I agree with Maureen. My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. They are located next to the Dance Hall. mike smithson tutor perini; ford f 350 ignition switch replacement. I did notice, however, the last time we went the island had gone downhill quite a bit. The park, which. Not fair to blame millionaires when often it is a corporation that can run out money after 5 or 6 bad years. 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). 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. The amusement park was so famous in its day that Henry Ford himself provided money for a Dance Hall to be built, designed by the architect John Scott. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. A powerhouse that supplied electricity to the nearby Carousel which is no longer there. And a Fairyland park on the ocean in OR, etc. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. 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. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. 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). The remnants of Boblo Island Amusement Park: The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. You know what I think, I have never been over there. In the ride's final incarnation, the train itself was a scale recreation of Central Pacific Railroad's 19 th century C.P. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - 585. when was the last day of this park operated (i mean the last summur )when it was open for public for the last and until what day was the ferry or the steamer making trip, and can you visit it now. A shack which held dynamite used for dredging the near-by channel was fired into by a group of boys out hunting or fishing. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. A tri-plex home. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. Boblo Island (correct name: Bois Blanc) is an island in the Detroit River on the Canadian side of the border and is part of Amherstburg, Ontario. Locate and compare Service d'ambulance in Mersea ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. The fire could not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. what a fun and exciting place. Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. It is a story told in a new movie that premiered last week in Detroit called "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale". We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. Did you work on both the SS Ste. People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. 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. The control room area through broken glass. [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. The Ste. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. 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. The subdivision consists of a loop of a street containing a court within the loop. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. All rights reserved (About Us). The once site of the infamous amusement park has been renamed erasing one of the last remnants of days gone by. 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. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. 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. Posted . I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. 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. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. (LogOut/ Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. (From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina), BOBLO BOAT TOUR: Take a video tour of the historic boat that traveled the Detroit River for 81 years. It is not fair that these people can just take away the little bit of history we have left just so they can watch their bank accounts rise. 3 F 1 1/2. caliyah mcnabb photos; singapore new first class; grilled chicken with marinated tomatoes and onions; common entry level jobs for aerospace engineering; sims 4 reshade presets 2021; why did boblo island close. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. '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. Opened in 1898, Boblo Island was one of North America's. Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. mopar 727 transmission casting numbers. 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 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. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. Everyone has a memory to tell. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. The only access was via one of two ferries from Detroit or Amherstburg, the SS Ste. http://boblo.ca/. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? 6 reviews #1 of 2 Restaurants in Pointe Aux Pins American Pub. The price is a little over $300k. British troops captured 60 of the attackers and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. 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. 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. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. I agree. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. 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. We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. 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; Answer: 90% of the time, it's because the parks don't have enough money and/or business to keep up with running costs, and the parks simply close and are left to rot. 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. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. I worked on the Boats in 1980. [5] The boats were sold off as a result of a decision to shutter operations at the Detroit dock. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. . The middle section of the island was developed as a park. The Park which eventually became Boblo Amusement Park got its first ride, the 178 48-animal Mangels-Illions Carousel. [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. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. There are just two ways in and out of the island. In fact, one of those . It was awesome place. 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. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . 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. 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. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! 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 children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. In fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. Rochester Hills mom testifies about 2 . The 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. Or not. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. Although the name will seem new to most of us, it's actually the original historic name of the island that was home to the historic . As I have written to the owner of the company that bought the island: You have no idea how much Boblo Island Amusement Park was to our society. 2,000. Save. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. What did you do? To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. Purchasing a home on Boblo Island? He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. I found this very useful for Information! 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. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. Boblo Island is accessible by a 16-car ferry that departs from the dock next to the Bob-Lo Island Discovery Centre, which is at 340 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg, ON. It blew up, shaking the island and sending rocks flying. 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. Just read one of the many postcards you can find online from people back in the day. 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. The 16mm film is from around 1960. $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. 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. My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. I dont think it is sad at all! Each year the largest gathering was sponsored by the St. Andrew's Society of Detroit, which would often draw more than 10,000 visitors to their Scottish Games. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. Update: A couple of them were partially restored and used during the filming ofTransformers 4. Boblo Island was an amusement park that was at one time larger than Cedar Point. After the boats docked at night back in Detroit, Mr. Short continued entertaining at the local bars and taverns he frequented.[33]. The marina on the west side of Boblo Island. People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. Boblo's miniature railroad was perfect for those interested in something more leisurely than the island's rollercoaster. 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. Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. 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. The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. Very little remains, physically, of the amusement park attractions, but what we did find is fascinating, as you'll see in the link below. 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. Boblo Island today: The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. The steamers, the Ste. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. You do it for other people. It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. In a sentence, I think, the world around POP changed. Claire, seen in 2016. British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. 2023 Detroit Historical Society. In my days they were very comparable although I think Cedar Point was a little larger. It was like a little cruise. It's docked in New York. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Bob-Lo Excursion Company and the 50 years of Canadian-American use of Bob-Lo Island as an International recreation area. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. Newly restored in the Spring of 2013 by the residents of the community, they now offer Blockhouse tours on most Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. Bois Blanc Island was where Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, a Native American warrior, decided to place his headquarters during the War of 1812. - 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. Boblo Island opened in 1898. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. Bleacher seating remains intact in the abandoned theater. Sq.Ft. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. The Boblo boat took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. The last summer that Bob-Lo operated as an amusement park was almost two decades ago: 1993. This is private property and the doors are chain locked. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. - Marva, I am 63 years old and I remember Bob-lo so well. Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. 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). If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Restoration of the Ste Claire had been going on for a few years. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. why did boblo island close. They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. Only one blockhouse remains today. The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years until they ceased operation in 1991. Unclaimed. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Locate and compare 4423631-Canada-Inc in Colchester Country ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. 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). 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. For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. Both doors are were chain locked. 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. Check out the tracker on the SE side of Boblo! Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. - Bonnie, Oh! 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). Boblo Boats Documentary Hitting Select Theatres in Detroit This Fall [VIDEO], Metallicas 72 Seasons Global Premiere Where You Can Watch in Michigan, Detroit Chef Named Chopped Champ Donates $10K Prize, Tri-County Ninja & Collectibles in Fenton Approved for Liquor License, Compete in Cedar Point Trivia from the Comfort of Your Michigan Home, Michigan Has Enforced the Death Penalty a Remarkably Low Number of Times, Celebrate 21 Years Of The Machine Shop In March, 13 Suggestions to Fill Flints Empty Sears in Genesee Valley Mall. Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. In the years leading up to its closure, many of the rides were sold to satisfy debts. A private community is now being built on the island. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015.
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