[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. 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. 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. 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. 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). I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. Barely visible remains of the park. 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. 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. The Detroit river is very short - it merely connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie. Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. Heres an article that was in this past Sundays Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/article/20140706/NEWS05/307060053/boblo-island-memories-boat-development Speaking of Sugar Island, have you heard, as of last year, theres now a public beach there? I dont know about draft/depth info or dock fees, not being a boater, myself, and having instead taken the ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario. You know what I think, I have never been over there. Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. [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 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. Although Boblo Island Beach House is pretty good. 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. St. Anyone remember how much fun the dance floor was and how beautiful the boats were. Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin is located on the western shore of Boblo Island, and is open for residents and visitors from Thursday through Sunday. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! 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). With all the history on that island, I dont get it why it was left to die. Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. The dance pavilion built in 1913 was the largest in North America until 1925. The bike rental shop was closed, but you can check your weight for free. 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. 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. 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. No one was injured, and there is no word as to what punishment the boys received. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). - LJ. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Check out recent photos from one of the Boblo boats. It was a terrible idea to put a roller coaster in there. 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. . He wore a variety of colorful clothing, including a large hat with 'Captain Bob Lo' on the peak, and was typically equipped with binoculars for navigation purposes. There are just two ways in and out of the island. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of. The island is about 2.5 miles long, 0.5 mile wide and 272 acres in size. We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. This is now the only ferry which goes to and from Boblo Island. 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. 582 gold coast drive boblo island ontario windsor essex ontario mls 22015670 video tour available at https wwwdangemuscom listings welcome to the awesome lifestyle on bois blanc also known as boblo. The Columbia's ship keeper, Sam Buchanan, said the St. Clair has "a prominent role" in. Embark on a CRUISE FROM DETROIT for the first time in decades, Stay the night at this ghostly-looking MICHIGAN CASTLE, SECRET VINTAGE COKE MUSEUM inside a Michigan 50's diner. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. Really sad. The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. The place is oozing history. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. A street sign shows people where they are as they arrive on the island. 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. It was a Canadian Island and had passenger boats that sailed from Detroit, Gibraltar and Amherstburg Ontario. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. It is sad, Cheryl. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. Everyone has a memory to tell. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. A sign leads residents and visitors to dining venues and the marina on Boblo Island. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. 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! In 1991, the two Boblo boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, MI., to the island, as well as to and from Amherstburg, Ontario. mike smithson tutor perini; ford f 350 ignition switch replacement. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. After the boats docked at night back in Detroit, Mr. Short continued entertaining at the local bars and taverns he frequented.[33]. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. Answer: 90% of the time, it's because the parks don't have enough money and/or business to keep up with running costs, and the parks simply close and are left to rot. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. Newly restored in the Spring of 2013 by the residents of the community, they now offer Blockhouse tours on most Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. An old silent family home movie of a trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park, no longer existing. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. Parts of that tower still stand. I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. Boblo Island was very special. Kathleen Saylors. Anyone can go on the island via the ferry for a fee of $10 round-trip, but Boblo isn't a typical tourist destination. People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night. 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. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. 2022-09-26. 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. 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. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. If anyone has Meade Gougeon's cell number, seriously, call him. 0 Comments Comments We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. We live on the east shore of Grosse Ile, we would love to take our boat to eat at the restaurant. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. (From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina), BOBLO BOAT TOUR: Take a video tour of the historic boat that traveled the Detroit River for 81 years. airbnb sarasota downtown; payday 2 infinite equipment mod; conduct unbecoming a police officer examples; randomforestclassifier' object has no attribute estimators_ 2023 Detroit Historical Society. Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. 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. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. I vaguely remember going to Boblo Island Amusement Park as a kid and recently found myself wondering what happened to the place. Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. Nessel calls on DTE, Consumers to issue automatic power outage credits after storm. 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. The price is around $500k. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. Boblo Island is accessible by a 16-car ferry that departs from the dock next to the Bob-Lo Island Discovery Centre, which is at 340 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg, ON. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. 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. About Boblo Island: The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years until they ceased operation in 1991. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. why did boblo island close. "[2] The Michigan Supreme Court fined the company $25 for the discrimination they presented towards Ray. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. In fact, one of those . You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. What a wonderful goal, Andrew! A shack which held dynamite used for dredging the near-by channel was fired into by a group of boys out hunting or fishing. One to pick up, and one to return people. It is now an expensive, gated housing community with a private clubhouse. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide. 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. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? It closed for good in 1993, 25 years ago. I would make sure my friends knew all the history of Bob-Lo. 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). During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. 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. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. It's docked in New York. One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. Review. . The Park which eventually became Boblo Amusement Park got its first ride, the 178 48-animal Mangels-Illions Carousel. 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. How to live on Boblo Island: Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. The homes come with all appliances. 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.
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