Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. It is a story told in a new movie that premiered last week in Detroit called "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale". 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. We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. why did boblo island close - teginformatique.cm The SS Ste. Documentary on Boblo Island To Be Shown in West Michigan Theaters Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. 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. Livingstone writes that the white sand beach was created in 1957 when a vein of sand in the mouth of the river was dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they deepend the Amherstburg Channel to St. Lawrence Seaway standards, opening the Great Lakesto the world.. I vaguely remember going to Boblo Island Amusement Park as a kid and recently found myself wondering what happened to the place. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. 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. 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 park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. Save. 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. 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! This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. Boblo boat fire caused by spark from welding - WXYZ These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. The price is around $500k. Boblo Island today: [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. 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. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. Boblo Island opened in 1898. 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). In the beginning it was a picnic spot with beaches, athletic fields, bicycle tracks, and a stunning Mangels-Illions carousel. 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. I, too, went there every year as a child from Detroit. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. Why did Boblo Island shut down? An incident in 1902 caused a man-made mini earthquake on the island. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. (LogOut/ 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). The name of the island was changed to Boblo in 1929 when visitors had problems correctly pronouncing the original French name. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. The men's entrance is to the left. 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). Bois Blanc Island was where Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, a Native American warrior, decided to place his headquarters during the War of 1812. After coming aboard, visitors could look down from the main deck into the engine room, where powerful shafts and cams slowly warmed up. An old silent family home movie of a trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park, no longer existing. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. what a fun and exciting place. Im glad you made this comment. Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. Big changes for Sugar Island, good changes-it has made the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the island.It was not safe. washington county, maine death records 0. why did boblo island close. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. Are there houses on Boblo Island? (2023) - ptylli.best Why did Boblo Island amusement park close its doors? - Quora His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 4423631-Canada-Inc in Colchester Country ON | YellowPages.ca We also traveled from. Windsor Mayor Arthur John Reaume wanted the island to be designated a National Park. You know what I think, I have never been over there. Restoration of the Ste Claire had been going on for a few years. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. [2] Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. why did boblo island amusement park close - kaorufp.com Not fair to blame millionaires when often it is a corporation that can run out money after 5 or 6 bad years. 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. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. [2] After Michigan found Bob-Lo guilty and fined the company, Bob-Lo filed a lawsuit against the state, Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, 333 U.S. 28 (1948). The Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority found a way to end a 100-year agreement that gave the Moroun-owned Ambassador Port Co. sweeping control, but questions remain about the speed at which the deal gained approval of the public authority's board, transparency about the deal and what it means for the port going forward. By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. [1] The "Bob-Lo boats" boats were sold in November 1991. Neither will my grandchildren. More than 200 new homes set to be built on Boblo Island In a sentence, I think, the world around POP changed. Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. Everyone has a memory to tell. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. The island is about 2.5 miles long, 0.5 mile wide and 272 acres in size. Would love to know more about your experience working on the Bob-Lo boats. This is the remnants of an old putt-putt golf course. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. The remnants of Boblo Island Amusement Park: The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Both doors are were chain locked. 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). 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. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. 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. why did boblo island close. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. 3 F 1 1/2. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. '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. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. Boblo's trains made a 20-minute circuit around about 2 miles of track . I remember the log ride, where we''d all get wet but would soon dry out running about, the carousel, and of course the roller coaster. About Boblo Island: I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. I dont think it is sad at all! People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. - Sally. 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 native Wyandot called the island "Etiowiteendannenti.Both the Wyandot and French names refer to the white wood appearance lent by the birch and poplar trees that line the banks. Before I rode on it on the Island I had gone to a local fair and 3 other girls and I rode together on it and we laughed and really enjoyed it. why did boblo island close - kreweofcarrollton.org - 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 living space of the Deerview twin villas. 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. It was like a little cruise. Boblo Island enthusiast wants memories for book - FOX 2 Detroit 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. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The last day of "Oldies Week" is today (at least for now), and the response from the Woody Boater community was fantastic. Hard to believe it was an big destination, it seems too small to support an amusement park. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. The rides were sold to other amusement parks around the country. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. 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. 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. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. He wore a variety of colorful clothing, including a large hat with 'Captain Bob Lo' on the peak, and was typically equipped with binoculars for navigation purposes. There's a white sand beach, walking trails, water sports, a waterside restaurant, an ice cream parlor and an in-ground pool. For more than a century, Bob-Lo Island had belonged to Ontario Province. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. . Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. Mon-Wed 8:30 - 7:00 Thu-Fri 8:30 - 7:00 Sat 8:30 . The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. why did boblo island close Menu fatal shooting in los angeles today. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. 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 passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. CEC: Closed Canadian Parks - Boblo Island Park - Chebucto Really sad. One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. What are some facilities/amenities/services/establishments you wish 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. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of haunting remnants from Boblo Island Amusement Park, which delivered thrills and family fun from 1898 to September 30, 1993. One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. The story of Boblo Island - WDIV Boblo Island Amusement Park - Wikipedia Boblo's miniature railroad was perfect for those interested in something more leisurely than the island's rollercoaster. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. 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.
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