'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. BOBLO ISLAND - The echoes from the screams of delight have long faded from Boblo Island Amusement Park, the Cedar Point of Michigan for most kids growing up in our region. The rides were sold to other amusement parks around the country. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park.
Boblo Island Amusement Park: closed after nearly 100 years The Carousel Building, built in 1905 to house the first amusement ride on Bob-Lo Island, served as a convention hall and later, the roller-skating rink (beginning with the 1940 season) before ending up as a theater. It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. 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 Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. 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. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. 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. My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. (LogOut/ mopar 727 transmission casting numbers. Mon-Wed 8:30 - 7:00 Thu-Fri 8:30 - 7:00 Sat 8:30 . Locate and compare 4423631-Canada-Inc in Colchester Country ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. For those who lived it firsthand, though, Boblo Island was an accessible and affordable paradise right in Detroit's backyard. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. [1] The "Bob-Lo boats" boats were sold in November 1991.
CEC: Closed Canadian Parks - Boblo Island Park - Chebucto 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 . You can also visit Boblo.ca. Interestingly, the islands history starts long before the amusement park was even planned.
[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. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. The ships ferried people to the Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River for 89 years until they ceased operation in 1991. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. 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. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. 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). Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo.
Bob-Lo Island Ghosts - Great Lakes Island Escapes More than 200 new homes set to be built on Boblo Island Boblo officially closed in 1993. Each historical society serves as a bead on a rosary linking current and future generations to the past, acts as a tool to support prayers of keeping the memories alive, keeps a link to the human roots of a distinctive place that has meant many things to many people over the years. For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. And I stood and looked across the river, and what I remember is no longer there, and Im 54 years old . Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 Though not all is lost. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. [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. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: 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. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. Today, 24 years after the park was closed and 118 years after its grand opening, little remains as a reminder of the islands history. I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. Although there was a bike rental business near the marina and Beach House Restaurant on the west side of the island (the ferry dock is on the east side of the island), it was not open for business on the beautiful summer weekend day I was there, so I wouldnt count on being able to rent a bike on the island. 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. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. http://boblo.ca/. [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. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! "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. The last day of "Oldies Week" is today (at least for now), and the response from the Woody Boater community was fantastic.
Are there houses on Boblo Island? (2023) - ptylli.best I can forward them to you if you would like. Boblo Island today: Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". A tri-plex home. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. McLeans Mansion (Holly Lea): The historic building that was saved by the local community from demolition, The ruins of Richmond Castle: one of the oldest Norman fortresses in England. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. This photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. I agree, Jennifer, very sad. Review. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. What did you do? Huntington. Barb's Boblo Tavern. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers. 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. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. (LogOut/ It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds.
A documentary about Detroit's faded Boblo Island history weaves a It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. After 1796, British interests controlled the island and it was the staging point for the first local action in the War of 1812. I wouldnt identify the owners in this suburban retreat as millionaires, but the island has been many things to many people over the centuries: the Ojibwe, the Ottawa, the Potawatomi, and the Wyandot all used the island before it was christened Bois Blanc. Later it was: a camp for European explorers, the site of a French Catholic mission, within reach of a British fort, headquarters for the Shawnee chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812, an invasion site for Canadian patriots during the Upper Canada Rebellion, and more recently, a picnic spot and a dance venue, all before the rise and decline of the amusement park. Share.
boblo photos on Flickr | Flickr The Park which eventually became Boblo Amusement Park got its first ride, the 178 48-animal Mangels-Illions Carousel. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. . I would make sure my friends knew all the history of Bob-Lo. Here's what we saw as we recently explored the amusement park area. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. I agree with Maureen. Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin is located on the western shore of Boblo Island, and is open for residents and visitors from Thursday through Sunday. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night.
1960 - A Day Trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park - YouTube An island in Amherstburg, Ont.
Why did Boblo Island amusement park close its doors? - Quora [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. The name of the island was changed to Boblo in 1929 when visitors had problems correctly pronouncing the original French name. When did Boblo boat stop running? [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River.
why did boblo island close - academiacardiovascular.com 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. Or not. A sign leads residents and visitors to dining venues and the marina on Boblo Island. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. It was awesome place. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. [3] The company had claimed it could exclude her because it was a private concern operating in another country and that neither Michigan nor any other state had authority to regulate commerce with Canada (a foreign country); the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Michigan Supreme Court, which had upheld the jurisdiction of the state's anti-discrimination provisions and found against the company. The restaurants 2013 grand opening was May 24th. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787.
Boblo island Properties - Mitula Homes There's a white sand beach, walking trails, water sports, a waterside restaurant, an ice cream parlor and an in-ground pool. Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company, From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. - LJ. . Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. Edit: I hope it's just a tracker issue but it seemed to be working fine. The park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. Ive always wondered about the island and have wanted to go back. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. The price is a little over $300k. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. 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. 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. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. The island is now a residential community. $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. 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). Filming of the movie began across Metro Detroit earlier this year. Posted . The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. Larry Benaroya, his associate, and his Northern Capital took control of the property; Mancini was fired, and the ownership group put it back on the market in January 1994. Only one blockhouse remains today. On that visit, the very air between the Wild Mouse and the Whip was fraught with hormones dancing to a Top Ten soundtrack which included Sitting on the Dock of the Bay and Grazing in the Grass.. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. ), Thank you so much for the great information. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. 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! Enjoy The existence of such an organization would certainly be complicated by the facts that 1) Bob-Lo is a Canadian island with an overbearing American past, and 2) today Bob-Lo primarily serves asa retreat for the wealthy, who I can imagine would not want people coming to visit the historical remains there,any more than they would want hunters (although if theyown a cat or a small dog, the latter might be welcome if they could take care of the coyote population). [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. It closed for good in 1993, 25 years ago. [2] And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. For more than a century, Bob-Lo Island had belonged to Ontario Province.
BARB'S BOBLO TAVERN, Pointe Aux Pins - Tripadvisor The Detroit river is very short - it merely connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie. The place just went completely downhill. 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. Boblo Island was an amusement park that was at one time larger than Cedar Point.
What Happened to Boblo Island Amusement Park Near Detroit? - Banana 101.5 Boblo boat fire caused by spark from welding - WXYZ . Parts of that tower still stand. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." Restoration of the Ste Claire had been going on for a few years.
why did boblo island close - acesso.plataformadecursos.org 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. 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). When you disembark from the ferry, youfindyourself adjacent to a private very well-to-do residential area. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. 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. [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. An old silent family home movie of a trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park, no longer existing. Claire provided . If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. Before July 30, 2011, my last visit to Bob-Lo had been in June of 1968. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. A shack which held dynamite used for dredging the near-by channel was fired into by a group of boys out hunting or fishing. Look at Sugar Island.it once was a special place. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. Competition came in, e.g., Sea World. 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. Colorful adirondack chairs surround a campfire pit near Captain Bob's. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. There are two total bedrooms in this home. By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. Why did Boblo Island shut down? The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario.
Boblo Island: Home To Ontario's Abandoned Amusement Park - TheTravel Rule 2 does not apply when replying to this stickied comment.. Rule 2 does apply throughout the rest of this thread.. What this means: Please keep any "meta" discussion directed at specific users, mods, or r/conspiracy in general in this comment chain only.. 11 Properties from $2,300. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. Bois Blanc Island, Pointe Aux Pins, MI 49775 +1 231-634-7100 + Add website + Add hours. Kathi. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. Purchasing a home on Boblo Island? We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake.
All Aboard: The Fight Against Segregation on Bob-Lo Island Find the best offers for your search boblo island.
Boblo Island memories never fade - The News Herald washington county, maine death records 0. why did boblo island close. Sue Cicala. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. Id built up this image of perfectly cut green grass, flowers, water slides and party halls, but what I saw when I stepped onto the old white dock was far from the oasis I was told about. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. Places like fort custer, MI and fort sheridan, illinois, all sold to profiteers. Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. - Marva, I am 63 years old and I remember Bob-lo so well. RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - 585. In 1993, after nearly 100 years in the business of entertainment, it was decided that the park was to be closed. Cedar Point, which has world-famous roller coasters and a wider range of attractions, is close enough to the Detroit area for a day trip (for the very hardy). 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. The Ste. Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. 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. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. [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). how much was bitcoin in 2010. pets4homes boost advert 9, Juin, 2022. smugglers inn steak soup recipe;
Ferry to Boblo Island reduces services - windsorstar why did boblo island close. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. Not one thing mentioned on the dance hall being 100 years old this year. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. The men's entrance is to the left. He's been with WDIV since 2013. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. 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. To get to Bob-Lo Islandin the 21st century, you takea ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario, instead of from the old dock on Jefferson Avenuein Detroit. They are located next to the Dance Hall. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. It is now an expensive, gated housing community with a private clubhouse. My concern with respect to Bob-Lo Island is that what structures are left from the islands very interesting history are not being adequately protected. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin.
bobloisland photos on Flickr | Flickr Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. The Columbia's ship keeper, Sam Buchanan, said the St. Clair has "a prominent role" in. The Bobl-Lo Island of today? In 1991, the two Boblo boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, MI., to the island, as well as to and from Amherstburg, Ontario. Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. [14], The 1993 season proved bumpy and was marred by miscues including disputes with island residents and the Canadian Coast Guard, compounded by the leader of Enchanted Parks, Michael Moodenbaugh, being seriously injured and breaking his spine in a car accident in Toledo, Ohio, in September. The ship in mid-swing. The Boblo Island Detroit dock building can be seen on the Detroit, Michigan side of the Detroit River.
Boblo Island Amusement Park - Wikipedia The park, which. British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. The 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste.
We visited Boblo Island 23 years after its amusement park closed - mlive 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. These are the remains of some of the washrooms. Boblo's trains made a 20-minute circuit around about 2 miles of track . Kathleen Saylors. A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario.