Why did Boblo Island close? | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. Interestingly, the islands history starts long before the amusement park was even planned. 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). Bois Blanc Island, Pointe Aux Pins, MI 49775 +1 231-634-7100 + Add website + Add hours. 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. My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. . She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. 2023 Detroit Historical Society. 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. This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. 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. 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. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. 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. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. 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. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. [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. A shack which held dynamite used for dredging the near-by channel was fired into by a group of boys out hunting or fishing. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. Please dont judge us without knowing us! 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. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". Share. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". How to get to Boblo Island: 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. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. If anyone has Meade Gougeon's cell number, seriously, call him. It was awesome place. Kathi. The men's entrance is to the left. Founded in 2017, K.K.Dhandapani World School, Deevanur is a part of the Dharani Educational institutions group. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. The boat would stop there to take people to the island for the day. By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. 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. It disappeared for the same reasons like Marineland of the Pacific, and the park in Long Beach. [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. Answer (1 of 2): I have barely recallable memories of POP. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. Technically speaking, the island was a part of Canada (Bois Blanc Island, Ontario to be exact) but was just a short ferry ride up the Detroit River from the city of Detroit. Newly restored in the Spring of 2013 by the residents of the community, they now offer Blockhouse tours on most Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. 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). Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. Restoration of the Ste Claire had been going on for a few years. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Im glad you made this comment. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on. One to pick up, and one to return people. . The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. - Sally. [5] The boats were sold off as a result of a decision to shutter operations at the Detroit dock. 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. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. 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. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. Ive always wondered about the island and have wanted to go back. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. 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. What I remember about Bob-Lo Island specifically, the entrance coming off of the boat, one of the last times I went the Simpsons were the mascots and I met Bart and Homer. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. An incident in 1902 caused a man-made mini earthquake on the island. 582 gold coast drive boblo island ontario windsor essex ontario mls 22015670 video tour available at https wwwdangemuscom listings welcome to the awesome lifestyle on bois blanc also known as boblo. Rule 2 does not apply when replying to this stickied comment.. Rule 2 does apply throughout the rest of this thread.. What this means: Please keep any "meta" discussion directed at specific users, mods, or r/conspiracy in general in this comment chain only.. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. 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. Locate and compare 4423631-Canada-Inc in Colchester Country ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. If it wasnt for him to have done that for everyone, our world would never have known how peaceful, relaxing, fun, and most of all memorable a park could be. Only one blockhouse remains today. . The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. I am only 12. When did Boblo boat stop running? Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. steeped in history is open for business. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. why did boblo island close; william monroe high school why did boblo island close. 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. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. The only access was via one of two ferries from Detroit or Amherstburg, the SS Ste. why did boblo island close. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. Did you work on both the SS Ste. Bleacher seating remains intact in the abandoned theater. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. The ship in mid-swing. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. [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. This photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Huntington. We live on the east shore of Grosse Ile, we would love to take our boat to eat at the restaurant. 2,000. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. Change). But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, Photographer Joe Clark. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. Which may not be surprising, given that its been many thingscamp for European explorers, fortress, picnic spot, dance venue, amusement park, retreatto many people over the centuries beginning with four Algonquin and Iroquoian tribes:the Ojibwa (Chippewa), Ottawa, Potawatomi and the Wyandot (Huron)one source claims the original name of the island was Etiowiteedannenti, a name bestowed by the Wyandotand followed by: The first recorded passage to the island, which was named Bois Blanc (White Woods), by the French dates from 1670. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. [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. [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. Sue Cicala. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years until they ceased operation in 1991. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. 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. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Today it is overgrown: The Powerhouse, which looks like small limestone chapel, that provided electricityto the Carousel: The Dance Pavilion a 35,000 feet steel and limestone building designed by Albert Kahn and John Scott and completed in 1913. This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. The Carousel Building, built in 1905 to house the first amusement ride on Bob-Lo Island, served as a convention hall and later, the roller-skating rink (beginning with the 1940 season) before ending up as a theater. Boblo Island opened in 1898. The price is around $500k. British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. 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). Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. 559 gold coast 777777 w [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). Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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). 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. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. Before July 30, 2011, my last visit to Bob-Lo had been in June of 1968. 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. Neither will my grandchildren. 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. 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. (LogOut/ mopar 727 transmission casting numbers. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. 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. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. Over the roughly two-and-a-half decades that have passed since the closure, many of the most telltale signs of the park have faded away, including the ultra spooky-looking ferry boats that used to. 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. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. 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. By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. We also traveled from. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. The Boblo Island Detroit dock building can be seen on the Detroit, Michigan side of the Detroit River. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from a dock next to the Bob-Lo Discovery Centre. The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take whenone departedon the other side of the border. It was a Canadian Island and had passenger boats that sailed from Detroit, Gibraltar and Amherstburg Ontario. Opened in 1898, Boblo Island was one of North America's. [24] The island was off limits to non-residents until 2002. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. 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. 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. The last screams of joy could be heard from the little island of fun 25 years ago as the Cedar Point of Michigan closed for the final time. - 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 Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. So sad. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. Ironically, after Canada abolished slavery in 1793, the island became a rest stop for escaped slaves traveling the Underground Railroad. Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. Really sad. The last summer that Bob-Lo operated as an amusement park was almost two decades ago: 1993. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. For more than 85 years, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was famous for being served by the Steamer Ste Claire and the Steamer Columbia excursion boats that could hold about 2,500 passengers each. wayne hills high school marching band; code postal ariana borj louzir; homes for sale on cary drive auburn, al Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. The Boblo boat took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. (LogOut/ "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. In my days they were very comparable although I think Cedar Point was a little larger. The 18-mile boat ride was carried out by the famous ships: the Columbia, built in 1902, and the Ste. Boblo Island was very special. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. 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. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? 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. You support the mega millionaires who dont care about anything else in life except their bank accounts. Boblo Island, originally names Bois Blanc (White Woods in French) opened as a Park in 1898. After the boats docked at night back in Detroit, Mr. Short continued entertaining at the local bars and taverns he frequented.[33]. 2022-09-26. - LJ. My husband is from More waterfront dining. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. 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. And I stood and looked across the river, and what I remember is no longer there, and Im 54 years old . 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. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Posted . In 1993, after nearly 100 years in the business of entertainment, it was decided that the park was to be closed. 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. It is sad, Cheryl. 11 Properties from $2,300. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . The once site of the infamous amusement park has been renamed erasing one of the last remnants of days gone by. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale You know what I think, I have never been over there. . You can explore and find the foundations of the dance floor ruins. One island. 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. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. Edit: I hope it's just a tracker issue but it seemed to be working fine. In fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. [2] The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. Locate and compare Service d'ambulance in Mersea ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings.