Feb 11, 2022 - One of my favorite memories as a child. 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. Take a look at the link below as we take you a journey through what was once Boblo Island Amusement Park, right up to its emerging transformation. My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. The dance pavilion built in 1913 was the largest in North America until 1925. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. 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.. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. [2] 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. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. It's docked in New York. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. 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. I worked on the Boats in 1980. BOBLO ISLAND - The echoes from the screams of delight have long faded from Boblo Island Amusement Park, the Cedar Point of Michigan for most kids growing up in our region. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: The 1878 Mangels-Illions Carousels 44 horses, two goats, and two deer were sold for more than $1 million. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. "It's not the exact layout of Boblo Island," Kevin says in the documentary. - Mellissa M. Sources: BobloSteamers.com, Water Winter Wonderland. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. My husband is from [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. 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. Rides, music, thrills, and lights attracted thousands of visitors year after year. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. Scattered over the restof the island, there are still a number of structures left from other erasmidst overgrown grass, downed limbs from trees, and more than a few other surprises: At the south end of the island, two pieces of history, although damaged, still stand: In the portion of the island that was once the amusement parkBob-Lo as the babyboomers knew ita number of structures still stand: Unfortunately, despite a private-property-no-trespassing sign . All rights reserved (About Us). . It was in a time when the parents didn''t have to worry about the children. 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). [32] The dance hall was the second largest in the world, holding 5,000 dancers at full capacity[31] and featured one of the world's largest orchestrions from the Welte company: a 16 foot tall, 14 foot wide, self-playing Wotan-model orchestrion with 419 pipes and percussion section. 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. Some recent activity indicates this one might be saved. 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. The boat was taken to Toledo on Tuesday. Here's what we saw as we recently explored the amusement park area. 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. The rides were sold to other amusement parks around the country. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. Why is it called Boblo Island? Gloomy days sometimes deserve black and white treatment. They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. "That's probably because I have about twice as many rides as Boblo Island." There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. The abandoned amusement park was a p. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. 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. I, too, went there every year as a child from Detroit. 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. In fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. 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. 2y Julie Enmei Bondy Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/grosse-iles-sugar-island-beach-opens-to-public-saturday/ (Sorry, you may need to copy and paste the website addresses above; my link feature is not successfully linking at the moment. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. Action Park in New Jersey is known as the most dangerous amusement park in the country, six people passed away from 1980 to 1987. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. The steamers, the Ste. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. Remember it was a time when girls wore dresses and not pants, so we sure had to be careful on the rides (check out the pictures how the girls were dressed). If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. The far end of the island is now all luxury homes. Claire. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. What did you do? 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. During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. The park closed in 1996 after several personal injury lawsuits were filed against it. Page 51", "Historic Boblo boats land role in Transformers 4", "Boblo Island boat owners hopeful for restoring of damaged boat: What's next for the SS Ste Claire? Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. This was particularly true during the Great Depression and the World War II era, when finances were tight and the world seemed to exist in a perpetual state of anxiety. steeped in history is open for business. After Memorial Day Weekend in 1997, park rangers learned that the arch had collapsed. [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. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, Photographer Joe Clark. The park closed in 1993 as a result of poor management and attendance was shrinking because of other parks like Cedar Point. 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. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. 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. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 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 east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. After 1796, British interests controlled the island and it was the staging point for the first local action in the War of 1812. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Narrated by Motown legend Martha Reeves, the movie "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale" is finally in theatres. I believe the unfortunate combination of being a Canadian island with almost all American history is the reason its not being cherished by people in Canada. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. 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). I agree, Jennifer, very sad. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. It is slated to include a luxury hotel, international shops & restaurants, a 107-berth boat dock, and a pier large enough to accommodate lake cruise ships along with The S.S. . Theme parks, like Lake Shawnee Park in West Virginia, closed down after guests died at the park. Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. 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). See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. 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 Skip to content Menu Or not. 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 Boblo boat Columbia is being restored by a New York nonprofit. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. Your email address will not be published. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. There are just two ways in and out of the island. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. It was a terrible idea to put a roller coaster in there. It is completely grown over with weeds and trees. If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from a dock next to the "Bob-Lo Discovery Centre.". This photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. He's been with WDIV since 2013. 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. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. The Island is now stripped on most of anything that would resemble an amusement park. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of. 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. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. (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. Bois Blanc Island (Ontario) Who owns Boblo Island? Each held about 2,500 passengers. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. Founded in 1906, it was located on the Detroit River just west of the Belle Isle Bridge, an area that's now Gabriel Richard Park. 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. [6] In February 1992, the park was put up for sale for US$9 million, half of its 1988 purchase price, though it committed to opening it for that summer. It was finally decided in 1949 to officially re-name the island and the park Bob-Lo, in a matter of simplification (today it is still referred to by both names on maps of the area). One to pick up, and one to return people. One of the oldest structures on the island was vandalized in 1954, with vandals setting fire to the top of the 1837 lighthouse, destroying the upper structure. Parts of that tower still stand. When I was riding my bike on a trail that runs through the middle of the island, I came upon a T-intersection buried amidst tall, tall grass, with the Carousel Building on my left and the Powerhouse on my right. Claire, built in 1910. Neither will my grandchildren. Please dont judge us without knowing us! The Boblo boat took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. 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. It was great to see all the vintage photos and stories from the good old days of classic boating when wooden boats were the norm, not the exception. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. . | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park. It was like a little cruise. This is the structure that once housed the Boblo Island Amusement Park bumper cars. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. Sue Cicala. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans owns the deteriorating dock, which once served as a gateway for ferry passengers heading to the former Boblo Island amusement park. Courtesy of the island is now home to residential property, marinas a... 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