Each held about 2,500 passengers. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. 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. mopar 727 transmission casting numbers. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. [20] Oram then leased and shut down the White Sands boater's hangout adjacent to the park site, citing trespassers but infuriating boaters; as a result, the lease was dropped within weeks. If the boat looks familiar, it is not your imagination. Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant 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). These steamers could carry more than 2,000 passengers from Detroit to the island. 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). They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. I did notice, however, the last time we went the island had gone downhill quite a bit. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. In the beginning it was a picnic spot with beaches, athletic fields, bicycle tracks, and a stunning Mangels-Illions carousel. It was a Canadian Island and had passenger boats that sailed from Detroit, Gibraltar and Amherstburg Ontario. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. Check out recent photos from one of the Boblo boats. (LogOut/ A private community is now being built on the island. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. Locate and compare Service d'ambulance in Mersea ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. The 18-mile boat ride was carried out by the famous ships: the Columbia, built in 1902, and the Ste. In June 1945, Sarah Elizabeth Ray and 12 other female workers involved in the war effort (and referred to as "girls" during the legal proceedings) took part in a sponsored trip to Boblo Island. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Really sad. when was the last day of this park operated (i mean the last summur )when it was open for public for the last and until what day was the ferry or the steamer making trip, and can you visit it now. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. Posted . Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. We also traveled from past to the present on the island, which was a must-visit destination for families for decades. (LogOut/ You do it for other people. The Ste. 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. 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. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. No one was injured, and there is no word as to what punishment the boys received. 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 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. When did Boblo boat stop running? It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. . why did boblo island close. Heres an article that was in this past Sundays Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/article/20140706/NEWS05/307060053/boblo-island-memories-boat-development Speaking of Sugar Island, have you heard, as of last year, theres now a public beach there? In a sentence, I think, the world around POP changed. 2023 Detroit Historical Society. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? 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. washington county, maine death records 0. why did boblo island close. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. 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.. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. 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. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. Save. Although Boblo Island Beach House is pretty good. If anyone has Meade Gougeon's cell number, seriously, call him. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. Purchasing a home on Boblo Island? Very little remains, physically, of the amusement park attractions, but what we did find is fascinating, as you'll see in the link below. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! The marina on the west side of Boblo Island. It disappeared for the same reasons like Marineland of the Pacific, and the park in Long Beach. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. 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. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. It closed for good in 1993, 25 years ago. An old silent family home movie of a trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park, no longer existing. We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. 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. In 1898, the Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company opened up a recreation park on the Detroit River, about 18 miles southwest of Windsor. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. 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. http://boblo.ca/. Both doors are were chain locked. 2,000. All rights reserved (About Us). - Marva, I am 63 years old and I remember Bob-lo so well. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. Unclaimed. "[2] The Michigan Supreme Court fined the company $25 for the discrimination they presented towards Ray. The island is now a residential community. You can also visit Boblo.ca. 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. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. I agree with Maureen. In the years leading up to its closure, many of the rides were sold to satisfy debts. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. 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. Check out the tracker on the SE side of Boblo! These are the remains of some of the washrooms. - Mellissa M. Sources: BobloSteamers.com, Water Winter Wonderland. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. The restaurants 2013 grand opening was May 24th. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. Windsor Mayor Arthur John Reaume wanted the island to be designated a National Park. 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 . 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. Boblo closed for good in September 1993. steeped in history is open for business. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. For more than 85 years, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was famous for being served by the Steamer Ste Claire and the Steamer Columbia excursion boats that could hold about 2,500 passengers each. 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. 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 opened in 1898. Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. Over the years, the crowds going to Bob-Lo on the boat would were increasingly loud and rude and some people avoided going to Bob-Lo to avoid the noise. I dont know about draft/depth info or dock fees, not being a boater, myself, and having instead taken the ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. 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. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. 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. What a wonderful goal, Andrew! Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. "I have all the amenities of city life that I need within walking distance in Amherstburg, and all the amazing amenities the island life brings me.". Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. 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. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. 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. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. Not fair to blame millionaires when often it is a corporation that can run out money after 5 or 6 bad years. Restoration of the Ste Claire had been going on for a few years. The last summer that Bob-Lo operated as an amusement park was almost two decades ago: 1993. Boblo's trains made a 20-minute circuit around about 2 miles of track . [24] The island was off limits to non-residents until 2002. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. Boblo Island was very special. (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. why did boblo island close. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. It was like a little cruise. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. See All Homes for Sale in Amherstburg. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . 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. [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. Rochester Hills mom testifies about 2 . Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. Wild grapevine has made it to the second floor balcony of the gallery. My husband is from I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. Hard to believe it was an big destination, it seems too small to support an amusement park. Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. 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. Update: A couple of them were partially restored and used during the filming ofTransformers 4. If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. 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. For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. This is the structure that once housed the Boblo Island Amusement Park bumper cars. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. 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. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. . I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of. You can visit the island now, as I did in July of 2011 (all the photos accompanying the blog posting above were taken on that visit), by taking a small car ferry across a narrow strip of the Detroit River from the Bob-Lo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. Call (519) 979-9949 to reach your Amherstburg real estate team, Team Goran of RE/MAX CARE Realty. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. 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.