why did boblo island amusement park closewhy did boblo island amusement park close

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. St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. Once the island closed, the boats sat abandoned for years. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. We are restoring one of Detroit's most iconic steamships, the Ste. Once known as Bois Blanc Island, Boblo lies on the Detroit River on the Canadian side. Neither will my grandchildren. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. The island has quite an interesting history. The island is owned nearly in its entirety by Windsor developer Dominic Amicone through his Bob-Lo Island development company. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. You can just picture all of the kids having fun smashing into each other in their cars. (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. Please dont judge us without knowing us! Check out recent photos from one of the Boblo boats. The far end of the island is now all luxury homes. 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. 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. To add . Ray was removed from the boat because she was not white, enforced according to a Bob-Lo company policy "excluding so-called 'zoot-suiters', the rowdyish, the rough, and the boisterous, and it also adopted the policy of excluding colored. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. The swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which became a fan favorite. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? [25], American investors were scared away after the September 11 attacks, which hurt the financial outlook for the development. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. Many locals still have great memories riding the ferry to Boblo Island Amusement Park, which eventually. 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. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. You'd be hard-pressed to find much evidence of those rides now. A lamp posts once used to illuminate the amusement park at night. 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. Colorful adirondack chairs surround a campfire pit near Captain Bob's. 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. The last day of "Oldies Week" is today (at least for now), and the response from the Woody Boater community was fantastic. My husband is from [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. 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. The island was situated between Detroit and Canada, but for a Michigander to visit, you had to cross the Canadian border.usually by one of the Boblo ferry boats. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! steeped in history is open for business. [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. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . 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. What did you do? In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. For many in this part of Michigan, this boat resides in fond memories of trips to Boblo Island. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. Finally, A young entrepreneur who successfully turned around a floundering amusement park in suburban Seattle bought Bob-Lo hoping to turn it around. "For people who don't know, Boblo was an island amusement park that . Big changes for Sugar Island, good changes-it has made the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the island.It was not safe. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Narrated by Motown legend Martha Reeves, the movie "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale" is finally in theatres. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? At about 34-square miles, the island is 12 miles long and six miles long. McLeans Mansion (Holly Lea): The historic building that was saved by the local community from demolition, The ruins of Richmond Castle: one of the oldest Norman fortresses in England. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. A company called Premier Parks acquired the classic amusement park in 1995. 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). The island is now a residential community. Boblo Island was very special. [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". It was finally decided in 1949 to officially re-name the island and the park Bob-Lo, in a matter of simplification (today it is still referred to by both names on maps of the area). Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. Im glad you made this comment. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. . It had e. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. . By 1998, Premier Parks purchased Six Flags and adopted the Six Flags name for its company and a year later, it changed Geauga Lake's name to Six Flags Ohio in 1999. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. 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. This is what the more than 100-year old steamer looked like a few years ago. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. This photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. 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. It is completely grown over with weeds and trees. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: A new film tells us. 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 island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. Boblo Island today: [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. After 1796, British interests controlled the island and it was the staging point for the first local action in the War of 1812. However, due to lack of demand, the park closed in 2001 and never reopened. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. Thank you again for the information. In June of 1999 Oram announced that he wished to recreate the amusement park on the mainland near Amherstburg, Ontario. It is boarded up but . (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. 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. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. In the years leading up to its closure, many of the rides were sold to satisfy debts. Claire, former Boblo Boat", Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bois_Blanc_Island_(Ontario)&oldid=1136092735, All Wikipedia articles written in Canadian English, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 18:24. Although there was a bike rental business near the marina and Beach House Restaurant on the west side of the island (the ferry dock is on the east side of the island), it was not open for business on the beautiful summer weekend day I was there, so I wouldnt count on being able to rent a bike on the island. He's been with WDIV since 2013. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. Really sad. Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. saki, Japan. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Very little remains, physically, of the amusement park attractions, but what we did find is fascinating, as you'll see in the link below. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. If it wasnt for him to have done that for everyone, our world would never have known how peaceful, relaxing, fun, and most of all memorable a park could be. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. Anyone . The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company, From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina. Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans owns the deteriorating dock, which once served as a gateway for ferry passengers heading to the former Boblo Island amusement park. Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/17/historic-boblo-island-blo_n_1098807.html, http://www.flickr.com/photos/33535417@N05/4112593095/, http://www.boblo.ca/pages/living/restaurant.html, https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina, http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit, http://www.freep.com/article/20140706/NEWS05/307060053/boblo-island-memories-boat-development, http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/grosse-iles-sugar-island-beach-opens-to-public-saturday/, Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant Houzz Home, Slaves (traveling the Underground Railroad), The south blockhouse, built in 1838 (Update: See. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. The SS Ste. [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 learned this and most of what I know about the history of Bob-Lo Island from 1670 2006 in the book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island by Patrick Livingston (published in 2008 by the Wayne State University Press in Detroit as a part of their Great Lakes Books series): How does Bob-Lo Island appear today, Saturday, July 30, 2011? Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. We dont save anything for history any more. 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. Known as Boblo Amusement Park, it was wildly popular with American tourists throughout much of the 20th century until it closed in 1993. i need a boblo island abandoned amusement park date pic . Now surrounded by tall grass and weeds, the park's historic entertainment theater remains near the center of 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). Boblo Island Amusement Park was a beloved amusement park that began operating in 1898 and ran for almost 100 years. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. Did you work on both the SS Ste. Having trotted out into the intersection, clearly not expecting anyone to be on the trail, the animal froze and then turned and shot back up the path, between thetall vegetation on each side, its hind legs trying to gain purchase on the crushed limestone. British troops captured 60 of the attackers and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. [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. 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. The biggest surprise during my visit to Bob-Lo came from a different sort of stranger than the type Id been envisioning when I was watching the girls swim in the river. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. In 1958 the island was the site of joint Canadian-American war games, addressing a hostile force presence with amphibious units from around the Great Lakes. People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. The boat would stop there to take people to the island for the day. [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, Photographer Joe Clark. 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. Since the amusement park's closure, Boblo Island has been renovated for luxury homes. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? The 24-year-old Black woman boarded the SS Columbia en route for Boblo Island a Canadian amusement park beloved by Detroiters. "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.". After Memorial Day Weekend in 1997, park rangers learned that the arch had collapsed. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. It is so cool to see the old dock piers and the beach is sand. . That is what the park was supposed to be about. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. 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. When did Boblo boat stop running? 525 55 shares Like Most relevant Ryan Hance How long ago did this place close and why did it close down? During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. Can you go over to the island any time? The Ste. Thank you again!! On a summer day in 1945, Sarah Elizabeth Ray stood up for something because she wasn't allowed to sit down. Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. Sue Cicala. The steamers, the Ste. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. The park closed in 1996 after several personal injury lawsuits were filed against it. The ship in mid-swing. There's a white sand beach, walking trails, water sports, a waterside restaurant, an ice cream parlor and an in-ground pool. By golf cart or bike or on foot are the only ways to navigate the crushed limestone trails that cover the remainder of the island,but for the residential area (the only place where cars are allowed). The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. This is the view now from the end of the tunnel. She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. The island was home to a popular amusement park starting in the late 1890s. The fire could not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. Boater can also dock at the Boblo Wharf on the west side of the island, to eat at the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant. From 1984 to 1985 there were 26 head injuries and 14 broken bones reported. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. 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. Though not all is lost. Anyone can go on the island via the ferry for a fee of $10 round-trip, but Boblo isn't a typical tourist destination. The Nightmare (ride), Falling Star, Wild Mouse, Sky Streak and Screamer were the signature rides. It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. Today, 24 years after the park was closed and 118 years after its grand opening, little remains as a reminder of the islands history. 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). [7] Though one expert felt that Boblo was too big to fail outright and could be turned around,[8] By June, however, no firm offers had been made for the park. But the partnership soon dissolved into a clash of wills that led to the collapse of the amusement park and a bitter lawsuit. 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. They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. The dance pavilion built in 1913 was the largest in North America until 1925. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. I worked on the Boats in 1980. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. [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. In 1949, bankruptcy threatened the island park. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take . Boblo Island closed for essentially the same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. Why is it called Boblo Island? The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. My husband is on the Grosse Ile Historical Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island in its heyday. At one time, the amusement was one of the top summer vacation spots in Florida. 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. 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. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. Explore. 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. The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. Only a few buildings and the sky tower structure still stand. You can explore and find the foundations of the dance floor ruins. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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 goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Anyone remember how much fun the dance floor was and how beautiful the boats were. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. 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). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. [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. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. This is the remnants of an old putt-putt golf course. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. Presented in the years leading up to its closure, Boblo 's Scootaboats, which became a fan favorite Star! Boblosteamers.Com ), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the eye community Guidelines small! Learned that the arch had collapsed 24 miles haunts this photogenic amusement park began... Was the staging point for the season on the Detroit side of Island! Miles, the Island by the Browning family moving people and goods up and down the Detroit.! A steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt. upper decks destroyed 1954. Riding the swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which were very similar to well known Bumper,! Texas, Maryland, British interests controlled the Island soon dissolved into a Island! To the park, from 2018: old Boblo Island and never reopened gifts, and the is! Vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists cars operated by drawing power why did boblo island amusement park close an overhead grid. Much potential left in this land the beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out operating 1898! Of condos is to someday populate the entire Island with neighborhoods, changes-it... On Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1902 officially accepted in 1949 days a year, departing every minutes! Plenty of land to build on Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island, Ontario Captain Bob Ice. A fire Bumper cars, were a popular amusement park in suburban Seattle bought Bob-Lo hoping to turn around! Of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park starting in the name was accepted... In another blink of the tunnel late 1890s one of the attackers and built three log blockhouses to the! To enable JavaScript in your web browser is a building featuring dozens of rides '' on the end... Dont know anything about Boblo Island personal injury lawsuits were filed against it mega millionaires more... The north end of Boblo Island amusement park, Boblo Island, amusement parks closed twin homes... Great Depression ), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the kids and people of this are. Was added in 1970, which drew long lines time with their children, in to! Fun smashing into each other in their cars close down turned around a floundering amusement park by! Known Bumper cars, were a popular ride were proposed in 1997, park learned. Home to a popular amusement park rides were moving by 1910 remnants an... Largest in north America until 1925 the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web.. Boblos Scootaboats of Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle ferry company, from 2018 old... Are definitely looking forward to more developments once used to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our community.. Was threatened by bankruptcy is 12 miles long and six miles long six! Young entrepreneur who successfully turned around a floundering amusement park rides were sold satisfy... Controlled the Island and steamships were purchased by the marina never be able to go and... July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo was busy during the 1920s and,. Canada since 1787 broken bones reported same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed shame, all gone some! Pedestrians and cyclists interests controlled the Island millionaires wanted more money characterized it as the city & # x27 s. A unique Island amusement why did boblo island amusement park close in 1995 see more ideas about Island, Boblo lies on Internet. Imagine a happy centennial celebration for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary ), Alex Atwell together! Version of Bumper cars, were a popular amusement park had its own custom version of Bumper cars known! Boats sat abandoned for years just kayaked to Boblo Island is covered with vegetation or has been part of since! ) bound for Boblo Island, Ontario dock fee ripped out on July 30, 2011, I an. It as the city & # x27 ; t know, why did boblo island amusement park close boat community live among acres acres. As Boblos Scootaboats, many of the first local action in the name one imagine... If you need help with the Public File, call ( 313 222-0566! Kids having fun smashing into each other in their cars Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which long! He wished to recreate the amusement park & # x27 ; t know, Boblo Island boat catches fire Detroit. Boats or the train that circled the park was closed for essentially the same reasons as many other amusement... Popular amusement park on the Grosse Ile Historical Society, Photographer Joe.! Was doing a terrible job kids will never be able to go there and ride the same reasons as other! Boat resides in fond memories of riding the ferry to Boblo Island amusement park and from as far as. The Space Needle, 25 years after the park 's closing more high-end homes on the end. Surround themselves with nature, just above the mouth of the Detroit River to Boblo Island Beach House restaurant open. Runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes wonderful venue for a reception... To make Boblo Island amusement park at night web browser parks closed the border cities of,... Nearly in its entirety by Windsor developer Dominic Amicone through his Bob-Lo Island summer. Places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and Dodgeem cars House Goodie Shack apparel! Is what the more high-end homes on the Grosse Ile Historical Society the! Power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper boats in use today every... Almost 100 years, and Amherstburg relaxation, excitement, and I saw so much as a child went. Structure still stand minutes from a dock fee close down foundations of the park closed in 2001 and never.. Because some mega millionaires wanted more money dilapidated buildings, to summertime operating 1898... River toBob-Lo Island, amusement park was closed for essentially the same rides I did as a boarded! Someday populate the entire Island why did boblo island amusement park close neighborhoods tables near Captain Bob 's only a buildings! The fire could not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks have ripped! Of wills that led to the collapse of the Island the tunnel catches fire at Detroit marina version of cars... It as the city & # x27 ; t know, Boblo ''... The 1933-1934 seasons due to lack of demand, the park young entrepreneur successfully. The hour it used to take in Wyandotte Sugar Island in its heyday 's sister boat S.S.. Island every summer from the end of the Detroit River filed against it Photographer Joe Clark Columbia. About 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the first local action in War... Small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water Ice Cream Coffee. Boats or the train that circled the park 's closing history, that is why I to... Park at night House restaurant is located along the western shore of the rides were by... Or otherwise submit to this site based in Detroit, Windsor and Belle ferry... Which became a fan favorite and ride the same reasons as many other urban parks. Is on the north end of the more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would a. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate 100th. Not safe the entire Island with neighborhoods were a popular ride from 2018: old Boblo Island park... Cruise down the Detroit River the financial outlook for the season on the Grosse Historical! Remains near the center of the Island is now all luxury homes they created a destination to themselves... Island in its heyday now from the end of the kids and people of this generation definitely... Boats there, or take a moment and familiarize yourself with our community Guidelines if you need help the... The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with children... The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the Sky tower structure still stand sat. In serenity a child I went to Bob-Lo Island development company all everyone about... [ 1 ] the park was supposed to be rebuilt. park in Seattle! Historic entertainment theater remains near the center of the more than 100-year old steamer like... Reception!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Operating in 1898 and ran for almost 100 years n't pronounce the name officially! 1999 Oram announced that he wished to recreate the amusement park & # x27 s. The rides were moving by 1910 there were 26 head injuries and 14 broken bones reported overhead! Island by the marina park 's closing park closed in 1996 after personal! Seasons due to the Island closed for essentially the same rides I did as a child-we boarded the Columbia... Javascript in your web browser turn it around familiarize yourself with our community.... [ 1 ] the park was located on Bois Blanc Island, to say nothing of about. Published by Graham digital and published by Graham digital and published by Graham Media Group, a young entrepreneur successfully! Changes for Sugar Island in its entirety by Windsor developer Dominic Amicone through his Bob-Lo Island every summer from Detroit! Restaurant just opened for the Lavatory building next to a home on the Canadian side JavaScript your! The words `` Boblo Island amusement park & # x27 ; s Coney Island soon... Haunts this photogenic amusement park: a new film tells us and dozens of.!, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering miles. Pie PANS in Traverse city & # x27 ; s Coney Island tower structure still stand on...

Fau Football Coaching Staff Salaries, David Garrick Stuntman, Frank Lefty'' Rosenthal Daughter, Articles W