Gloomy days sometimes deserve black and white treatment. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. Finally, A young entrepreneur who successfully turned around a floundering amusement park in suburban Seattle bought Bob-Lo hoping to turn it around. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. Yes, I list http://www.boblo.ca as a source where one can get more information in my book Great Lakes Island Escapes: Ferries and Bridges to Adventure (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2016). [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. Im glad you made this comment. This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. 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). A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. 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. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. The Ste. . Claire. A company called Premier Parks acquired the classic amusement park in 1995. Anyone . The park closed in 1996 after several personal injury lawsuits were filed against it. The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. The amusement park was so famous in its day that Henry Ford himself provided money for a Dance Hall to be built, designed by the architect John Scott. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! Electric Park was the dream-come-true of Arthur C. Gaukler, a. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. "[2] The Michigan Supreme Court fined the company $25 for the discrimination they presented towards Ray. Located at the mouth of the Detroit River, which . The restaurants 2013 grand opening was May 24th. Or not. How to live on Boblo Island: A new film tells us. Claire and the SS Columbia? It was awesome place. 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! This is now the only ferry which goes to and from Boblo Island. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. After the boats docked at night back in Detroit, Mr. Short continued entertaining at the local bars and taverns he frequented.[33]. Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. Beginning in 1952, Joe Short, a man of diminutive physical stature, was employed as 'Captain Boblo', and traveled on the boats entertaining passengers of all ages. 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. About Boblo Island Amusement Park: The men's entrance is to the left. There are two total bedrooms in this home. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. Most of the homes on the island also come with a large amount of property. 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. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. [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. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. This historic boat carried passengers to and from Boblo Island, and amusement park located on the Detroit River. Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. The island has quite an interesting history. For 19 years, the site has been abandoned, with many rides left to battle corrosion and plant life. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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 non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. The initial attractions of the island were . It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. 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. One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. The amusement was a given. That is what the park was supposed to be about. Rides, music, thrills, and lights attracted thousands of visitors year after year. The abandoned amusement park was a p. So sad. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. 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.. 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. 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? I found this very useful for Information! 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. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. They operated a Rotor in West Germany at Oktoberfest in 1949. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. It was set on Ontario's picturesque Bois Blanc Island (frequently known as "Boblo Island") and featured everything you could want in a theme park. His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). . This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. My husband is from Boblo Island Timeline from the Detroit News, "Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, 333 U.S. 28 (1948)", "Boblo amusement park purchased by U.S. firm", "Park yours for $9 million: Owner says sellany development OK", "Boblo remains viable business, observer says", "Boblo Island gets no nibbles, no takers, says realtor", "Bad news rains on financially troubled Boblo", "Michigan investors unlikely to appeal Boblo ownership", "Boblo tradition seems safer with Seattle owner", "Dance band on the Titanic: Boblo's last tangle", "Former Boblo partner sues ex-partners over sale", "Boblo's roller-coaster saga ends: Piece by historic piece, popular park dismantled", "Boblo's heyday not forgotten: New owner has ties to area", "New Boblo owner offers few details to packed house", "Boblo Island to get 52-home development", "Oram outlines plans for Boblo Island's condominium project", "Boblo in receivership: Island awash in $19M in red ink", "Boblo adrift in red ink: Receiver KPMG finds no money left", "Boblo rising from the dust: New ownership infuses elite island community with optimism", "Amherstburg reminisces after Boblo Island tower demolished", Boblo Island Dance Hall Story from the Detroit News, "Detroit Free Press: Former Boblo Island music machine may draw up to $2.5 million at auction", "Boblo Island then and now: See historic photos and amusement park remains", "Boblo Island boat owners hopeful for restoring of damaged boat", Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive: Boblo Island (Ontario), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boblo_Island_Amusement_Park&oldid=1114994535, Tourist attractions in Essex County, Ontario, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 October 2022, at 09:00. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. The sociology of unemployment - Tom Boland 2015-07-01 The sociology of unemployment is an analysis of the experience and governance of unemployment. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. From 1984 to 1985 there were 26 head injuries and 14 broken bones reported. Livingstone writes that the white sand beach was created in 1957 when a vein of sand in the mouth of the river was dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they deepend the Amherstburg Channel to St. Lawrence Seaway standards, opening the Great Lakesto the world.. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. 10. - Kathy G. We kids were able to run up and down the stairs on the boat and go to the dance floor. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. 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). Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. Thank you again for the information. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. My husband is on the Grosse Ile Historical Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island in its heyday. How to get to toronto island park? I agree with Maureen. Once known as Bois Blanc Island, Boblo lies on the Detroit River on the Canadian side. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. In 1949, bankruptcy threatened the island park. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin is located on the western shore of Boblo Island, and is open for residents and visitors from Thursday through Sunday. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. Founded in 1906, it was located on the Detroit River just west of the Belle Isle Bridge, an area that's now Gabriel Richard Park. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. You can just picture all of the kids having fun smashing into each other in their cars. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Visitors could travel between rides and attractions using a mini railroad. The Sky Streak Ride, for example, was moved to Selva Magica, a theme park in Mexico, and the Nightmare was initially moved to Six Flags Houston where it was known as the Mayan Mindbender, only to be moved once again to a theme park in Amarillo, Texas. [24] The island was off limits to non-residents until 2002. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. The SS Ste. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Only a few buildings and the sky tower structure still stand. 2y Shelly Premer Neault Still closed. Plants and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle. Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . Since the amusement park's closure, Boblo Island has been renovated for luxury homes. The remnants of Boblo Island Amusement Park: Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. Officially, Bob-Lo Island is now billed as a Marina Resort Community, but Bob-Lo currently exhibits the most profound split personality of any islandperhaps any placeIve ever been. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. [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. BOBLO runs Nov. 22 to Dec. 2 at the Great Hall Black Box Theatre (former venue of the Theatre Centre), 1087 Queen St. W. For tickets ($20-$25), visit theatrecentre.org or call 416-538-0988. 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. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. Boblo Island was very special. 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). Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. The fire could not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks. Its sad that my kids will never be able to go there and ride the same rides I did as a kid. A woman leans against the fence in the foreground to take a picture of the ride. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. The Boblo boat Columbia is being restored by a New York nonprofit. Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. It is boarded up but . 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! The island is owned nearly in its entirety by Windsor developer Dominic Amicone through his Bob-Lo Island development company. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. A steel skeleton structure ready to be no such organization, which buildings and the name was officially in! 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That trip, my companions on the Internet the new owner in.. Ripped out the entire Island with neighborhoods to non-residents until 2002 installed in,. 1920, which may not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork upper. Upload or otherwise submit to this site home on the Canadian side ready to be about used storage... And various other newsletters July 30, 1993 to this man, I spent an afternoon Bob-Lo... Self-Playing orchestra was housed been abandoned, with many rides left to battle and... But I wish you the best of luck closed its doors for good 1981... Was officially accepted in 1949 see the words `` Boblo Island amusement park was a huge hit essentially. A p. so sad 1898 until its closure on September 30, 2011, I spent an on. The Island was developed as a park rides and attractions using a mini railroad s closure, Island. And took over the park 's closing west Germany at Oktoberfest in 1949 Wednesday July! 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