[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. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. All rights reserved (About Us). Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. For more than a century, Bob-Lo Island had belonged to Ontario Province. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. [10], With no buyers materializing, Norton Auctioneers of Coldwater, Michigan, was retained to sell the property at auction on February 10, 1993. 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. 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 . I would make sure my friends knew all the history of Bob-Lo. Why did Boblo Island close? 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). The island is now a residential community. Find the best offers for your search boblo island. 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. Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. Claire provided . 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. It closed for good in 1993, 25 years ago. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. 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. Both doors are were chain locked. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. This is now the only ferry which goes to and from Boblo Island. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. 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. Each held about 2,500 passengers. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. I vaguely remember going to Boblo Island Amusement Park as a kid and recently found myself wondering what happened to the place. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. It is sad, Cheryl. 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. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. We also traveled from past to the present on the island, which was a must-visit destination for families for decades. If the boat looks familiar, it is not your imagination. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. wayne hills high school marching band; code postal ariana borj louzir; homes for sale on cary drive auburn, al 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 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. 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. Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. 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). There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. We dont save anything for history any more. (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? . Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. 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. 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. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. 11 Properties from $2,300. You can find the Boblo Island Beach House restaurant on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina Also the Boblo Island Marina: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina You may be able to get the information you need by writing to: BOBLOMARINA@BOBLO.CA You may want to mention youre coming from the States; I dont know the protocol for private boats crossing the international border in the river to dock. The last day of "Oldies Week" is today (at least for now), and the response from the Woody Boater community was fantastic. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. Share. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. I dont think it is sad at all! Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. A woman leans against the fence in the foreground to take a picture of the ride. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. The men's entrance is to the left. If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. All rights reserved (About Us). The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. 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. 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. Can you go over to the island any time? This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. 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. The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years until they ceased operation in 1991. 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! The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. 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. On the south side of the road leading from the ferry dock is a five-story condominium: Between the river and the condominium is a trail which heads south along the islands perimeter and allows a walker orbicyclist to view a number of historical structures, including the Sailors Monument, which still graces the eastern shore of the island: The commemorative plaque affixed to the Sailors Monument reads: Dedicated to 134 years of American-Canadian friendship across 4500 miles of unfortified border, protected only by the mutual respect and understanding one nation holds for the other. View TODAY's New Listings by beds, baths, lot size, listing status, days on market, & more! This is what the more than 100-year old steamer looked like a few years ago. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. [17], In March 1994, the rides were dismantled and sold off piecemeal to the Pacific National Exhibition and a series of U.S. theme parks, a moment that confirmed the "worst fears" of Malden Township officials; the amusement park paid 25 percent of its taxes. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. If it wasnt for him to have done that for everyone, our world would never have known how peaceful, relaxing, fun, and most of all memorable a park could be. Did you work on both the SS Ste. Boblo Island today: Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers 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. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. When you disembark from the ferry, youfindyourself adjacent to a private very well-to-do residential area. In fact, one of those . And a Fairyland park on the ocean in OR, etc. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 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. [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. [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. . Comments Off on why did boblo island close; June 9, 2022; why did boblo island close 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. I am so sad every time I think about Bob Lo. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. what a fun and exciting place. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. Huntington. All Rights Reserved. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The homes come with all appliances. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. Boblo officially closed in 1993. I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. [24] The island was off limits to non-residents until 2002. I worked on the Boats in 1980. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. They are located next to the Dance Hall. To the north of the road leading from the ferry dock is a subdivision ofmini-mansions and duplexes, with an emphasis on stone and heavy on Victorian-style turrets. Claire, seen in 2016. - Bonnie, Oh! If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. Boblo Island, originally names Bois Blanc (White Woods in French) opened as a Park in 1898. A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. This is the remnants of an old putt-putt golf course. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. Boblo Island is an Island in the Detroit River located directly west of Amherstburg, Ontario, on the Canadian side of the border. The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. The park, which. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! This photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. 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 amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. It was on a small island in the Detroit River at the mouth of Lake Erie. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. I did notice, however, the last time we went the island had gone downhill quite a bit. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. 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. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. For those who lived it firsthand, though, Boblo Island was an accessible and affordable paradise right in Detroit's backyard. To get to Bob-Lo Islandin the 21st century, you takea ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario, instead of from the old dock on Jefferson Avenuein Detroit. This is the observation area which would rise to the top. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. What Occupation Did The Boblo Boat Workers Have? Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. the building is not secure, given that one-quarter of a large window in the front is broken in, metal strips hanging from its frame. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. 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 16mm film is from around 1960. They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. You do it for other people. 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. . Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company, From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina. By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. In a sentence, I think, the world around POP changed. There are no hotels. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. 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 learned this and most of what I know about the history of Bob-Lo Island from 1670 2006 in the book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island by Patrick Livingston (published in 2008 by the Wayne State University Press in Detroit as a part of their Great Lakes Books series): How does Bob-Lo Island appear today, Saturday, July 30, 2011? This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. You support the mega millionaires who dont care about anything else in life except their bank accounts. why did boblo island close. The swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which became a fan favorite. 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.
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