See All Homes for Sale in Amherstburg. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. Which may not be surprising, given that its been many thingscamp for European explorers, fortress, picnic spot, dance venue, amusement park, retreatto many people over the centuries beginning with four Algonquin and Iroquoian tribes:the Ojibwa (Chippewa), Ottawa, Potawatomi and the Wyandot (Huron)one source claims the original name of the island was Etiowiteedannenti, a name bestowed by the Wyandotand followed by: The first recorded passage to the island, which was named Bois Blanc (White Woods), by the French dates from 1670. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. The island is about 2.5 miles long, 0.5 mile wide and 272 acres in size. 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. I dont think it is sad at all! The control room area through broken glass. We also traveled from past to the present on the island, which was a must-visit destination for families for decades. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. The Ste. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 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. mike smithson tutor perini; ford f 350 ignition switch replacement. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. Huntington. 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. The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. 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. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. 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. Following the war, British forces garrisoned at Fort Malden in Amherstburg, across the river from Bois Blanc, and strengthened their position by building three blockhouses on the island. Can you go over to the island any time? Unfortunately, my search came up empty. Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. 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. 11 Properties from $2,300. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. This is now the only ferry which goes to and from Boblo Island. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. 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. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. why did boblo island close. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. Edit: I hope it's just a tracker issue but it seemed to be working fine. 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. 2022-09-26. If the boat looks familiar, it is not your imagination. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. Built in the early 1900s, the SS Columbia and SS Ste. You'd be hard-pressed to find much evidence of those rides now. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. Clair and the SS Columbia. How to live on Boblo Island: 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. [32] The dance hall was the second largest in the world, holding 5,000 dancers at full capacity[31] and featured one of the world's largest orchestrions from the Welte company: a 16 foot tall, 14 foot wide, self-playing Wotan-model orchestrion with 419 pipes and percussion section. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. Share. I can forward them to you if you would like. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. - Bonnie, Oh! Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. Why did Boblo Island close? Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! - 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. Boblo Island closed for essentially the same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed. The Bob-Lo boats, once looked upon as part of the attraction of going on a trip to Bob-Lo were later being looked at as time wasted that could have been spent at the park. . One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. Boblo closed for good in September 1993. This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. 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. I did notice, however, the last time we went the island had gone downhill quite a bit. Ex-MSU dean sues interim president for leading alleged plot to remove him. 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.. This is private property and the doors are chain locked. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! The Sky Streak Ride, for example, was moved to Selva Magica, a theme park in Mexico, and the Nightmare was initially moved to Six Flags Houston where it was known as the Mayan Mindbender, only to be moved once again to a theme park in Amarillo, Texas. The Boblo Island Detroit dock building can be seen on the Detroit, Michigan side of the Detroit River. The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. 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. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. [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. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. 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. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. We also traveled from. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. No one was injured, and there is no word as to what punishment the boys received. Hard to believe, but for the first time in 124 years, there is no such place as Boblo Island. Colorful adirondack chairs surround a campfire pit near Captain Bob's. In 1993, after nearly 100 years in the business of entertainment, it was decided that the park was to be closed. 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. Only one blockhouse remains today. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. . Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. 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. Boblo Island was very special. A woman leans against the fence in the foreground to take a picture of the ride. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. He was 20 years older than me. [2] All rights reserved (About Us). Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The last summer that Bob-Lo operated as an amusement park was almost two decades ago: 1993. Between my concerns for the submerged rocks of the river and the mortar of history I was climbing over, I thought, what a wonderful place this island would be to explore if you were a kid or teenager and what a nightmare it poses for parents or grandparents of those explorers! 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. I wouldnt identify the owners in this suburban retreat as millionaires, but the island has been many things to many people over the centuries: the Ojibwe, the Ottawa, the Potawatomi, and the Wyandot all used the island before it was christened Bois Blanc. Later it was: a camp for European explorers, the site of a French Catholic mission, within reach of a British fort, headquarters for the Shawnee chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812, an invasion site for Canadian patriots during the Upper Canada Rebellion, and more recently, a picnic spot and a dance venue, all before the rise and decline of the amusement park. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. The island has quite an interesting history. 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. It disappeared for the same reasons like Marineland of the Pacific, and the park in Long Beach. 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. 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. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. Did you work on both the SS Ste. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. [5] The boats were sold off as a result of a decision to shutter operations at the Detroit dock. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . why did boblo island close. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. 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. 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 children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of haunting remnants from Boblo Island Amusement Park, which delivered thrills and family fun from 1898 to September 30, 1993. Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. 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 ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on. For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. Boblo's trains made a 20-minute circuit around about 2 miles of track . Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. Boblo officially closed in 1993. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. Save. All rights reserved (About Us). 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. The Bobl-Lo Island of today? The only access was via one of two ferries from Detroit or Amherstburg, the SS Ste. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. The 18-mile boat ride was carried out by the famous ships: the Columbia, built in 1902, and the Ste. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. St. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. It was awesome place. Remember it was a time when girls wore dresses and not pants, so we sure had to be careful on the rides (check out the pictures how the girls were dressed). The biggest surprise during my visit to Bob-Lo came from a different sort of stranger than the type Id been envisioning when I was watching the girls swim in the river. airbnb sarasota downtown; payday 2 infinite equipment mod; conduct unbecoming a police officer examples; randomforestclassifier' object has no attribute estimators_ Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. 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. [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. . The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. Check out recent photos from one of the Boblo boats. 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. Founded in 2017, K.K.Dhandapani World School, Deevanur is a part of the Dharani Educational institutions group. You can explore and find the foundations of the dance floor ruins. 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 island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide. One to pick up, and one to return people. The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years until they ceased operation in 1991. That is what the park was supposed to be about. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? In the beginning it was a picnic spot with beaches, athletic fields, bicycle tracks, and a stunning Mangels-Illions carousel. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Barb's Boblo Tavern. washington county, maine death records 0. why did boblo island close. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. It is sad, Cheryl. 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. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. The living space of the Deerview twin villas. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. [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. 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 The SS Ste. Though not all is lost. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. 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. why did boblo island close. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. Competition came in, e.g., Sea World. The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. 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. He's been with WDIV since 2013. 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. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. 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! Although Boblo Island Beach House is pretty good. Posted . If anyone has Meade Gougeon's cell number, seriously, call him. (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. why did boblo island close. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Although there was a bike rental business near the marina and Beach House Restaurant on the west side of the island (the ferry dock is on the east side of the island), it was not open for business on the beautiful summer weekend day I was there, so I wouldnt count on being able to rent a bike on the island. 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. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. (LogOut/ The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. 3 F 1 1/2. Sq.Ft. [1] The "Bob-Lo boats" boats were sold in November 1991. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". These are the remains of some of the washrooms. 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. The island is now a residential community. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. "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. 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). 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 . My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. There's a white sand beach, walking trails, water sports, a waterside restaurant, an ice cream parlor and an in-ground pool. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. The park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. 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. His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park. In the ride's final incarnation, the train itself was a scale recreation of Central Pacific Railroad's 19 th century C.P. 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. The subdivision consists of a loop of a street containing a court within the loop. From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. Claire, seen in 2016. I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to 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. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. Boblo Island, originally names Bois Blanc (White Woods in French) opened as a Park in 1898. It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. 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. The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. OBSCURIST TOURIST 025 - Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? 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). Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. 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 found this very useful for Information! Check out the tracker on the SE side of Boblo! The park, which. Boblo Island opened 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). Claire and the SS Columbia? One island. It blew up, shaking the island and sending rocks flying. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night. After coming aboard, visitors could look down from the main deck into the engine room, where powerful shafts and cams slowly warmed up. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. The once site of the infamous amusement park has been renamed erasing one of the last remnants of days gone by. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. It is now an expensive, gated housing community with a private clubhouse. It was on a small island in the Detroit River at the mouth of Lake Erie. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. For more than a century, Bob-Lo Island had belonged to Ontario Province. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. In June 1945, Sarah Elizabeth Ray and 12 other female workers involved in the war effort (and referred to as "girls" during the legal proceedings) took part in a sponsored trip to Boblo Island. 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.