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. Neither will my grandchildren. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. He's been with WDIV since 2013. This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. Rides, music, thrills, and lights attracted thousands of visitors year after year. There's a white sand beach, walking trails, water sports, a waterside restaurant, an ice cream parlor and an in-ground pool. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. 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. . Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. The price is a little over $300k. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. 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. 2y Gord Bailey OMG I worked that Ride! Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. . To add . 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. [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. The boat was taken to Toledo on Tuesday. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. Kathi. Today. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. This photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. [10], With no buyers materializing, Norton Auctioneers of Coldwater, Michigan, was retained to sell the property at auction on February 10, 1993. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. It was like a little cruise. What a wonderful goal, Andrew! Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. 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. The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. You support the mega millionaires who dont care about anything else in life except their bank accounts. The ship in mid-swing. 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. Opened in Orlando in 1976, River Country was Walt Disney's first waterpark. 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. The 24-year-old Black woman boarded the SS Columbia en route for Boblo Island a Canadian amusement park beloved by Detroiters. . The 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new. 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. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. Sad that it no longer exists. Id built up this image of perfectly cut green grass, flowers, water slides and party halls, but what I saw when I stepped onto the old white dock was far from the oasis I was told about. ", "Small fire breaks out on SS Ste. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. The boat would stop there to take people to the island for the day. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. A sign leads residents and visitors to dining venues and the marina on Boblo Island. 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. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on . 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. Page 51", "Historic Boblo boats land role in Transformers 4", "Boblo Island boat owners hopeful for restoring of damaged boat: What's next for the SS Ste Claire? If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. Just read one of the many postcards you can find online from people back in the day. The price is around $500k. http://boblo.ca/. The haunting pictures show graffiti, decrepit rides, and overgrown greenery. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. These steamers could carry more than 2,000 passengers from Detroit to the island. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. It was awesome place. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. Can you go over to the island any time? I worked on the Boats in 1980. In 1949, bankruptcy threatened the island park. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. You will find even more information in: Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, by Patrick Livingstone (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2008); Bob-Lo: An Island in Troubled Waters, by Annessa Carlisle (Royal Oak, MI: Momentum Books, 2005); and for more photographs, Bob-Lo Revisited, by Bill Rauhausuer (Chicago: Lorentz, 2003). I recently visited the island to see that the old Theatre still stands. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. On a summer day in 1945, Sarah Elizabeth Ray stood up for something because she wasn't allowed to sit down. Ray was there to celebrate her graduation from secretarial school with her classmates. The restaurants 2013 grand opening was May 24th. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. The Ste. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. The initial attractions of the island were . Although I had $8.00 in Canadian currency in hand to pay the ferry toll, I rode the ferry without being charged and with no questions asked. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. Touch device users . It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. . [1] Screamer, a double corkscrew; Nightmare, an indoor all-dark ride; and Sky Streak, a steel out-and-back design, were its three roller coasters. All the passengers who had purchased round-trip tickets were comfortably aboardall, that is, but one. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. what a fun and exciting place. The SS Ste. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. That was in 1993. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. The audio journey to Mars is etched in my brain! A private community is now being built on the island. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. 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. I am only 12. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. . Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. This is what the more than 100-year old steamer looked like a few years ago. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? Photojournalist Seph Lawless has taken pictures of 10 abandoned theme parks around the US. British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. "[2] The Michigan Supreme Court fined the company $25 for the discrimination they presented towards Ray. We dont save anything for history any more. At about 34-square miles, the island is 12 miles long and six miles long. 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! . - Mellissa M. Sources: BobloSteamers.com, Water Winter Wonderland. I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. 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). [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. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. 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. . Starting in the mid-1990s, however, it began a tumultuous phase that ultimately ended in its demise. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. 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. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Since the amusement park's closure, Boblo Island has been renovated for luxury homes. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. 525 55 shares Like Most relevant Ryan Hance How long ago did this place close and why did it close down? The ferry is run for the island residents, their guests, and prospective buyers of lots in the Triamico Development Affiliates marina resort community. However, there is a public restaurant, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House, on the west side of the island by the marina (ferry docks at the east side). Please dont judge us without knowing us! . Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers. "That's probably because I have about twice as many rides as Boblo Island." This historic boat carried passengers to and from Boblo Island, and amusement park located on the Detroit River. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. 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. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. As I have written to the owner of the company that bought the island: You have no idea how much Boblo Island Amusement Park was to our society. I was 7 years old when the ferries stopped running in 1991. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. The people of Detroit, Michigan characterized it as that city's Coney Island. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. The plan is to restore it and have it run in the Hudson River Valley. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. I am so sad every time I think about Bob Lo. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. [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. Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park. 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