We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. A street sign shows people where they are as they arrive on the island. Restoration of the Ste Claire had been going on for a few years. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. 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. I had the pleasure of delivering a load of stuffed animals to the Park in the early 1990s, was a trip i will never forget, driving my Freightliner truck and a 48 foot trailer onto the wharf to make the trip across the river in the middle of the night over to the island then driving around the the park, having to stop and wait for the park benches to be moved for me to able to get truck and trailer around the turns stopping here and there to off load these stuffed toys into little electric carts for the arcade games before the park opened the next day, Friday of a May 24 weekend. A powerhouse that supplied electricity to the nearby Carousel which is no longer there. Sq.Ft. Share. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. It was awesome place. [1] The "Bob-Lo boats" boats were sold in November 1991. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. . 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. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. 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. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. 2,000. (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. 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. 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. I found this very useful for Information! Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. The Ste. How to get to Boblo Island: My husband is from The dance pavilion built in 1913 was the largest in North America until 1925. The living space of the Deerview twin villas. So sad. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. Boblo Island was an amusement park that was at one time larger than Cedar Point. 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! washington county, maine death records 0. why did boblo island close. Particularly down at White Sands beach below the Lighthouse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33535417@N05/4112593095/), where two boats were anchored during my visit to the south end of the island with a large group of partying young people. A sign leads residents and visitors to dining venues and the marina on Boblo Island. Both doors are were chain locked. 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). Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. What did you do? The Detroit river is very short - it merely connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie. 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). Not one thing mentioned on the dance hall being 100 years old this year. In the ride's final incarnation, the train itself was a scale recreation of Central Pacific Railroad's 19 th century C.P. Bois Blanc Island, former site of the Bob-Lo Island amusement park, is located at southern endof the DetroitRiver before it enters Lake Erie,and is about one-half mile wide and three miles long. RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - 585. 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. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. [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 Bob-Lo boats, once looked upon as part of the attraction of going on a trip to Bob-Lo were later being looked at as time wasted that could have been spent at the park. 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. More waterfront dining. To the north of the road leading from the ferry dock is a subdivision ofmini-mansions and duplexes, with an emphasis on stone and heavy on Victorian-style turrets. This is the observation area which would rise to the top. why did boblo island closeconservation international ceo. For 81 years, she ferried generations of families as they experienced a Windsor-Detroit right of passage: an island getaway to the beloved Boblo Island amusement park. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. The name 'Boblo' came back recently after a massive fire destroyed an iconic ferry that used to take people to and from the now closed island amusement park. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. The Bobl-Lo Island of today? The name of the island was changed to Boblo in 1929 when visitors had problems correctly pronouncing the original French name. why did boblo island close. airbnb sarasota downtown; payday 2 infinite equipment mod; conduct unbecoming a police officer examples; randomforestclassifier' object has no attribute estimators_ How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. 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. The ferry is a short four minute ride to the island. wayne hills high school marching band; code postal ariana borj louzir; homes for sale on cary drive auburn, al His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park. British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. Ex-MSU dean sues interim president for leading alleged plot to remove him. If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. 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. why did boblo island close. . An incident in 1902 caused a man-made mini earthquake on the island. 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. I am so sad every time I think about Bob Lo. Everyone has a memory to tell. 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; "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. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. There are no hotels. It was the site of a conflict in 1838 during the Upper Canadian Rebellion, where 50 attackers were locked in one of the three blockhouses that had been built on the island. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. 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. When you disembark from the ferry, youfindyourself adjacent to a private very well-to-do residential area. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. When did Boblo boat stop running? It had e. Bois Blanc Island, French for White Woods Island, was named on account of its numerous white-barked birch and beech trees, and is today commonly known as Boblo Island, an English corruption of the original name. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. The only access was via one of two ferries from Detroit or Amherstburg, the SS Ste. Claire, built in 1910. To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. 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. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. 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). They are located next to the Dance Hall. He was 20 years older than me. Change). Unclaimed. 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. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. I vaguely remember going to Boblo Island Amusement Park as a kid and recently found myself wondering what happened to the place. Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! Why did Boblo Island shut down? FOX 2 Detroit (WJBK) - The name 'Boblo' came back recently after a massive fire destroyed an iconic ferry that used to take people to and from the now closed island amusement park. [11] Roger Fachini, a 40-year-old engineer for General Dynamics and owner of a waterpark in Utica, Michigan, placed the winning $3.8 million bid and proposed redevelopment after two years,[12][13] but Boblo's creditors turned it down; after the deposit cheque bounced, they took $600,000 less in the bid from Enchanted Parks of Seattle, owners of the Wild Waves Theme Park near that city. It was in a time when the parents didn''t have to worry about the children. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. And I stood and looked across the river, and what I remember is no longer there, and Im 54 years old . [1] Screamer, a double corkscrew; Nightmare, an indoor all-dark ride; and Sky Streak, a steel out-and-back design, were its three roller coasters. [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. 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. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. 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. Claire, seen in 2016. Find the best offers for your search boblo island. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. Though not all is lost. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. Boblo closed for good in September 1993. [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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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! 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 east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. 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. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! Posted . Hard to believe, but for the first time in 124 years, there is no such place as Boblo Island. 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. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 Though not all is lost. We also traveled from. 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.