And I stood and looked across the river, and what I remember is no longer there, and Im 54 years old . The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. Everyone has a memory to tell. It was a Canadian Island and had passenger boats that sailed from Detroit, Gibraltar and Amherstburg Ontario. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. After coming aboard, visitors could look down from the main deck into the engine room, where powerful shafts and cams slowly warmed up. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. Fire destroys former Boblo boat at Detroit marina - The Detroit News The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. FOX 2 Detroit (WJBK) - The name 'Boblo' came back recently after a massive fire destroyed an iconic ferry that used to take people to and from the now closed island amusement park. From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. Only one blockhouse remains today. Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. Second case of COVID-19 confirmed in Windsor-Essex City of Windsor declares state of emergency, Devonshire and Tecumseh malls to close Boblo Island residential development plan moving forward. For those who lived it firsthand, though, Boblo Island was an accessible and affordable paradise right in Detroit's backyard. There's a white sand beach, walking trails, water sports, a waterside restaurant, an ice cream parlor and an in-ground pool. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. Documentary on Boblo Island To Be Shown in West Michigan Theaters Well, it went out of business a long time ago, but we found a few videos of what it looks like today -- check them out here. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. Very little remains, physically, of the amusement park attractions, but what we did find is fascinating, as you'll see in the link below. I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. 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. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . The price is a little over $300k. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. Why did Boblo Island shut down? Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. All Rights Reserved. Smudged by the past, we nevertheless feel a redemptive twinge in the final aerial shot as Dr. Kattoo hoists the flag over Claire's mended hull. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park | FREAKTOGRAPHY Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. 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. (LogOut/ It had e. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. Boblo Island closed 25 years ago: Here's what it looks like now Answer (1 of 2): I have barely recallable memories of POP. 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. 559 gold coast 777777 w It is a story told in a new movie that premiered last week in Detroit called "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale". The ship in mid-swing. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. what occupation did the boblo boat workers have My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. My husband is on the Grosse Ile Historical Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island in its heyday. The native Wyandot called the island "Etiowiteendannenti.Both the Wyandot and French names refer to the white wood appearance lent by the birch and poplar trees that line the banks. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The bike rental shop was closed, but you can check your weight for free. 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. 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. The 1878 Mangels-Illions Carousels 44 horses, two goats, and two deer were sold for more than $1 million. The Detroit river is very short - it merely connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? All Aboard: The Fight Against Segregation on Bob-Lo Island View TODAY's New Listings by beds, baths, lot size, listing status, days on market, & more! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. 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. It is the remnant of a place where river boats took passengers to an amusement park on a Canadian island just to the south western end of the Detroit River. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. Really sad. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Boblo Island is an Island in the Detroit River located directly west of Amherstburg, Ontario, on the Canadian side of the border. For more than a century, Bob-Lo Island had belonged to Ontario Province. An incident in 1902 caused a man-made mini earthquake on the island. [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 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. The steamers, the Ste. In fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. The SS Ste. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. 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. This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. The restaurants 2013 grand opening was May 24th. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. "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. That is what the park was supposed to be about. The 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! A documentary about Detroit's faded Boblo Island history weaves a It was in a time when the parents didn''t have to worry about the children. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! More waterfront dining. Bob-Lo Island | Detroit Historical Society The island has quite an interesting history. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? why did boblo island close bridge deck construction Visitors could travel between rides and attractions using a mini railroad. Im glad you made this comment. Purchasing a home on Boblo Island? It was on a small island in the Detroit River at the mouth of Lake Erie. I agree, Jennifer, very sad. The Park which eventually became Boblo Amusement Park got its first ride, the 178 48-animal Mangels-Illions Carousel. The price is around $500k. Boblo Island: A History Of The Abandoned Amusement Park (LogOut/ 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.. Each held about 2,500 passengers. The 16mm film is from around 1960. I can forward them to you if you would like. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Bob-Lo Island Ghosts - Great Lakes Island Escapes Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. Questions linger over speed, transparency, impact of Detroit port 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. Check out the tracker on the SE side of Boblo! The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. . These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. "[2] The Michigan Supreme Court fined the company $25 for the discrimination they presented towards Ray. Are there houses on Boblo Island? (2023) - ptylli.best This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you . The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. 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. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. 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. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. 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. Boblo boat fire caused by spark from welding - WXYZ Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. in subculturing, when do you use the inoculating loop cactus allergy symptoms mopar 727 transmission casting numbers. The Ste. In a sentence, I think, the world around POP changed. 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). what a fun and exciting place. Boblo's trains made a 20-minute circuit around about 2 miles of track . why did boblo island close - wanderingbakya.com I agree. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. The story of Boblo Island - WDIV Colorful adirondack chairs surround a campfire pit near Captain Bob's. Newly restored in the Spring of 2013 by the residents of the community, they now offer Blockhouse tours on most Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. The Boblo Boats, then and now - The Detroit News . Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. The Boblo Island Detroit dock building can be seen on the Detroit, Michigan side of the Detroit River. Boblo Island, originally names Bois Blanc (White Woods in French) opened as a Park in 1898. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. . BARB'S BOBLO TAVERN, Pointe Aux Pins - Tripadvisor 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. 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. washington county, maine death records 0. why did boblo island close. Sue Cicala. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. It is sad, Cheryl. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. 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. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Why did Boblo Island amusement park close its doors? - Quora [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. Boblo officially closed in 1993. It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. - Sally. For more than 85 years, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was famous for being served by the Steamer Ste Claire and the Steamer Columbia excursion boats that could hold about 2,500 passengers each. 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. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: why did boblo island close - kreweofcarrollton.org We also traveled from. The Carousel Building, built in 1905 to house the first amusement ride on Bob-Lo Island, served as a convention hall and later, the roller-skating rink (beginning with the 1940 season) before ending up as a theater. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. Abandoned Southern Ontario amusement park is an explorer's dream - blogTO The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years until they ceased operation in 1991. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. Ive always wondered about the island and have wanted to go back. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. Kathleen Saylors. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. 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. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. 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 . 6 reviews #1 of 2 Restaurants in Pointe Aux Pins American Pub. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. Windsor Mayor Arthur John Reaume wanted the island to be designated a National Park. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. Claire and the SS Columbia? For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. 11 Properties from $2,300. This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. [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. One island. To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. 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). Sq.Ft. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Call (519) 979-9949 to reach your Amherstburg real estate team, Team Goran of RE/MAX CARE Realty. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . 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 Although Boblo Island Beach House is pretty good. The control room area through broken glass. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. How to live on 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. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. In the years leading up to its closure, many of the rides were sold to satisfy debts. The island is about 2.5 miles long, 0.5 mile wide and 272 acres in size. [11] Roger Fachini, a 40-year-old engineer for General Dynamics and owner of a waterpark in Utica, Michigan, placed the winning $3.8 million bid and proposed redevelopment after two years,[12][13] but Boblo's creditors turned it down; after the deposit cheque bounced, they took $600,000 less in the bid from Enchanted Parks of Seattle, owners of the Wild Waves Theme Park near that city. This is the view now from the end of the tunnel. Though not all is lost. 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. I dont think it is sad at all! The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. 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).