As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. [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. 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 price is around $500k. Riding the Rotor at Kennywood Park near Pittsburgh in 1955. 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. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! So sad. And I stood and looked across the river, and what I remember is no longer there, and Im 54 years old . You know what I think, I have never been over there. From the U.S. (departing from Detroit) your routeto the ferry would looklike this: The ferry boat captain had to take the Detroit Rivers strong current into consideration in maneuvering the ferry boat to the dock. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. Larry Benaroya, his associate, and his Northern Capital took control of the property; Mancini was fired, and the ownership group put it back on the market in January 1994. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. OBSCURIST TOURIST 025 - Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 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). At one time, the amusement was one of the top summer vacation spots in Florida. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. - Mellissa M. Sources: BobloSteamers.com, Water Winter Wonderland. Getting to the dock in Detroit early in the morning, the anticipation of boarding the boat, the ride on the river, the views, the fact I could play an arcade game on a boat blew my small mind. $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. Did you work on both the SS Ste. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. The park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. 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. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! 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. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. Built all the way back in 1898, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was a shining beacon of wholesome fun. Boblo Island Amusement Park was a beloved amusement park that began operating in 1898 and ran for almost 100 years. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. I do hope that someone will come along and restore the park back to its prime, so we can get families and the community back together again, and we can share our memories with the generations to come. 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. He had hoped to build a bridge to Bob-Lo to eliminate the inconvenience of the boat rides, but he did not realize (or appreciate) that Bob-Lo Island was across an international border from Michigan. Since 1989, Kevin has collected miniature amusement park rides, and built a loose replica of Boblo Island in his home. 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 ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on . The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. . It was awesome place. Watch. 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. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. Boblo Island was very special. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. The ship in mid-swing. 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. I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. It is completely grown over with weeds and trees. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. When you disembark from the ferry, youfindyourself adjacent to a private very well-to-do residential area. 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. . [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). Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. That is what the park was supposed to be about. Action Park in New Jersey is known as the most dangerous amusement park in the country, six people passed away from 1980 to 1987. The Boblo boat Columbia is being restored by a New York nonprofit. Claire, seen in 2016. There are two total bedrooms in this home. Just read one of the many postcards you can find online from people back in the day. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. 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. I dont think it is sad at all! 10. By 1910 the first amusement park rides, the carousel, ponies and a dancing pavillion were available. The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. The homes come with all appliances. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. In June of 1999 Oram announced that he wished to recreate the amusement park on the mainland near Amherstburg, Ontario. For 19 years, the site has been abandoned, with many rides left to battle corrosion and plant life. At about 34-square miles, the island is 12 miles long and six miles long. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! 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. what a fun and exciting place. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. Many locals still have great memories riding the ferry to Boblo Island Amusement Park, which eventually. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. After 85 years of operation, these two sister steamships - the oldest in America - awaken from a deep slumber to find a devoted team of enthusiasts have set out to rescue them from their deteriorating state. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. 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. The middle section of the island was developed as a 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. I can forward them to you if you would like. It is now an expensive, gated housing community with a private clubhouse. The park closed in 1993 as a result of poor management and attendance was shrinking because of other parks like Cedar Point. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. 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. The swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which became a fan favorite. - Bonnie, Oh! 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.. The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. 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. Obscured in a small wooded area between the Dance Pavilion and the Terminal are the remains of the minature golf course: Consider this: I did not see another person during my entire afternoon exploration of the historic sites on the island, except for three young teenage girls I observed leaving the Resorts community pool and making their way down to the river alone, to the channel between Bob-Lo and Amherstburg, where, nestled next to the Terminal, is a very small sand beach where they swam. One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. An example is Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016 many rides to. Still see the Space Needle, 25 years after the park 's closing Island by the Marina residents... 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why did boblo island amusement park close
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