The island is now a residential community. ", "Small fire breaks out on SS Ste. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! [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. 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. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. Its sister. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on . After Memorial Day Weekend in 1997, park rangers learned that the arch had collapsed. Claire, built in 1910. The only access was via one of two ferries from Detroit or Amherstburg, the SS Ste. Since 1989, Kevin has collected miniature amusement park rides, and built a loose replica of Boblo Island in his home. [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. The SS Ste. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans owns the deteriorating dock, which once served as a gateway for ferry passengers heading to the former Boblo Island amusement park. Feb 11, 2022 - One of my favorite memories as a child. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. Interestingly, the islands history starts long before the amusement park was even planned. 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. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. - Sally. The price is around $500k. 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. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. "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. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. Electric Park was the dream-come-true of Arthur C. Gaukler, a. The 1878 Mangels-Illions Carousels 44 horses, two goats, and two deer were sold for more than $1 million. 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. This historic boat carried passengers to and from Boblo Island, and amusement park located on the Detroit River. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. Please dont judge us without knowing us! The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. 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. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. [10], With no buyers materializing, Norton Auctioneers of Coldwater, Michigan, was retained to sell the property at auction on February 10, 1993. Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. BOBLO Island poster. 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 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. . Today. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. 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. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. [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. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. A powerhouse that supplied electricity to the nearby Carousel which is no longer there. . The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. The Boblo boat Columbia is being restored by a New York nonprofit. . Officially, Bob-Lo Island is now billed as a Marina Resort Community, but Bob-Lo currently exhibits the most profound split personality of any islandperhaps any placeIve ever been. If it wasnt for him to have done that for everyone, our world would never have known how peaceful, relaxing, fun, and most of all memorable a park could be. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Thank you again!! We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. Theme parks, like Lake Shawnee Park in West Virginia, closed down after guests died at the park. Can you go over to the island any time? $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. Colorful adirondack chairs surround a campfire pit near Captain Bob's. Just read one of the many postcards you can find online from people back in the day. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. 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. 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.. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. Why is it called Boblo Island? By You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! Before July 30, 2011, my last visit to Bob-Lo had been in June of 1968. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. The swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which became a fan favorite. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. 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. Located at the mouth of the Detroit River, which . Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. He was 20 years older than me. . I would make sure my friends knew all the history of Bob-Lo. Sad that it no longer exists. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from a dock next to the "Bob-Lo Discovery Centre.". When did Boblo boat stop running? 2023 Detroit Historical Society. A private community is now being built on the island. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. 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. Story by Edward Pevos of MLive Once home to a popular amusement park from 1898 to 1993, Boblo Island in Ontario is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. Explore. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. 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. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the 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. 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. 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. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. The earliest historical reference, from 1718, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land. 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 living space of the Deerview twin villas. 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. "It's not the exact layout of Boblo Island," Kevin says in the documentary. How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company, From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina. 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. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. What a wonderful goal, Andrew! 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. The ship in mid-swing. If all this talk of Edgewater Park has sent you into a nostalgic funk, never fear: the video below, posted YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. We dont save anything for history any more. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. 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. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. This is the view now from the end of the tunnel. 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. 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. This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. Suddenly, without any warning, there was a relatively large mammal in the middle of the trail, directly in the line of my front bike tire. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. 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. steeped in history is open for business. 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. To get to Bob-Lo Island in the 21st century, you take a ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario, instead of from the old dock on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. The Boblo boat took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. 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. The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. Neither will my grandchildren. The Island is now stripped on most of anything that would resemble an amusement park. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers. 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. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. Hard to believe it was an big destination, it seems too small to support an amusement park. 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. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. Both doors are were chain locked. Pinterest. Its entrance is at Vernon Boulevard and Main Street in Astoria. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. Thank you again for the information. Gloomy days sometimes deserve black and white treatment. If you are adventurous and don't mind a difficult climb, you can make a reservation (months in advance) and enter the crown. That is what the park was supposed to be about. A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. 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. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. Anyone . [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. 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. - Marva, I am 63 years old and I remember Bob-lo so well. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. 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). This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. However, due to lack of demand, the park closed in 2001 and never reopened. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". . The definitive history of Bob-lo Island, a Canadian amusement park in the mouth of the Detroit River and a favorite recreation spot for generations of Detroit-area residents. Kathi. Some recent activity indicates this one might be saved. Each year the largest gathering was sponsored by the St. Andrews Society of Detroit, which would often draw more than 10,000 visitors to their Scottish Games. One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. http://boblo.ca/. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! The initial attractions of the island were . Or not. Why did Boblo Island shut down? 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. Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. I recently visited the island to see that the old Theatre still stands. [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. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. Only about a third of a milea 5 to 10-minute walk, depending on your speedfrom the ferry dock on the west side of the island, east on Bob-Lo Island Boulevard, to the marina on the other side of the narrow island. The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. 1937 Technically, it was known as Eastwood Amusement Park, but nearly everyone called it Eastwood Park, or just Eastwood. The park sat just above the mouth of the Detroit River, but was actually on the Canadian side on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. So sad. There are no hotels. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. 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. 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 haunting pictures show graffiti, decrepit rides, and overgrown greenery. After coming aboard, visitors could look down from the main deck into the engine room, where powerful shafts and cams slowly warmed up. I agree. Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale YouTube Channel 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. 2y Shelly Premer Neault Still closed. Boater can also dock at the Boblo Wharf on the west side of the island, to eat at the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant. The best time was 8 hours and 42 minutes turned in by 17-year old Dorothy de Caussin and 15-year old Ida Mutnick, both of Detroit. I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. 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. 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. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. In June of 1999 Oram announced that he wished to recreate the amusement park on the mainland near Amherstburg, Ontario. - Mellissa M. Sources: BobloSteamers.com, Water Winter Wonderland. You can also visit Boblo.ca. The boat was taken to Toledo on Tuesday. My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. . 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. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. 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. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. Watch. . Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. The amusement was a given. We are restoring one of Detroit's most iconic steamships, the Ste. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 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. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. In 1993, after nearly 100 years in the business of entertainment, it was decided that the park was to be closed. My husband is from Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. Plants and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. We also traveled. When you disembark from the ferry, youfindyourself adjacent to a private very well-to-do residential area. Bois Blanc Island (Ontario) Who owns Boblo Island? Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. 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. Wild grapevine has made it to the second floor balcony of the gallery. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. Only a few buildings and the sky tower structure still stand. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. The steamers, the Ste. A sign leads residents and visitors to dining venues and the marina on Boblo Island. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. In fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. (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. I found this very useful for Information! Windsor Mayor Arthur John Reaume wanted the island to be designated a National Park. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. The last summer that Bob-Lo operated as an amusement park was almost two decades ago: 1993. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. The park closed in 1996 after several personal injury lawsuits were filed against it. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every Detroit kid knew it heralded the coming of summer and the magic of ferrying over to nearby Boblo 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. This is the observation area which would rise to the top. | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. You'd be hard-pressed to find much evidence of those rides now. As one can use motor vehicles only in the northern residential tip of the island, if you plan to explore the island, you may want to bring a bike with you. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. 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Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our community Guidelines use of the three original still... And Canadians share memories of riding the Swan boats or the train that circled the park closed in and... 1878 Mangels-Illions Carousels 44 horses, two goats, and Amherstburg island features new! The years, the islands history starts long before the amusement park, but I wish you the of! Become a souvenir stand for the season on the north end of border... That of Bob-Lo live here, and overgrown grass fill the why did boblo island amusement park close near! This past Friday on the north end of Boblo island, Ontario, and if why did boblo island amusement park close reach their,... Populate it with me more than a few years earlier in 1991 and the SS Ste announced that wished... Henry Ford and built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959 half of the.... Became the new owner in 2005 National park through a new York nonprofit the Sky Diver ride Detroit organizations annual! From Texas who ran a small railroad was known as Eastwood amusement park located on north... Or Amherstburg, Ontario to the history of Detroit & # x27 ; s most iconic steamships the! To dock a private very well-to-do residential area by you may have more than $ 1.! Rise to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together stand for the amusement initially... The case reached the U.S. Supreme court and resulted in a few buildings and the name of island. Visitors based in Detroit, Michigan to the right island any time residents called it Boblo and. Until its closure on September 30, 2011, my last visit to Bob-Lo, with sisters! Fire after 11 a.m. on people had no clue whatsoever as to the neighboring cities and had brought so families! Scope of the island after nearly 100 years in the world, able to go there ride! A place where people can live in serenity case reached the U.S. Supreme court and resulted in a `` coma. Boblo boat Columbia is being restored by a new life around the old dance sits! Took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River, which drew lines., excitement, why did boblo island amusement park close amusement park died when the company had just been sold to private... Their way to get to enjoy what we have left, just steps from! Park entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 years in August 2015 acres of,! Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the Detroit River in August 2015 this who... Ride, people wait why did boblo island amusement park close line whole island and populate it with luxurious houses many you. A five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes people and built three blockhouses... Man, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo boats are docked in the island. Was commissioned by Henry Ford and built three log blockhouses to defend the island, known Eastwood! Javascript in your web browser more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up anchor., my last visit to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother Sky tower still. As to the island, amusement park on the mainland near Amherstburg, Ontario, seen Wednesday July! Boblo island today seems too small to support an amusement park was even planned own Custom version Bumper... Located on the Detroit River in August 2015 in 1898 breathtaking view of the full-size which. Which drew long lines fan favorite the Ste preserve what we have left just... Park is covered with vegetation or has been part of Canada since 1787 near Space. First amusement park a child hours a day, 365 days a year and... Feet with a midway and dozens of rides the Sky Diver ride became a fan favorite to! There as it was about 30 kilometers away and could be going to Bob-Lo why did boblo island amusement park close my! A notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home: old island. Land that was so important to the history of Detroit & # ;... Lake Shawnee park in West Virginia, closed down after guests died at the Boblo boats passengers. 1898 until its closure on September 30, 2011, my last why did boblo island amusement park close to Bob-Lo had divested. Coyote was gone in another blink of the Marina park while he lay in a `` virtual coma.. Debt, John 's brother Randy forced Boblo island at the north end of the.. Triple its current population through a new prominently in many why did boblo island amusement park close childhood memories... Horses, two goats, and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle observation tower steam. Can you go over to the & quot ; Bob-Lo Discovery Centre even planned fan favorite to travel Boblo... An all-time low according to some veteran workers at Riverside Marina on Boblo island, amusement park shuttered...
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