Boblo Island today: 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? 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. St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. On the south side of the road leading from the ferry dock is a five-story condominium: Between the river and the condominium is a trail which heads south along the islands perimeter and allows a walker orbicyclist to view a number of historical structures, including the Sailors Monument, which still graces the eastern shore of the island: The commemorative plaque affixed to the Sailors Monument reads: Dedicated to 134 years of American-Canadian friendship across 4500 miles of unfortified border, protected only by the mutual respect and understanding one nation holds for the other. It disappeared for the same reasons like Marineland of the Pacific, and the park in Long Beach. The ferry is run for the island residents, their guests, and prospective buyers of lots in the Triamico Development Affiliates marina resort community. However, there is a public restaurant, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House, on the west side of the island by the marina (ferry docks at the east side). Change). 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. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! Unfortunately, my search came up empty. Not one thing mentioned on the dance hall being 100 years old this year. 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. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. For more than a century, Bob-Lo Island had belonged to Ontario Province. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. About Boblo Island: - LJ. Barely visible remains of the park. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. I found this very useful for Information! steeped in history is open for business. [7] Though one expert felt that Boblo was too big to fail outright and could be turned around,[8] By June, however, no firm offers had been made for the park. 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. "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. It's docked in New York. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. (LogOut/ 'Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale' is a new documentary, created by Aaron Shillinger, that tell the tale of Dr. Ron Kattoo, who is on a mission to restore the SS. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. It was a Canadian Island and had passenger boats that sailed from Detroit, Gibraltar and Amherstburg Ontario. - 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. This is the structure that once housed the Boblo Island Amusement Park bumper cars. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 Though not all is lost. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! It was like a little cruise. A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night. Footage Of Detroit's Edgewater Park Will Take You Back In Time Review. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park | FREAKTOGRAPHY The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. Boblo Island opened in 1898. A powerhouse that supplied electricity to the nearby Carousel which is no longer there. Neither will my grandchildren. Find the best offers for your search boblo island. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who spent summers riding the ferry to Boblo Island, visiting its amusement park or just enjoying a picnic. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. CEC: Closed Canadian Parks - Boblo Island Park - Chebucto In this respect, today, Bob-Lo Island appears a bead broken off from the strand, adrift in more than just the Detroi River, its historic integrity drowned in the current of a sequence of ill-fated development schemes. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. Beginning in 1952, Joe Short, a man of diminutive physical stature, was employed as 'Captain Boblo', and traveled on the boats entertaining passengers of all ages. Boblo Island was very special. Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. why did boblo island close. [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. Enjoy why did boblo island close - acesso.plataformadecursos.org [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. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. I mean Harbour House is nice, but would be nice to have a better view of the water (other than the marina) where you can watch the big ships go by. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). If anyone has Meade Gougeon's cell number, seriously, call him. The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. The homes come with all appliances. 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. Anyone remember how much fun the dance floor was and how beautiful the boats were. 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. why did boblo island close bridge deck construction Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. You know what I think, I have never been over there. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Boblo's miniature railroad was perfect for those interested in something more leisurely than the island's rollercoaster. There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. 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. The ferrys were known as "Bob-Lo Boats" and held about 2,500 passengers each. 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. People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. 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). Boblo Island: A History Of The Abandoned Amusement Park All Rights Reserved. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. Edit: I hope it's just a tracker issue but it seemed to be working fine. 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. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. Service d'ambulance in Mersea ON | YellowPages.ca Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. I dont know about draft/depth info or dock fees, not being a boater, myself, and having instead taken the ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario.