The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new. 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. The 1878 Mangels-Illions Carousels 44 horses, two goats, and two deer were sold for more than $1 million. How to live on Boblo Island: The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. 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. Thank you again for the information. The Boblo Island Detroit dock building can be seen on the Detroit, Michigan side of the Detroit River. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Bob-Lo Excursion Company and the 50 years of Canadian-American use of Bob-Lo Island as an International recreation area. [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. The place is oozing history. I did notice, however, the last time we went the island had gone downhill quite a bit. It is sad, Cheryl. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. This is private property and the doors are chain locked. The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. Check out the tracker on the SE side of Boblo! 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). Barely visible remains of the park. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. caliyah mcnabb photos; singapore new first class; grilled chicken with marinated tomatoes and onions; common entry level jobs for aerospace engineering; sims 4 reshade presets 2021; why did boblo island close. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. The once site of the infamous amusement park has been renamed erasing one of the last remnants of days gone by. Claire provided . More waterfront dining. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. What did you do? But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. 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. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. 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? The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Find the best offers for your search boblo island. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. If anyone has Meade Gougeon's cell number, seriously, call him. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. What Occupation Did The Boblo Boat Workers Have? Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company, From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina. 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 old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. Share. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. A powerhouse that supplied electricity to the nearby Carousel which is no longer there. The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. The last summer that Bob-Lo operated as an amusement park was almost two decades ago: 1993. This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). At the end of the turbulent 75 minutes, Boblo Boats brings us up-to-date on restoration efforts for both ferries while simultaneously summoning an unanticipated moral force. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. "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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In fact, one of those . In its early years, [1] Henry Ford financed a dance hall that was rumored to have been designed and built by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn,[31] but was later determined to have been designed by John Scott. It was a Canadian Island and had passenger boats that sailed from Detroit, Gibraltar and Amherstburg Ontario. These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. British troops captured 60 of the attackers and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. View TODAY's New Listings by beds, baths, lot size, listing status, days on market, & more! The Park which eventually became Boblo Amusement Park got its first ride, the 178 48-animal Mangels-Illions Carousel. 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. The men's entrance is to the left. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. 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. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. It was like a little cruise. Competition came in, e.g., Sea World. It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. It was on a small island in the Detroit River at the mouth of Lake Erie. (LogOut/ Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. Huntington. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. The control room area through broken glass. 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. The subdivision consists of a loop of a street containing a court within the loop. How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. For those who lived it firsthand, though, Boblo Island was an accessible and affordable paradise right in Detroit's backyard. The price is around $500k. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. Anyone can go on the island via the ferry for a fee of $10 round-trip, but Boblo isn't a typical tourist destination. The island has quite an interesting history. 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). One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. 2022-09-26. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. The living space of the Deerview twin villas. 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. The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers. [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. [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. Here's what we saw as we recently explored the amusement park area. Thank you again!! 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. The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. Comments Off on why did boblo island close; June 9, 2022; why did boblo island close An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. Bois Blanc Island was where Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, a Native American warrior, decided to place his headquarters during the War of 1812. He's been with WDIV since 2013. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. - 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. Claire, built in 1910. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. Bois Blanc Island, Pointe Aux Pins, MI 49775 +1 231-634-7100 + Add website + Add hours. [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. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. 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. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? [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. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. Mon-Wed 8:30 - 7:00 Thu-Fri 8:30 - 7:00 Sat 8:30 . What I remember about Bob-Lo Island specifically, the entrance coming off of the boat, one of the last times I went the Simpsons were the mascots and I met Bart and Homer. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." 6 reviews #1 of 2 Restaurants in Pointe Aux Pins American Pub. Both doors are were chain locked. This is the view now from the end of the tunnel. A private community is now being built on the island. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. Boblo Island Timeline from the Detroit News, "Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, 333 U.S. 28 (1948)", "Boblo amusement park purchased by U.S. firm", "Park yours for $9 million: Owner says sellany development OK", "Boblo remains viable business, observer says", "Boblo Island gets no nibbles, no takers, says realtor", "Bad news rains on financially troubled Boblo", "Michigan investors unlikely to appeal Boblo ownership", "Boblo tradition seems safer with Seattle owner", "Dance band on the Titanic: Boblo's last tangle", "Former Boblo partner sues ex-partners over sale", "Boblo's roller-coaster saga ends: Piece by historic piece, popular park dismantled", "Boblo's heyday not forgotten: New owner has ties to area", "New Boblo owner offers few details to packed house", "Boblo Island to get 52-home development", "Oram outlines plans for Boblo Island's condominium project", "Boblo in receivership: Island awash in $19M in red ink", "Boblo adrift in red ink: Receiver KPMG finds no money left", "Boblo rising from the dust: New ownership infuses elite island community with optimism", "Amherstburg reminisces after Boblo Island tower demolished", Boblo Island Dance Hall Story from the Detroit News, "Detroit Free Press: Former Boblo Island music machine may draw up to $2.5 million at auction", "Boblo Island then and now: See historic photos and amusement park remains", "Boblo Island boat owners hopeful for restoring of damaged boat", Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive: Boblo Island (Ontario), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boblo_Island_Amusement_Park&oldid=1114994535, Tourist attractions in Essex County, Ontario, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 October 2022, at 09:00. Boblo Island today: People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. And a Fairyland park on the ocean in OR, etc. Officially, Bob-Lo Island is now billed as a Marina Resort Community, but Bob-Lo currently exhibits the most profound split personality of any islandperhaps any placeIve ever been. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. . Today, 24 years after the park was closed and 118 years after its grand opening, little remains as a reminder of the islands history. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. . Though not all is lost. Look at Sugar Island.it once was a special place. Can you go over to the island any time? Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. Before July 30, 2011, my last visit to Bob-Lo had been in June of 1968. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. Rochester Hills mom testifies about 2 . 3 F 1 1/2. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. 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. It was the site of a conflict in 1838 during the Upper Canadian Rebellion, where 50 attackers were locked in one of the three blockhouses that had been built on the island. She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. In 1993, after nearly 100 years in the business of entertainment, it was decided that the park was to be closed. I worked on the Boats in 1980. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. In the ride's final incarnation, the train itself was a scale recreation of Central Pacific Railroad's 19 th century C.P. Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. You can visit the island now, as I did in July of 2011 (all the photos accompanying the blog posting above were taken on that visit), by taking a small car ferry across a narrow strip of the Detroit River from the Bob-Lo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. 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. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? Technically speaking, the island was a part of Canada (Bois Blanc Island, Ontario to be exact) but was just a short ferry ride up the Detroit River from the city of Detroit. [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. 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. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. We also traveled from. Boblo closed for good in September 1993. 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. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The homes come with all appliances. Answer (1 of 2): I have barely recallable memories of POP. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. Change). He was 20 years older than me. 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. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: Everyone has a memory to tell. Boblo's miniature railroad was perfect for those interested in something more leisurely than the island's rollercoaster. 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. It is a story told in a new movie that premiered last week in Detroit called "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale". An incident in 1902 caused a man-made mini earthquake on the island. . My concern with respect to Bob-Lo Island is that what structures are left from the islands very interesting history are not being adequately protected. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. Kathi. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Now surrounded by tall grass and weeds, the park's historic entertainment theater remains near the center of the island. Over the years, the crowds going to Bob-Lo on the boat would were increasingly loud and rude and some people avoided going to Bob-Lo to avoid the noise. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. 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. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. Interestingly, the islands history starts long before the amusement park was even planned. All rights reserved (About Us). As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. 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 18-mile boat ride was carried out by the famous ships: the Columbia, built in 1902, and the Ste. Built in the early 1900s, the SS Columbia and SS Ste. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. The Bobl-Lo Island of today?
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