The park closed in 1993 as a result of poor management and attendance was shrinking because of other parks like Cedar Point. -Bob-Lo Island Amusement Park 1898-1993 Thanks . 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. The island is owned nearly in its entirety by Windsor developer Dominic Amicone through his Bob-Lo Island development company. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. You can explore and find the foundations of the dance floor ruins. [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. About Boblo Island: What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? The folks from the residential areas use golf carts toget to the community pool in the center of the island, just a stones throw from the almost hundred-year-old, still standing Dance Pavilion: And here is where things get interesting. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. I recently visited the island to see that the old Theatre still stands. So sad. It was like a little cruise. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. The Browning Family sold the island in 1979, which led to several owners in the following years, including IBC and AAA of Michigan. Claireoffered their own form of entertainment. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. When I was riding my bike on a trail that runs through the middle of the island, I came upon a T-intersection buried amidst tall, tall grass, with the Carousel Building on my left and the Powerhouse on my right. I had the pleasure of delivering a load of stuffed animals to the Park in the early 1990s, was a trip i will never forget, driving my Freightliner truck and a 48 foot trailer onto the wharf to make the trip across the river in the middle of the night over to the island then driving around the the park, having to stop and wait for the park benches to be moved for me to able to get truck and trailer around the turns stopping here and there to off load these stuffed toys into little electric carts for the arcade games before the park opened the next day, Friday of a May 24 weekend. 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. Not fair to blame millionaires when often it is a corporation that can run out money after 5 or 6 bad years. 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. The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take . The SS Ste. 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). Claire, built in 1910. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. I found this very useful for Information! With all the history on that island, I dont get it why it was left to die. This historic boat carried passengers to and from Boblo Island, and amusement park located on the Detroit River. Scattered over the restof the island, there are still a number of structures left from other erasmidst overgrown grass, downed limbs from trees, and more than a few other surprises: At the south end of the island, two pieces of history, although damaged, still stand: In the portion of the island that was once the amusement parkBob-Lo as the babyboomers knew ita number of structures still stand: Unfortunately, despite a private-property-no-trespassing sign . As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of 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. The initial attractions of the island were . There are two total bedrooms in this home. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. Boblo Island today: Boblo Island now boasts deluxe houses and condos, valued from $184,000 to $1.15 million, with walk-out basements and turreted views of the Detroit River. saki, Japan. Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. The homes come with all appliances. Look at Sugar Island.it once was a special place. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. The price is a little over $300k. It's docked in New York. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. Finally, A young entrepreneur who successfully turned around a floundering amusement park in suburban Seattle bought Bob-Lo hoping to turn it around. Some recent activity indicates this one might be saved. . We also traveled. [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. Your email address will not be published. [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. I recently visited the island to see that the old Theatre still stands. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. 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 ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Not only do those who went before the park shut down in 1993 still remember it fondly; they're eager to regale you . 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. These gleeful youngsters certainly seem amused on a ride at Eastwood, at the northeast corner of Eight Mile Road and . 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 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. It is slated to include a luxury hotel, international shops & restaurants, a 107-berth boat dock, and a pier large enough to accommodate lake cruise ships along with The S.S. . In June of 1999 Oram announced that he wished to recreate the amusement park on the mainland near Amherstburg, Ontario. Michelle, I interpret Roys use of the phrase mega-millionaires as being in service of describing the island developers, not the residents. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. Thank you again!! My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. To add . Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. If you are adventurous and don't mind a difficult climb, you can make a reservation (months in advance) and enter the crown. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. What did you do? This is the view now from the end of the tunnel. Your email address will not be published. For many in this part of Michigan, this boat resides in fond memories of trips to Boblo Island. We dont save anything for history any more. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The price is around $500k. For 19 years, the site has been abandoned, with many rides left to battle corrosion and plant life. Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. [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. 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. At one time, the amusement was one of the top summer vacation spots in Florida. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. How to live on Boblo Island: The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. 10. One of the oldest structures on the island was vandalized in 1954, with vandals setting fire to the top of the 1837 lighthouse, destroying the upper structure. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. 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.. $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. He wore a variety of colorful clothing, including a large hat with 'Captain Bob Lo' on the peak, and was typically equipped with binoculars for navigation purposes. The sociology of unemployment - Tom Boland 2015-07-01 The sociology of unemployment is an analysis of the experience and governance of unemployment. It is boarded up but . "For people who don't know, Boblo was an island amusement park that . 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. 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. Even the words scrawled across its portal announced simply "Eastwood Park.". More than a century later, in the 1920s, the amusement park opened on the sitethen closed in 1966 after the accidental deaths of two young patrons, including one on the spooky circular swing. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. Not a single lot was sold between 9/11 and May 2004. 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. . This is the remnants of an old putt-putt golf course. 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. You can just picture all of the kids having fun smashing into each other in their cars. This is the observation area which would rise to the top. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. 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! To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. Series: DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, 1972 - 1977, via National Archives and Records Administration, Photo: Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, A glass blower puts on a demonstration in the craftsmen's area - 1970s, A child takes a spin on a ride at Boblo Island - 1970s. - Mellissa M. Sources: BobloSteamers.com, Water Winter Wonderland. Electric Park was the dream-come-true of Arthur C. Gaukler, a. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. Flags at the Amherstburg Dock. 2023 Detroit Historical Society. One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. When Ste. Particularly down at White Sands beach below the Lighthouse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33535417@N05/4112593095/), where two boats were anchored during my visit to the south end of the island with a large group of partying young people. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. You know what I think, I have never been over there. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. The ship in mid-swing. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Rides, music, thrills, and lights attracted thousands of visitors year after year. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of haunting remnants from Boblo Island Amusement Park, which delivered thrills and family fun from 1898 to September 30, 1993. [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. 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 . The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide. The marina on the west side of Boblo Island. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. Take a look at the link below as we take you a journey through what was once Boblo Island Amusement Park, right up to its emerging transformation. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. In fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. Four million tourists flock to Liberty Island in New York each year to see the architectural marvel, The Statue of Liberty. I can forward them to you if you would like. 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). Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. A tri-plex home. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? The boat was taken to Toledo on Tuesday. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. 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. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. 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. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. Sue Cicala. 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. 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. Many locals still have great memories riding the ferry to Boblo Island Amusement Park, which eventually. Pinterest. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. The place just went completely downhill. Well as pedestrians and cyclists a 30-minute drive from Windsor in 1913 simply & quot ; Eastwood Park. quot. [ 21 ] [ 22 ], in late 1995, the amusement park had its custom... 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