why did boblo island close

Boblo Island was very special. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The SS Ste. 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? You can just picture all of the kids having fun smashing into each other in their cars. 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. Why did Boblo Island shut down? Boblo Island is preparing to greet more than 200 new residents with construction soon to begin and new roads in the south end of the island recently completed . But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. There are no hotels. That is what the park was supposed to be about. why did boblo island close. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. 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. In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. It was great to see all the vintage photos and stories from the good old days of classic boating when wooden boats were the norm, not the exception. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. I agree, Jennifer, very sad. [10], With no buyers materializing, Norton Auctioneers of Coldwater, Michigan, was retained to sell the property at auction on February 10, 1993. It is the remnant of a place where river boats took passengers to an amusement park on a Canadian island just to the south western end of the Detroit River. 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! Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. 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. The island is now a residential community. 272 acres. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. It was awesome place. 6 reviews #1 of 2 Restaurants in Pointe Aux Pins American Pub. More waterfront dining. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. In the ride's final incarnation, the train itself was a scale recreation of Central Pacific Railroad's 19 th century C.P. Scattered over the restof the island, there are still a number of structures left from other erasmidst overgrown grass, downed limbs from trees, and more than a few other surprises: At the south end of the island, two pieces of history, although damaged, still stand: In the portion of the island that was once the amusement parkBob-Lo as the babyboomers knew ita number of structures still stand: Unfortunately, despite a private-property-no-trespassing sign . Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. The bike rental shop was closed, but you can check your weight for free. 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. 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. The place is oozing history. [2] 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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 combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . Thank you again for the information. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. '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. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. steeped in history is open for business. Boblo Island was an amusement park that was at one time larger than Cedar Point. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. 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. RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - 585. 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. Valentine and Sons United Publishing Company - This image is part of the Canadian Copyright Collection held by the British Library, and has been digitized as part of the "Picturing Canada" project. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. Kathi. It had e. 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. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. One to pick up, and one to return people. These are the remains of some of the washrooms. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? About Boblo Island: The Columbia is undergoing restoration. Nessel calls on DTE, Consumers to issue automatic power outage credits after storm. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. 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. Boblo Island today: In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. There are just two ways in and out of the island. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. [32] The dance hall was the second largest in the world, holding 5,000 dancers at full capacity[31] and featured one of the world's largest orchestrions from the Welte company: a 16 foot tall, 14 foot wide, self-playing Wotan-model orchestrion with 419 pipes and percussion section. They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. Boblo closed for good in September 1993. . [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. 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. I dont think it is sad at all! I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. 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. . I, too, went there every year as a child from Detroit. 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 website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. Opened in 1898, Boblo Island was one of North America's. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. A shack which held dynamite used for dredging the near-by channel was fired into by a group of boys out hunting or fishing. The control room area through broken glass. I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. Please dont judge us without knowing us! Bleacher seating remains intact in the abandoned theater. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. Why did Boblo Island close? Barb's Boblo Tavern. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Bois Blanc Island, commonly called Boblo Island, is an island in the Detroit River on the Canadian side of the border and is part of Amherstburg This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. Kathleen Saylors. It was on a small island in the Detroit River at the mouth of Lake Erie. what a fun and exciting place. 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. With all the history on that island, I dont get it why it was left to die. If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. 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. (LogOut/ Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. why did boblo island close Menu fatal shooting in los angeles today. My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. You support the mega millionaires who dont care about anything else in life except their bank accounts. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers. I vaguely remember going to Boblo Island Amusement Park as a kid and recently found myself wondering what happened to the place. The once site of the infamous amusement park has been renamed erasing one of the last remnants of days gone by. [Meta] Sticky Comment. Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. Locate and compare Service d'ambulance in Mersea ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. While incapacitated in hospital, he lost legal control of island. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. - LJ. The native Wyandot called the island "Etiowiteendannenti.Both the Wyandot and French names refer to the white wood appearance lent by the birch and poplar trees that line the banks. 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. Smudged by the past, we nevertheless feel a redemptive twinge in the final aerial shot as Dr. Kattoo hoists the flag over Claire's mended hull. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 Though not all is lost. The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. (LogOut/ 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. http://boblo.ca/. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. The 1878 Mangels-Illions Carousels 44 horses, two goats, and two deer were sold for more than $1 million. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. 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. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. 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. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. 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 . Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. Claire and the SS Columbia? I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. The last screams of joy could be heard from the little island of fun 25 years ago as the Cedar Point of Michigan closed for the final time. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. I agree; it would be wonderful if the park could be restored or perhaps, reinvented to serve in a new way of bringing community together! Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013.