do hope that someone will come along and restore the park back to its prime, so we can get families and the community back together again, and we can share our memories with the generations to come. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . . British troops captured 60 of the attackers and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. I worked on the Boats in 1980. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! Bois Blanc Island (Ontario) Who owns Boblo Island? The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. They are located next to the Dance Hall. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. OBSCURIST TOURIST 025 - Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Narrated by Motown legend Martha Reeves, the movie "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale" is finally in theatres. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. The SS Ste. 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 . http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. You can also visit Boblo.ca. . Some recent activity indicates this one might be saved. | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. At about 34-square miles, the island is 12 miles long and six miles long. 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. The island is now a residential community. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. 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. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. 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