Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. 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. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. The bike rental shop was closed, but you can check your weight for free. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. Call (519) 979-9949 to reach your Amherstburg real estate team, Team Goran of RE/MAX CARE Realty. If the boat looks familiar, it is not your imagination. 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). The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. Boblo Island: A History Of The Abandoned Amusement Park The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. St. In my days they were very comparable although I think Cedar Point was a little larger. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Boblo officially closed in 1993. Cedar Point, which has world-famous roller coasters and a wider range of attractions, is close enough to the Detroit area for a day trip (for the very hardy). Hard to believe it was an big destination, it seems too small to support an amusement park. There are no hotels. The living space of the Deerview twin villas. The earliest historical reference, from 1718, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land. 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. 4423631-Canada-Inc in Colchester Country ON | YellowPages.ca What Occupation Did The Boblo Boat Workers Have? 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). Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. I found this very useful for Information! 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. Review. why did boblo island closeconservation international ceo. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? The Last Day Of "Oldies Week" - We Dedicate Today's Story To Russell A Answer (1 of 2): I have barely recallable memories of POP. [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. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. why did boblo island close - kreweofcarrollton.org 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. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. Update: A couple of them were partially restored and used during the filming ofTransformers 4. Rochester Hills mom testifies about 2 . Although Boblo Island Beach House is pretty good. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. . The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. [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. The biggest surprise during my visit to Bob-Lo came from a different sort of stranger than the type Id been envisioning when I was watching the girls swim in the river. [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. For those who lived it firsthand, though, Boblo Island was an accessible and affordable paradise right in Detroit's backyard. 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. 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.. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The 16mm film is from around 1960. 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. 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. Ex-MSU dean sues interim president for leading alleged plot to remove him. Boblo island Properties - Mitula Homes [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. 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. You can also visit Boblo.ca. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! Thank you again!! . [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. 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. You know what I think, I have never been over there. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. You can visit the island now, as I did in July of 2011 (all the photos accompanying the blog posting above were taken on that visit), by taking a small car ferry across a narrow strip of the Detroit River from the Bob-Lo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. - LJ. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. How to live on Boblo Island: The subdivision consists of a loop of a street containing a court within the loop. [17], In March 1994, the rides were dismantled and sold off piecemeal to the Pacific National Exhibition and a series of U.S. theme parks, a moment that confirmed the "worst fears" of Malden Township officials; the amusement park paid 25 percent of its taxes. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. Sq.Ft. - Bonnie, Oh! These steamers could carry more than 2,000 passengers from Detroit to the island. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . 2023 Detroit Historical Society. Woody Harrelson is now public enemy #1 : r/conspiracy mike smithson tutor perini; ford f 350 ignition switch replacement. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. The price is a little over $300k. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. 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 . The Detroit river is very short - it merely connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie. 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. 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). Heres an article that was in this past Sundays Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/article/20140706/NEWS05/307060053/boblo-island-memories-boat-development Speaking of Sugar Island, have you heard, as of last year, theres now a public beach there? He was 20 years older than me. With all the history on that island, I dont get it why it was left to die. Boblo Island Amusement Park: closed after nearly 100 years 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.. Between my concerns for the submerged rocks of the river and the mortar of history I was climbing over, I thought, what a wonderful place this island would be to explore if you were a kid or teenager and what a nightmare it poses for parents or grandparents of those explorers! The swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which became a fan favorite. 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. Claire, built in 1910. 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. Hard to believe, but for the first time in 124 years, there is no such place as Boblo Island. If anyone has Meade Gougeon's cell number, seriously, call him. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. It closed for good in 1993, 25 years ago. Why did Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica, California fail? Newly restored in the Spring of 2013 by the residents of the community, they now offer Blockhouse tours on most Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. More waterfront dining. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. 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. . The ferry is a short four minute ride to the island. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. (LogOut/ It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. washington county, maine death records 0. why did boblo island close. 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. Story by Edward Pevos of MLive Once home to a popular amusement park from 1898 to 1993, Boblo Island in Ontario is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. 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. The control room area through broken glass. in subculturing, when do you use the inoculating loop cactus allergy symptoms Opened in 1898, Boblo Island was one of North America's. Today, 24 years after the park was closed and 118 years after its grand opening, little remains as a reminder of the islands history. 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. Nessel calls on DTE, Consumers to issue automatic power outage credits after storm. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? I agree with Maureen. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". Find the best offers for your search boblo island. The steamers, the Ste. The homes come with all appliances. 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. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. 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. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. 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. I learned this and most of what I know about the history of Bob-Lo Island from 1670 2006 in the book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island by Patrick Livingston (published in 2008 by the Wayne State University Press in Detroit as a part of their Great Lakes Books series): How does Bob-Lo Island appear today, Saturday, July 30, 2011? A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night. 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. The island is about 2.5 miles long, 0.5 mile wide and 272 acres in size. 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. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". 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. Fire destroys former Boblo boat at Detroit marina - The Detroit News Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you . 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. 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. The Boblo boat took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park.
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