Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of. 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. Boblo closed for good in September 1993. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. I agree with Maureen. caliyah mcnabb photos; singapore new first class; grilled chicken with marinated tomatoes and onions; common entry level jobs for aerospace engineering; sims 4 reshade presets 2021; why did boblo island close. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 The reasons for its closure were numerous, ranging from rising maintenance costs and poor management to stronger competition from the nearby, more attractive Cedar Point Park. Very little remains, physically, of the amusement park attractions, but what we did find is fascinating, as you'll see in the link below. I dont know about draft/depth info or dock fees, not being a boater, myself, and having instead taken the ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. And a Fairyland park on the ocean in OR, etc. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. - Mellissa M. Sources: BobloSteamers.com, Water Winter Wonderland. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. 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. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. 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. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. why did boblo island close. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. 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. Unclaimed. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. What Occupation Did The Boblo Boat Workers Have? [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. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. [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. Or not. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It was a Canadian Island and had passenger boats that sailed from Detroit, Gibraltar and Amherstburg Ontario. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. 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. In the years leading up to its closure, many of the rides were sold to satisfy debts. 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. Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company, From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina. 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. How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. Boblo Island is an Island in the Detroit River located directly west of Amherstburg, Ontario, on the Canadian side of the border. [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). Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. Sue Cicala. 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. Parts of that tower still stand. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/grosse-iles-sugar-island-beach-opens-to-public-saturday/ (Sorry, you may need to copy and paste the website addresses above; my link feature is not successfully linking at the moment. Kathleen Saylors. I believe the unfortunate combination of being a Canadian island with almost all American history is the reason its not being cherished by people in Canada. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. The men's entrance is to the left. Boblo officially closed in 1993. 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 building is not secure, given that one-quarter of a large window in the front is broken in, metal strips hanging from its frame. . The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. 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. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. They are located next to the Dance Hall. [1] The "Bob-Lo boats" boats were sold in November 1991. 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.. They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. In the beginning it was a picnic spot with beaches, athletic fields, bicycle tracks, and a stunning Mangels-Illions carousel. An incident in 1902 caused a man-made mini earthquake on the island. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. British troops captured 60 of the attackers and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. 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 . They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. 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. See All Homes for Sale in Amherstburg. Claire provided . The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. [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. mopar 727 transmission casting numbers. 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). Why did Boblo Island close? I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. Claire, seen in 2016. The earliest historical reference, from 1718, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land. 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. Check out the tracker on the SE side of Boblo! It blew up, shaking the island and sending rocks flying. 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. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. It was like a little cruise. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. 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 Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. 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.
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