The price is a little over $300k. [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. See All Homes for Sale in Amherstburg. [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). Newly restored in the Spring of 2013 by the residents of the community, they now offer Blockhouse tours on most Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. The rides were sold to other amusement parks around the country. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. Visitors could travel between rides and attractions using a mini railroad. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. Not one thing mentioned on the dance hall being 100 years old this year. They are located next to the Dance Hall. The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. Boblo Island closed for essentially the same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed. Boblo Island: Home To Ontario's Abandoned Amusement Park - TheTravel One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. Kathleen Saylors. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. You can just picture all of the kids having fun smashing into each other in their cars. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. 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. Purchasing a home on Boblo Island? The place is oozing history. I am only 12. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. [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. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. We also traveled from past to the present on the island, which was a must-visit destination for families for decades. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. Embark on a CRUISE FROM DETROIT for the first time in decades, Stay the night at this ghostly-looking MICHIGAN CASTLE, SECRET VINTAGE COKE MUSEUM inside a Michigan 50's diner. I agree with Maureen. 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. Barely visible remains of the park. Once known as Bois Blanc Island, Boblo lies on the Detroit River on the Canadian side. By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years until they ceased operation in 1991. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. Both doors are were chain locked. In a sentence, I think, the world around POP changed. Bois Blanc (Boblo) Island, ON - LighthouseFriends Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. Boblo Island closed 25 years ago: Here's what it looks like now To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. Group offers rare glimpse at efforts to restore historic Boblo Island what a fun and exciting place. I, too, went there every year as a child from Detroit. Filming of the movie began across Metro Detroit earlier this year. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. Check out recent photos from one of the Boblo boats. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. Documentary on Boblo Island To Be Shown in West Michigan Theaters [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. 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. RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - 585. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. why did boblo island closeconservation international ceo. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. Series: DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, 1972 - 1977, via National Archives and Records Administration, Photo: Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, A glass blower puts on a demonstration in the craftsmen's area - 1970s, A child takes a spin on a ride at Boblo Island - 1970s. The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. The story of Boblo Island - WDIV Footage Of Detroit's Edgewater Park Will Take You Back In Time Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. Bob-Lo Island Ghosts - Great Lakes Island Escapes Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. Boblo Island: A History Of The Abandoned Amusement Park Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. The Ste. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! I would make sure my friends knew all the history of Bob-Lo. I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. When did Boblo boat stop running? 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. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. The operations ended in 1993. why did boblo island close. The price is around $500k. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. 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 My husband is on the Grosse Ile Historical Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island in its heyday. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. 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. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale" resurfaces impactful history of It was like a little cruise. Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. In the ride's final incarnation, the train itself was a scale recreation of Central Pacific Railroad's 19 th century C.P. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. The Detroit river is very short - it merely connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie. It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. Ferry to Boblo Island reduces services - windsorstar Boblo Island enthusiast wants memories for book - FOX 2 Detroit Please dont judge us without knowing us! why did boblo island close - ultimaterealestatecalculator.com Anyone remember how much fun the dance floor was and how beautiful the boats were. The subdivision consists of a loop of a street containing a court within the loop. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. 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. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Boblo Island was very special. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. The only access was via one of two ferries from Detroit or Amherstburg, the SS Ste. why did boblo island close - kreweofcarrollton.org 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. Why did Boblo Island amusement park close its doors? - Quora 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. 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 swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which became a fan favorite. Parts of that tower still stand. The marina on the west side of Boblo Island. One to pick up, and one to return people. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. A sign leads residents and visitors to dining venues and the marina on Boblo Island. The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. What Occupation Did The Boblo Boat Workers Have? Nessel calls on DTE, Consumers to issue automatic power outage credits after storm. "I have all the amenities of city life that I need within walking distance in Amherstburg, and all the amazing amenities the island life brings me.". 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. why did boblo island close - kkdhandapaniworldschool.org People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. All Aboard: The Fight Against Segregation on Bob-Lo Island Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. Boblo Island was an amusement park that was at one time larger than Cedar Point. The ruins of what remains can be seen via the waterway that separates both Michigan and Ontario, but for many, the memories of this once-bustling park are what truly keep it alive. BARB'S BOBLO TAVERN, Pointe Aux Pins - Tripadvisor I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. More than 200 new homes set to be built on Boblo Island The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. Boblo Island is preparing to greet more than 200 new residents with construction soon to begin and new roads in the south end of the island recently completed . You know what I think, I have never been over there. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. The Park which eventually became Boblo Amusement Park got its first ride, the 178 48-animal Mangels-Illions Carousel. The living space of the Deerview twin villas. 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 - Adventures in the Villa Enjoy This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. He's been with WDIV since 2013. The dance pavilion built in 1913 was the largest in North America until 1925. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. Answer (1 of 2): I have barely recallable memories of POP. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. why did boblo island close - academiacardiovascular.com It is a story told in a new movie that premiered last week in Detroit called "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale". Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. 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. Boblo Island is an Island in the Detroit River located directly west of Amherstburg, Ontario, on the Canadian side of the border. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. To get to Bob-Lo Islandin the 21st century, you takea ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario, instead of from the old dock on Jefferson Avenuein Detroit. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. 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. independence high school football; fadi sattouf vivant; what animal is like a flying squirrel; james justin injury news; cynthia davis obituary cooley high; throggs neck st patrick's parade 2021; [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. 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. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". The control room area through broken glass. Having trotted out into the intersection, clearly not expecting anyone to be on the trail, the animal froze and then turned and shot back up the path, between thetall vegetation on each side, its hind legs trying to gain purchase on the crushed limestone. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. - Bonnie, Oh! From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). The park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. 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. What were the names of the two Boblo boats? - AnswersAll 2022-09-26. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. 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. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 The reasons for its closure were numerous, ranging from rising maintenance costs and poor management to stronger competition from the nearby, more attractive Cedar Point Park. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. Competition came in, e.g., Sea World. 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 ferry is a short four minute ride to the island. We dont save anything for history any more. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. [2] Can you go over to the island any time? Why did Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica, California fail? "Living on the island feels like being on vacation everyday," said Gena Boschin, a former Tennessee resident who lives on the island and works in Amherstburg. For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. The existence of such an organization would certainly be complicated by the facts that 1) Bob-Lo is a Canadian island with an overbearing American past, and 2) today Bob-Lo primarily serves asa retreat for the wealthy, who I can imagine would not want people coming to visit the historical remains there,any more than they would want hunters (although if theyown a cat or a small dog, the latter might be welcome if they could take care of the coyote population). 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. 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. Although Boblo Island Beach House is pretty good. Opened in 1898, Boblo Island was one of North America's. In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. Bayview Mackinac Thread | Page 7 | Sailing Anarchy Forums It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. 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. Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. Boblo Island Homes For Sale Amherstburg - Boblo Island Real Estate The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. 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. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. 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. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. 1960 - A Day Trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park - YouTube The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. 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 . what occupation did the boblo boat workers have document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. All rights reserved (About Us). I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. To the north of the road leading from the ferry dock is a subdivision ofmini-mansions and duplexes, with an emphasis on stone and heavy on Victorian-style turrets. St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. (LogOut/ Wild grapevine has made it to the second floor balcony of the gallery. 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).