Ive always wondered about the island and have wanted to go back. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . They are located next to the Dance Hall. Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. I can forward them to you if you would like. And a Fairyland park on the ocean in OR, etc. For more than a century, Bob-Lo Island had belonged to Ontario Province. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. 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. Just read one of the many postcards you can find online from people back in the day. Look at Sugar Island.it once was a special place. 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. Ironically, after Canada abolished slavery in 1793, the island became a rest stop for escaped slaves traveling the Underground Railroad. For 81 years, she ferried generations of families as they experienced a Windsor-Detroit right of passage: an island getaway to the beloved Boblo Island amusement park. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. 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. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. (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. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you . Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 11 Properties from $2,300. Built in the early 1900s, the SS Columbia and SS Ste. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. Claire and the SS Columbia? The price is around $500k. Ray was removed from the boat because she was not white, enforced according to a Bob-Lo company policy "excluding so-called 'zoot-suiters', the rowdyish, the rough, and the boisterous, and it also adopted the policy of excluding colored. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. Parts of that tower still stand. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers About Boblo Island: The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. Only one blockhouse remains today. Rochester Hills mom testifies about 2 . But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. This is the remnants of an old putt-putt golf course. These are the remains of some of the washrooms. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Thank you again!! Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . 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. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. 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. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." 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. More waterfront dining. - 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. The men's entrance is to the left. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. Filming of the movie began across Metro Detroit earlier this year. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. I vaguely remember going to Boblo Island Amusement Park as a kid and recently found myself wondering what happened to the place. Visitors could travel between rides and attractions using a mini railroad. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. in subculturing, when do you use the inoculating loop cactus allergy symptoms 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 marina on the west side of Boblo Island. The 1878 Mangels-Illions Carousels 44 horses, two goats, and two deer were sold for more than $1 million. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. Boblo Island Homes For Sale Amherstburg - Boblo Island Real Estate [20] Oram then leased and shut down the White Sands boater's hangout adjacent to the park site, citing trespassers but infuriating boaters; as a result, the lease was dropped within weeks. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. Check out the tracker on the SE side of Boblo! One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. ), Thank you so much for the great information. [1] Screamer, a double corkscrew; Nightmare, an indoor all-dark ride; and Sky Streak, a steel out-and-back design, were its three roller coasters. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, Photographer Joe Clark. 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 what the more than 100-year old steamer looked like a few years ago. Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. 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. The earliest historical reference, from 1718, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. By golf cart or bike or on foot are the only ways to navigate the crushed limestone trails that cover the remainder of the island,but for the residential area (the only place where cars are allowed). No one was injured, and there is no word as to what punishment the boys received. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. why did boblo island close. Ferry to Boblo Island reduces services - windsorstar Kathi. Bois Blanc (Boblo) Island, ON - LighthouseFriends I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. The Boblo Boats, then and now - The Detroit News About Boblo Island Amusement Park: 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). Claire, built in 1910. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. why did boblo island close. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. A documentary about Detroit's faded Boblo Island history weaves a 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. A shack which held dynamite used for dredging the near-by channel was fired into by a group of boys out hunting or fishing. It's docked in New York. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. why did boblo island close bridge deck construction It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. why did boblo island close. The once site of the infamous amusement park has been renamed erasing one of the last remnants of days gone by. what a fun and exciting place. Boblo Island, originally names Bois Blanc (White Woods in French) opened as a Park in 1898. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. If anyone has Meade Gougeon's cell number, seriously, call him. 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. Detroit Publishing Co via the Library of Congress, This appears to be the SS Columbia Boblo Boat, which was built in 1902, Ferry dock on Boblo Island - between 1890 and 1901. 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. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? 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. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! 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. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 Though not all is lost. It is now an expensive, gated housing community with a private clubhouse. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. [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. 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. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park | FREAKTOGRAPHY It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. Boblo Island was an amusement park that was at one time larger than Cedar Point. Competition came in, e.g., Sea World. It was like a little cruise. 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. Boblo Island Amusement Park: closed after nearly 100 years The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. 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). St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. This is the observation area which would rise to the top. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. The ship in mid-swing. (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the 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. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? 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. See all (4) Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. The island is now a residential community. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. Although Boblo Island Beach House is pretty good. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. The price is a little over $300k. It had e. The control room area through broken glass. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. An old silent family home movie of a trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park, no longer existing. It may be under different management than when I had a pretty tasty perch sandwich there, but you can find out more, including their hours at: http://www.boblo.ca/pages/living/restaurant.html, Thank you very much for info. It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. Fire destroys former Boblo boat at Detroit marina - The Detroit News 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. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. 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. Why did Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica, California fail? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. It disappeared for the same reasons like Marineland of the Pacific, and the park in Long Beach. We dont save anything for history any more. why did boblo island closeconservation international ceo. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. airbnb sarasota downtown; payday 2 infinite equipment mod; conduct unbecoming a police officer examples; randomforestclassifier' object has no attribute estimators_ 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. - LJ. 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. mike smithson tutor perini; ford f 350 ignition switch replacement. why did boblo island close - amolemrooz.ir why did boblo island close Menu fatal shooting in los angeles today. [Meta] Sticky Comment. A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night. As one can use motor vehicles only in the northern residential tip of the island, if you plan to explore the island, you may want to bring a bike with you. why did boblo island close - wanderingbakya.com why did boblo island close. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. 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. 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). . Boblo's trains made a 20-minute circuit around about 2 miles of track . In the beginning it was a picnic spot with beaches, athletic fields, bicycle tracks, and a stunning Mangels-Illions carousel. Are there houses on Boblo Island? (2023) - ptylli.best Boblo's miniature railroad was perfect for those interested in something more leisurely than the island's rollercoaster. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. 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. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. 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. Claire, seen in 2016. Very little remains, physically, of the amusement park attractions, but what we did find is fascinating, as you'll see in the link below. She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. 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. I am so sad every time I think about Bob Lo. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? Boblo Island - Adventures in the Villa http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. Anyone can go on the island via the ferry for a fee of $10 round-trip, but Boblo isn't a typical tourist destination. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. Everyone has a memory to tell. - Mellissa M. Sources: BobloSteamers.com, Water Winter Wonderland. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. The 16mm film is from around 1960. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. Enjoy The name of the island was changed to Boblo in 1929 when visitors had problems correctly pronouncing the original French name. Now surrounded by tall grass and weeds, the park's historic entertainment theater remains near the center of the island. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. Wild grapevine has made it to the second floor balcony of the gallery. 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.. 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. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. We live on the east shore of Grosse Ile, we would love to take our boat to eat at the restaurant. - Kathy G. We kids were able to run up and down the stairs on the boat and go to the dance floor. The Haunted Theatre Of Boblo Island - Your Ghost Stories We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. Whatever happened to Boblo Island? (Detroit, Grosse Ile: amusement Newly restored in the Spring of 2013 by the residents of the community, they now offer Blockhouse tours on most Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. [24] The island was off limits to non-residents until 2002. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 6 reviews #1 of 2 Restaurants in Pointe Aux Pins American Pub. I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on. Group offers rare glimpse at efforts to restore historic Boblo Island In 1993, after nearly 100 years in the business of entertainment, it was decided that the park was to be closed. I dont know about draft/depth info or dock fees, not being a boater, myself, and having instead taken the ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario. Boblo Island memories never fade - The News Herald In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. 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? Each historical society serves as a bead on a rosary linking current and future generations to the past, acts as a tool to support prayers of keeping the memories alive, keeps a link to the human roots of a distinctive place that has meant many things to many people over the years. In 1958 the island was the site of joint Canadian-American war games, addressing a hostile force presence with amphibious units from around the Great Lakes. Not fair to blame millionaires when often it is a corporation that can run out money after 5 or 6 bad years. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. In my days they were very comparable although I think Cedar Point was a little larger. Boblo Island enthusiast wants memories for book - FOX 2 Detroit Call (519) 979-9949 to reach your Amherstburg real estate team, Team Goran of RE/MAX CARE Realty. Barely visible remains of the park. 'Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale' is a new documentary, created by Aaron Shillinger, that tell the tale of Dr. Ron Kattoo, who is on a mission to restore the SS. Each held about 2,500 passengers. Ken Cooney - Off-Ice Official / Substitute - Alternate - GOJHL Jr B What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. The Detroit river is very short - it merely connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie. 2023 Detroit Historical Society. 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. A tri-plex home. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. Boblo closed for good in September 1993. 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. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! mopar 727 transmission casting numbers. 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.