Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The Boblo boat took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. The Nightmare (ride), Falling Star, Wild Mouse, Sky Streak and Screamer were the signature rides. Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. Touch device users . The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take . [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. . Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. 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. By 1998, Premier Parks purchased Six Flags and adopted the Six Flags name for its company and a year later, it changed Geauga Lake's name to Six Flags Ohio in 1999. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. 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 tiny island is located in the middle of the East River, parallel to Manhattan's East 46th to 85th Streets. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. In June of 1999 Oram announced that he wished to recreate the amusement park on the mainland near Amherstburg, Ontario. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. [5] The boats were sold off as a result of a decision to shutter operations at the Detroit dock. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. From 1984 to 1985 there were 26 head injuries and 14 broken bones reported. 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). [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. 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. Not fair to blame millionaires when often it is a corporation that can run out money after 5 or 6 bad years. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. 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. The Boblo boat Columbia is being restored by a New York nonprofit. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. 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). Boblo Island closed for essentially the same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on . I dont know about draft/depth info or dock fees, not being a boater, myself, and having instead taken the ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario. The 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. . The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. 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 photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. Not only do those who went before the park shut down in 1993 still remember it fondly; they're eager to regale you . Four million tourists flock to Liberty Island in New York each year to see the architectural marvel, The Statue of Liberty. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Hundreds of small amusement parks went out in 1980s as families all went to super amusement parks like Cedar Point and Six Flags and did not visit small ones often. Electric Park was the dream-come-true of Arthur C. Gaukler, a. [9] The loss of the Detroit ferry service dented attendance severely in the 1992 season, which along with poor weather caused the park to miss its attendance goal. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. Riding the Rotor at Kennywood Park near Pittsburgh in 1955. How to get to toronto island park? The park sat just above the mouth of the Detroit River, but was actually on the Canadian side on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. 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. He had hoped to build a bridge to Bob-Lo to eliminate the inconvenience of the boat rides, but he did not realize (or appreciate) that Bob-Lo Island was across an international border from Michigan. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. Known as Boblo Amusement Park, it was wildly popular with American tourists throughout much of the 20th century until it closed in 1993. i need a boblo island abandoned amusement park date pic . A tri-plex home. It is now an expensive, gated housing community with a private clubhouse. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. Its sister. I recently visited the island to see that the old Theatre still stands. Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin is located on the western shore of Boblo Island, and is open for residents and visitors from Thursday through Sunday. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. The boat was taken to Toledo on Tuesday. 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. 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. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. The Island is now stripped on most of anything that would resemble an amusement park. Action Park in New Jersey is known as the most dangerous amusement park in the country, six people passed away from 1980 to 1987. 2y Shelly Premer Neault Still closed. The homes come with all appliances. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". With all the history on that island, I dont get it why it was left to die. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. The island is owned nearly in its entirety by Windsor developer Dominic Amicone through his Bob-Lo Island development company. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. 2y Guy Adelini One of my favorite rides! I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. All Rights Reserved. What a wonderful goal, Andrew! They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. Each held about 2,500 passengers. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers 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. My husband is from The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. There are two total bedrooms in this home. BOBLO runs Nov. 22 to Dec. 2 at the Great Hall Black Box Theatre (former venue of the Theatre Centre), 1087 Queen St. W. For tickets ($20-$25), visit theatrecentre.org or call 416-538-0988. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. Flags at the Amherstburg Dock. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. The haunting pictures show graffiti, decrepit rides, and overgrown greenery. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. At one time, the amusement was one of the top summer vacation spots in Florida. Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every Detroit kid knew it heralded the coming of summer and the magic of ferrying over to nearby Boblo Island Amusement Park. 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. Interestingly, the islands history starts long before the amusement park was even planned. The ferry is a short four minute ride to the island. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Bois Blanc Island (sometimes referred to as Boblo Island despite complaints from people downstate who are familiar with the Boblo Island Amusement Park in Bois Blanc, Canada, in the Detroit River) is an island in Lake Huron in the southernmost part of Mackinac County. Really sad. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. The park has been closed since 1993 DETROIT - Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. Getting to the dock in Detroit early in the morning, the anticipation of boarding the boat, the ride on the river, the views, the fact I could play an arcade game on a boat blew my small mind. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. 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. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. Anyone . Many locals still have great memories riding the ferry to Boblo Island Amusement Park, which eventually. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. Just read one of the many postcards you can find online from people back in the day. I am only 12. 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. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. So sad. I agree, Jennifer, very sad. The control room area through broken glass. Your email address will not be published. St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the 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. Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. - 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 back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. Pinterest. [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. 2023 Detroit Historical Society. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. DETROITAny Michigander of a certain vintage won't forget their giddiness en route to Boblo Island amusement park, a carefree ferry ride from Detroit's metropolis to a land that seemed a world away. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. After 1796, British interests controlled the island and it was the staging point for the first local action in the War of 1812. [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. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. Boblo Island now boasts deluxe houses and condos, valued from $184,000 to $1.15 million, with walk-out basements and turreted views of the Detroit River. We dont save anything for history any more. From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. Hard to believe it was an big destination, it seems too small to support an amusement park. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. 1937 Technically, it was known as Eastwood Amusement Park, but nearly everyone called it Eastwood Park, or just Eastwood. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. 272 acres. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. 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. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. In this respect, today, Bob-Lo Island appears a bead broken off from the strand, adrift in more than just the Detroi River, its historic integrity drowned in the current of a sequence of ill-fated development schemes. The definitive history of Bob-lo Island, a Canadian amusement park in the mouth of the Detroit River and a favorite recreation spot for generations of Detroit-area residents. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Everyone has a memory to tell. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. 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. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. 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. Boblo Island Amusement Park was an amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. 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. That is what the park was supposed to be about. One step on the old dock, and I saw an old run-down white platform, no life, no care in worldlike everyone was evacuated and told not to come back. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/17/historic-boblo-island-blo_n_1098807.html, http://www.flickr.com/photos/33535417@N05/4112593095/, http://www.boblo.ca/pages/living/restaurant.html, https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina, http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit, http://www.freep.com/article/20140706/NEWS05/307060053/boblo-island-memories-boat-development, http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/grosse-iles-sugar-island-beach-opens-to-public-saturday/, Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant Houzz Home, Slaves (traveling the Underground Railroad), The south blockhouse, built in 1838 (Update: See. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. Opened in Orlando in 1976, River Country was Walt Disney's first waterpark. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The island has quite an interesting history. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. Boblo Island Amusement Park was a beloved amusement park that began operating in 1898 and ran for almost 100 years. It was in a time when the parents didn''t have to worry about the children. The ferry is run for the island residents, their guests, and prospective buyers of lots in the Triamico Development Affiliates marina resort community. However, there is a public restaurant, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House, on the west side of the island by the marina (ferry docks at the east side). The park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. The dance pavilion built in 1913 was the largest in North America until 1925. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. So when we went to the Island, we took a cab to the downtown docks to catch the first boat out and then we would return on the last boat. The folks from the residential areas use golf carts toget to the community pool in the center of the island, just a stones throw from the almost hundred-year-old, still standing Dance Pavilion: And here is where things get interesting. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. 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. Why is it called Boblo Island? British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale YouTube Channel 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). Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. saki, Japan. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Look at Sugar Island.it once was a special place. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. Rides, music, thrills, and lights attracted thousands of visitors year after year. The amusement park was so famous in its day that Henry Ford himself provided money for a Dance Hall to be built, designed by the architect John Scott. For 19 years, the site has been abandoned, with many rides left to battle corrosion and plant life. Today. Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. 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. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. The sociology of unemployment - Tom Boland 2015-07-01 The sociology of unemployment is an analysis of the experience and governance of unemployment. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. 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. [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. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. 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. Only a few buildings and the sky tower structure still stand.

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