Unfortunately, my search came up empty. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. You do it for other people. The island is now a residential community. The boat would stop there to take people to the island for the day. Claire, former Boblo Boat", Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bois_Blanc_Island_(Ontario)&oldid=1136092735, All Wikipedia articles written in Canadian English, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 18:24. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. These gleeful youngsters certainly seem amused on a ride at Eastwood, at the northeast corner of Eight Mile Road and . 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. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. 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). One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on . McLeans Mansion (Holly Lea): The historic building that was saved by the local community from demolition, The ruins of Richmond Castle: one of the oldest Norman fortresses in England. Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. 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. How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? 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 first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take . Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. . The island was situated between Detroit and Canada, but for a Michigander to visit, you had to cross the Canadian border.usually by one of the Boblo ferry boats. People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. I agree with Maureen. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. Since 1989, Kevin has collected miniature amusement park rides, and built a loose replica of Boblo Island in his home. It is boarded up but . [25], American investors were scared away after the September 11 attacks, which hurt the financial outlook for the development. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? The tiny island is located in the middle of the East River, parallel to Manhattan's East 46th to 85th Streets. Which theme park has the most deaths? Only a few buildings and the sky tower structure still stand. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. A powerhouse that supplied electricity to the nearby Carousel which is no longer there. The scion of one of Seattle's wealthiest and most philanthropic families, Benaroya was bankrolling Moodenbaugh's dream to resurrect the Boblo Island Amusement Park near Detroit. Before July 30, 2011, my last visit to Bob-Lo had been in June of 1968. Boblo Island closed for essentially the same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. 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? The marina on the west side of Boblo Island. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. The place is oozing history. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . the building is not secure, given that one-quarter of a large window in the front is broken in, metal strips hanging from its frame. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. 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. 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. 525 55 shares Like Most relevant Ryan Hance How long ago did this place close and why did it close down? The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. 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. Pinterest. The place just went completely downhill. 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. One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. Built all the way back in 1898, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was a shining beacon of wholesome fun. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. It had e. Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. 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. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. This is the remnants of an old putt-putt golf course. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. 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. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. 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. 2y Shelly Premer Neault Still closed. 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. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. [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. The 18-mile boat ride was carried out by the famous ships: the Columbia, built in 1902, and the Ste. This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. He had hoped to build a bridge to Bob-Lo to eliminate the inconvenience of the boat rides, but he did not realize (or appreciate) that Bob-Lo Island was across an international border from Michigan. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Thank you again!! Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. Visitors could travel between rides and attractions using a mini railroad. Claire. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. These steamers could carry more than 2,000 passengers from Detroit to the island. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. The swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which became a fan favorite. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. Opened in Orlando in 1976, River Country was Walt Disney's first waterpark. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. Anyone . Starting in the mid-1990s, however, it began a tumultuous phase that ultimately ended in its demise. [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. 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). An island in Amherstburg, Ont. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. Bois Blanc Island (Ontario) Who owns Boblo Island? Why did Boblo Island shut down? - Sally. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. . (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. The last day of "Oldies Week" is today (at least for now), and the response from the Woody Boater community was fantastic. The boat was taken to Toledo on Tuesday. Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. The island was home to a popular amusement park starting in the late 1890s. 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). Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. 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! So sad. Larry Benaroya, his associate, and his Northern Capital took control of the property; Mancini was fired, and the ownership group put it back on the market in January 1994. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. The fire could not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks. 1937 Technically, it was known as Eastwood Amusement Park, but nearly everyone called it Eastwood Park, or just Eastwood. That was in 1993. This is the structure that once housed the Boblo Island Amusement Park bumper cars. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. A new film tells us. 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). On a summer day in 1945, Sarah Elizabeth Ray stood up for something because she wasn't allowed to sit down. For 19 years, the site has been abandoned, with many rides left to battle corrosion and plant life. 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. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. "That's probably because I have about twice as many rides as Boblo Island." On June 21, 1945, the steamer Columbia blew its whistle and left the Detroit dock to make the eighteen-mile trip to the Bob-Lo Island Amusement Park. 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. Both doors are were chain locked. A parking stub from Boblo Island, 1988 steeped in history is open for business. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. Thank you again for the information. 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 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. After 85 years of operation, these two sister steamships - the oldest in America - awaken from a deep slumber to find a devoted team of enthusiasts have set out to rescue them from their deteriorating state. [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. 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