. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. [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. Not one thing mentioned on the dance hall being 100 years old this year. . Neither will my grandchildren. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. Getting to the dock in Detroit early in the morning, the anticipation of boarding the boat, the ride on the river, the views, the fact I could play an arcade game on a boat blew my small mind. The price is a little over $300k. One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. Boblo Island opened in 1898. Over the roughly two-and-a-half decades that have passed since the closure, many of the most telltale signs of the park have faded away, including the ultra spooky-looking ferry boats that used to. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. 4423631-Canada-Inc in Colchester Country ON | YellowPages.ca I agree; it would be wonderful if the park could be restored or perhaps, reinvented to serve in a new way of bringing community together! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. Boblo Island Amusement Park: closed after nearly 100 years The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. 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. Kathi. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. What Happened to Boblo Island Amusement Park Near Detroit? - Banana 101.5 All rights reserved (About Us). 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. . Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. Group offers rare glimpse at efforts to restore historic Boblo Island So when we went to the Island, we took a cab to the downtown docks to catch the first boat out and then we would return on the last boat. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. why did boblo island close - kkdhandapaniworldschool.org You can find the Boblo Island Beach House restaurant on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina Also the Boblo Island Marina: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina You may be able to get the information you need by writing to: BOBLOMARINA@BOBLO.CA You may want to mention youre coming from the States; I dont know the protocol for private boats crossing the international border in the river to dock. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. In the years leading up to its closure, many of the rides were sold to satisfy debts. Unclaimed. Change). Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park | FREAKTOGRAPHY The island has quite an interesting history. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. Bleacher seating remains intact in the abandoned theater. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. Boblo Island is an Island in the Detroit River located directly west of Amherstburg, Ontario, on the Canadian side of the border. Plants and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. 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. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. Each held about 2,500 passengers. Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. . The once site of the infamous amusement park has been renamed erasing one of the last remnants of days gone by. The Boblo Island Detroit dock building can be seen on the Detroit, Michigan side of the Detroit River. Ironically, after Canada abolished slavery in 1793, the island became a rest stop for escaped slaves traveling the Underground Railroad. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 Though not all is lost. By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. The 16mm film is from around 1960. You know what I think, I have never been over there. Save. It was like a little cruise. Windsor Mayor Arthur John Reaume wanted the island to be designated a National Park. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. I agree with Maureen. Valentine and Sons United Publishing Company - This image is part of the Canadian Copyright Collection held by the British Library, and has been digitized as part of the "Picturing Canada" project. Boblo Island enthusiast wants memories for book - FOX 2 Detroit The SS Ste. Ken Cooney - Off-Ice Official / Substitute - Alternate - GOJHL Jr B In my days they were very comparable although I think Cedar Point was a little larger. [32] The dance hall was the second largest in the world, holding 5,000 dancers at full capacity[31] and featured one of the world's largest orchestrions from the Welte company: a 16 foot tall, 14 foot wide, self-playing Wotan-model orchestrion with 419 pipes and percussion section. Im glad you made this comment. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. Huntington. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. My husband is from 559 gold coast 777777 w It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. It was on a small island in the Detroit River at the mouth of Lake Erie. Built in the early 1900s, the SS Columbia and SS Ste. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. The folks from the residential areas use golf carts toget to the community pool in the center of the island, just a stones throw from the almost hundred-year-old, still standing Dance Pavilion: And here is where things get interesting. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. Claire and the SS Columbia? It is now an expensive, gated housing community with a private clubhouse. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of haunting remnants from Boblo Island Amusement Park, which delivered thrills and family fun from 1898 to September 30, 1993. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. Ferry to Boblo Island reduces services - windsorstar Boblo Island: Home To Ontario's Abandoned Amusement Park - TheTravel In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. Please dont judge us without knowing us! why did boblo island close - amolemrooz.ir Following the war, British forces garrisoned at Fort Malden in Amherstburg, across the river from Bois Blanc, and strengthened their position by building three blockhouses on the island. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. I am so sad every time I think about Bob Lo. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. The Columbia's ship keeper, Sam Buchanan, said the St. Clair has "a prominent role" in. 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. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. You'd be hard-pressed to find much evidence of those rides now. [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. [10], With no buyers materializing, Norton Auctioneers of Coldwater, Michigan, was retained to sell the property at auction on February 10, 1993. 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. See all (4) 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. Locate and compare 4423631-Canada-Inc in Colchester Country ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. why did boblo island close - acesso.plataformadecursos.org His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park.