The island is owned nearly in its entirety by Windsor developer Dominic Amicone through his Bob-Lo Island development company. 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. Photojournalist Seph Lawless has taken pictures of 10 abandoned theme parks around the US. We also traveled from past to the present on the island, which was a must-visit destination for families for decades. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. When Ste. Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new. 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. Bois Blanc Island was where Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, a Native American warrior, decided to place his headquarters during the War of 1812. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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! For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. The island was home to a popular amusement park starting in the late 1890s. The living space of the Deerview twin villas. I can forward them to you if you would like. . These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! 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. Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, Photographer Joe Clark. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. 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. His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park. [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. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. It is boarded up but . A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. [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. The legend of Boblo is still strong in Detroit. 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.. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. The boat was taken to Toledo on Tuesday. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. Places like fort custer, MI and fort sheridan, illinois, all sold to profiteers. 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). Even the words scrawled across its portal announced simply "Eastwood Park.". Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. 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. 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). I did notice, however, the last time we went the island had gone downhill quite a bit. Very little remains, physically, of the amusement park attractions, but what we did find is fascinating, as you'll see in the link below. Thank you again for the information. Claire and the SS Columbia? Today. Visitors could travel between rides and attractions using a mini railroad. Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. 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). From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. 2y Shelly Premer Neault Still closed. 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 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. [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. 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. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. A private community is now being built on the island. 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. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. [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. 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 was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. This is the view now from the end of the tunnel. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. 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. I dont think it is sad at all! He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. Theme parks, like Lake Shawnee Park in West Virginia, closed down after guests died at the park. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. 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. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Action Park in New Jersey is known as the most dangerous amusement park in the country, six people passed away from 1980 to 1987. These are the remains of some of the washrooms. I agree. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. Here's what we saw as we recently explored the amusement park area. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. Both doors are were chain locked. 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. 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! About Boblo Island: The 375-foot Sky Tower, rusting and visible from the Powerhouse and most of the island, as well as from other locations on the river like Grosse Ile: And a few other buildings, like the open one that may have housed the dodgem cars built in 1928, and another with more shattered windows, the Souvenir building. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. You do it for other people. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. 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). 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. After coming aboard, visitors could look down from the main deck into the engine room, where powerful shafts and cams slowly warmed up. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. 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. 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. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. 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. "That's probably because I have about twice as many rides as Boblo Island." 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. That was in 1993. It opened in 1898 as Boblo Island Amusement Park on Bois Blanc Island (not the Bois Blanc up near Mackinac Island, but the one on the Detroit River). An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. [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. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. That is what the park was supposed to be about. 525 55 shares Like Most relevant Ryan Hance How long ago did this place close and why did it close down? People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! Boblo Island closed for essentially the same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed. [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. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. 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. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. "For people who don't know, Boblo was an island amusement park that . In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. The sociology of unemployment - Tom Boland 2015-07-01 The sociology of unemployment is an analysis of the experience and governance of unemployment. Anyone remember how much fun the dance floor was and how beautiful the boats were. From 1984 to 1985 there were 26 head injuries and 14 broken bones reported. One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. Boblo Island is accessible by a 16-car ferry that departs from the dock next to the Bob-Lo Island Discovery Centre, which is at 340 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg, ON. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. It is not fair that these people can just take away the little bit of history we have left just so they can watch their bank accounts rise. So sad. 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why did boblo island amusement park close