why did boblo island amusement park close
Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. 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. Wild grapevine has made it to the second floor balcony of the gallery. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. 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. These luxury dwellings were erected. 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. Livingstone writes that the white sand beach was created in 1957 when a vein of sand in the mouth of the river was dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they deepend the Amherstburg Channel to St. Lawrence Seaway standards, opening the Great Lakesto the world.. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. Parts of that tower still stand. 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. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. That is what the park was supposed to be about. Poison ivy now grows in the ring of mature trees in front of the Lavatory building, where I imagine the men in hatsretiring for a smoke while they await their dates inflapper attireto emerge from The Ladies Room.. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. Boblo Island today: [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. Check out recent photos from one of the Boblo boats. Here are some we found on various blogs and forums: I was one of the last generations of people who were able to enjoy Bob-Lo island amusement park. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. We live on the east shore of Grosse Ile, we would love to take our boat to eat at the restaurant. That was in 1993. The boat would stop there to take people to the island for the day. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. I agree. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. - 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. It was set on Ontario's picturesque Bois Blanc Island (frequently known as "Boblo Island") and featured everything you could want in a theme park. Its sister. Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. In the beginning it was a picnic spot with beaches, athletic fields, bicycle tracks, and a stunning Mangels-Illions carousel. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers The park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. Detroit Publishing Co via the Library of Congress, This appears to be the SS Columbia Boblo Boat, which was built in 1902, Ferry dock on Boblo Island - between 1890 and 1901. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. 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). Once known as Bois Blanc Island, Boblo lies on the Detroit River on the Canadian side. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. About Boblo Island: 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. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: There are no hotels. They operated a Rotor in West Germany at Oktoberfest in 1949. The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. Starting in the mid-1990s, however, it began a tumultuous phase that ultimately ended in its demise. How to rent hobbit-type MUSHROOM HOUSES in Northern Michigan, Haunting insides of the abandoned NORTHVILLE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, See Michigan's only ALPINE MOUNTAIN SLIDE, 1,700 feet of fun, Inside Michigan's OLDEST OPERATING INN built in 1835, This may be the MOST PICTURESQUE spot in Michigan, Inside the SMITHSONIAN OF MAGIC, located in Michigan, We explored WARREN DUNES, the Sleeping Bear of Southwest MI, GoPro video riding MICHIGAN'S LONGEST ZIPLINE, Exploring Michigan's abandoned, haunted ELOISE ASYLUM, Country's LARGEST AUTO MUSEUM is in the middle of nowhere, Michigan. 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). Ray was there to celebrate her graduation from secretarial school with her classmates. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. 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. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. Founded in 1906, it was located on the Detroit River just west of the Belle Isle Bridge, an area that's now Gabriel Richard Park. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . What did you do? DETROIT (FOX 2) - Narrated by Motown legend Martha Reeves, the movie "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale" is finally in theatres. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. 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). [25], American investors were scared away after the September 11 attacks, which hurt the financial outlook for the development. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. The SS Ste. Now surrounded by tall grass and weeds, the park's historic entertainment theater remains near the center of the island. 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 tiny island is located in the middle of the East River, parallel to Manhattan's East 46th to 85th Streets. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. I can forward them to you if you would like. I did notice, however, the last time we went the island had gone downhill quite a bit. . This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). Not fair to blame millionaires when often it is a corporation that can run out money after 5 or 6 bad years. Hundreds of small amusement parks went out in 1980s as families all went to super amusement parks like Cedar Point and Six Flags and did not visit small ones often. A company called Premier Parks acquired the classic amusement park in 1995. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. The park has been closed since 1993 DETROIT - Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. Before July 30, 2011, my last visit to Bob-Lo had been in June of 1968. Neither will my grandchildren. For many in this part of Michigan, this boat resides in fond memories of trips to Boblo Island. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. [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. Very little remains, physically, of the amusement park attractions, but what we did find is fascinating, as you'll see in the link below. Bois Blanc Island (sometimes referred to as Boblo Island despite complaints from people downstate who are familiar with the Boblo Island Amusement Park in Bois Blanc, Canada, in the Detroit River) is an island in Lake Huron in the southernmost part of Mackinac County. Page 51", "Historic Boblo boats land role in Transformers 4", "Boblo Island boat owners hopeful for restoring of damaged boat: What's next for the SS Ste Claire? Interestingly, the islands history starts long before the amusement park was even planned. Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. While incapacitated in hospital, he lost legal control of island. . Would love to know more about your experience working on the Bob-Lo boats. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. 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! Take a look at the link below as we take you a journey through what was once Boblo Island Amusement Park, right up to its emerging transformation. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. It's docked in New York. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. 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. When I was riding my bike on a trail that runs through the middle of the island, I came upon a T-intersection buried amidst tall, tall grass, with the Carousel Building on my left and the Powerhouse on my right. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. Many locals still have great memories riding the ferry to Boblo Island Amusement Park, which eventually. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. Boblo Island closed for essentially the same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed. It opened in 1898 as Boblo Island Amusement Park on Bois Blanc Island (not the Bois Blanc up near Mackinac Island, but the one on the Detroit River). You can take a tour of the model homes on Boblo Island on Saturdays and Sundays with an island specialist by calling 519-736-1111. [2] After Michigan found Bob-Lo guilty and fined the company, Bob-Lo filed a lawsuit against the state, Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, 333 U.S. 28 (1948). The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. BOBLO runs Nov. 22 to Dec. 2 at the Great Hall Black Box Theatre (former venue of the Theatre Centre), 1087 Queen St. W. For tickets ($20-$25), visit theatrecentre.org or call 416-538-0988. British troops captured 60 of the attackers and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. 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. steeped in history is open for business. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. "[2] The Michigan Supreme Court fined the company $25 for the discrimination they presented towards Ray. A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. There are just two ways in and out of the island. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. [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. He's been with WDIV since 2013. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. This is private property and the doors are chain locked. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. The restaurants 2013 grand opening was May 24th. Known as Boblo Amusement Park, it was wildly popular with American tourists throughout much of the 20th century until it closed in 1993. i need a boblo island abandoned amusement park date pic . In 1958 the island was the site of joint Canadian-American war games, addressing a hostile force presence with amphibious units from around the Great Lakes. The last summer that Bob-Lo operated as an amusement park was almost two decades ago: 1993. The rides were sold to other amusement parks around the country. We dont save anything for history any more. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. 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). [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. 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. Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. Having trotted out into the intersection, clearly not expecting anyone to be on the trail, the animal froze and then turned and shot back up the path, between thetall vegetation on each side, its hind legs trying to gain purchase on the crushed limestone. 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 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. The island has quite an interesting history. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale YouTube Channel Not only do those who went before the park shut down in 1993 still remember it fondly; they're eager to regale you . Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. Since 1989, Kevin has collected miniature amusement park rides, and built a loose replica of Boblo Island in his home. 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. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. 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