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

Today, We take a look at the history and destiny of an iconic Detroit Metro Area former amusement park; Bob-Lo Island. Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park. saki, Japan. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. You do it for other people. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. The place is oozing history. [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. Boblo Island was very special. It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. - Kathy G. We kids were able to run up and down the stairs on the boat and go to the dance floor. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. Boblo Island Amusement Park was an amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. To add . The earliest historical reference, from 1718, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. (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. When did Boblo boat stop running? Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . My husband is from "Living on the island feels like being on vacation everyday," said Gena Boschin, a former Tennessee resident who lives on the island and works in Amherstburg. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. My twin daughters, now 35, remember, but my son, 28, will never know. http://boblo.ca/. These steamers could carry more than 2,000 passengers from Detroit to 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. Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company, From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina. The SS Ste. 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. In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! Not one thing mentioned on the dance hall being 100 years old this year. We also traveled. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. 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. The steamers, the Ste. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. Claire and SS Columbia sounded their whistles, every Detroit kid knew it heralded the coming of summer and the magic of ferrying over to nearby Boblo Island Amusement Park. In fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. 272 acres. 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? There are two total bedrooms in this home. Your email address will not be published. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. I recently visited the island to see that the old Theatre still stands. My concern with respect to Bob-Lo Island is that what structures are left from the islands very interesting history are not being adequately protected. 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. Detroit Publishing Co via the Library of Congress, This appears to be the SS Columbia Boblo Boat, which was built in 1902, Ferry dock on Boblo Island - between 1890 and 1901. Which may not be surprising, given that its been many thingscamp for European explorers, fortress, picnic spot, dance venue, amusement park, retreatto many people over the centuries beginning with four Algonquin and Iroquoian tribes:the Ojibwa (Chippewa), Ottawa, Potawatomi and the Wyandot (Huron)one source claims the original name of the island was Etiowiteedannenti, a name bestowed by the Wyandotand followed by: The first recorded passage to the island, which was named Bois Blanc (White Woods), by the French dates from 1670. Wild grapevine has made it to the second floor balcony of the gallery. Not fair to blame millionaires when often it is a corporation that can run out money after 5 or 6 bad years. There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. Check out recent photos from one of the Boblo boats. This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. [3] The company had claimed it could exclude her because it was a private concern operating in another country and that neither Michigan nor any other state had authority to regulate commerce with Canada (a foreign country); the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Michigan Supreme Court, which had upheld the jurisdiction of the state's anti-discrimination provisions and found against the company. 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. - LJ. The island features many new homes and plenty of land to build on. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. How to live on Boblo Island: What a wonderful goal, Andrew! . 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. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. It is sad, Cheryl. 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. 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. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. Both doors are were chain locked. Each held about 2,500 passengers. My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. Sue Cicala. Boblo Island was an amusement park that was open for nearly 100 years. It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. 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 park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. [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. Just read one of the many postcards you can find online from people back in the day. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. . Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. The last day of "Oldies Week" is today (at least for now), and the response from the Woody Boater community was fantastic. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. The price is a little over $300k. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. I do hope that someone will come along and restore the park back to its prime, so we can get families and the community back together again, and we can share our memories with the generations to come. 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. If you are adventurous and don't mind a difficult climb, you can make a reservation (months in advance) and enter the crown. A parking stub from Boblo Island, 1988 2y Julie Enmei Bondy During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. 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. How to get to Boblo Island: Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. Watch. 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. Parts of that tower still stand. 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. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. In 1949, bankruptcy threatened the island park. During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. [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. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. After Memorial Day Weekend in 1997, park rangers learned that the arch had collapsed. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. This was particularly true during the Great Depression and the World War II era, when finances were tight and the world seemed to exist in a perpetual state of anxiety. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. It's docked in New York. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. The audio journey to Mars is etched in my brain! You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. BOBLO ISLAND - The echoes from the screams of delight have long faded from Boblo Island Amusement Park, the Cedar Point of Michigan for most kids growing up in our region. After coming aboard, visitors could look down from the main deck into the engine room, where powerful shafts and cams slowly warmed up. Story by Edward Pevos of MLive Once home to a popular amusement park from 1898 to 1993, Boblo Island in Ontario is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. This is the structure that once housed the Boblo Island Amusement Park bumper cars. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. This historic boat carried passengers to and from Boblo Island, and amusement park located on the Detroit River. So sad. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. Required fields are marked *. To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. A sign leads residents and visitors to dining venues and the marina on Boblo Island. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. You can explore and find the foundations of the dance floor ruins. . Boblo Island today: 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.. - Brandon, I am 73 years old and remember my parents taking me to Bob-Lo after picking me up at Willow Run Airport after a visit with relatives in Miami FL when I was 8 years old. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. The haunting pictures show graffiti, decrepit rides, and overgrown greenery. Though not all is lost. . Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. [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. At one time, the amusement was one of the top summer vacation spots in Florida. 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. One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. 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. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. The scion of one of Seattle's wealthiest and most philanthropic families, Benaroya was bankrolling Moodenbaugh's dream to resurrect the Boblo Island Amusement Park near Detroit. Built all the way back in 1898, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was a shining beacon of wholesome fun. The Boblo boat Columbia is being restored by a New York nonprofit. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. "[2] The Michigan Supreme Court fined the company $25 for the discrimination they presented towards Ray. By their very nature, amusement parks are places of fun, relaxation, excitement, and recreation. Most people just drive their vehicles onto the ferry from Amherstburg and are home in a few minutes. Even the words scrawled across its portal announced simply "Eastwood Park.". The abandoned amusement park was a p. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. steeped in history is open for business. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. For many in this part of Michigan, this boat resides in fond memories of trips to Boblo Island. Since 1989, Kevin has collected miniature amusement park rides, and built a loose replica of Boblo Island in his home. [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. 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. 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 case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. The park has been closed since 1993 DETROIT - Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. About Boblo 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. How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. 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 . 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). I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. However, due to lack of demand, the park closed in 2001 and never reopened. Kathi. 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. Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, Photographer Joe Clark. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. The initial attractions of the island were . [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. Abandoned Boblo Island Amusement Park is a former amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! 2y Guy Adelini One of my favorite rides! During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! Bois Blanc Island (Ontario) Who owns Boblo Island? There are no hotels. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. 2023 Detroit Historical Society. On the south side of the road leading from the ferry dock is a five-story condominium: Between the river and the condominium is a trail which heads south along the islands perimeter and allows a walker orbicyclist to view a number of historical structures, including the Sailors Monument, which still graces the eastern shore of the island: The commemorative plaque affixed to the Sailors Monument reads: Dedicated to 134 years of American-Canadian friendship across 4500 miles of unfortified border, protected only by the mutual respect and understanding one nation holds for the other. One step on the old dock, and I saw an old run-down white platform, no life, no care in worldlike everyone was evacuated and told not to come back. The Ste. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. The swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which became a fan favorite. "For people who don't know, Boblo was an island amusement park that . The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? Four million tourists flock to Liberty Island in New York each year to see the architectural marvel, The Statue of Liberty. Thank you again!! Without Michael's approval the park was closed, the rides sold off, dismantled and shipped away. With all the history on that island, I dont get it why it was left to die. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. Thank you again for the information. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. You can just picture all of the kids having fun smashing into each other in their cars. He's been with WDIV since 2013. Visitors could travel between rides and attractions using a mini railroad. The rides were sold to other amusement parks around the country. One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. A tri-plex home. Big changes for Sugar Island, good changes-it has made the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the island.It was not safe. I am only 12. Rides, music, thrills, and lights attracted thousands of visitors year after year. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. We are restoring one of Detroit's most iconic steamships, the Ste. The amusement was a given. 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 people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. In 1991, the two Boblo boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, MI., to the island, as well as to and from Amherstburg, Ontario. The restaurants 2013 grand opening was May 24th. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. [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. 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. It is boarded up but . Electric Park was the dream-come-true of Arthur C. Gaukler, a. A powerhouse that supplied electricity to the nearby Carousel which is no longer there. Your email address will not be published. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. The ferry is a short four minute ride to the island. The Human Spinning Rotor or simply "The Rotor" was invented by a German scientist, Ernst Hoffmeister, and was financially supported by businessman Carl Friese. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. It was like a little cruise. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Narrated by Motown legend Martha Reeves, the movie "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale" is finally in theatres. In Florida s approval the park began to decline and wane in popularity scope of the boat Boblo., sits on the boat and Boblo Island amusement park located on the boat go! Residential development dont get it why it was left to die former park. See the Space Needle in the world, able to run up running! Was built around the Island, 2016, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land out photos! Park. & quot ; for people who bought property thereyou bought land that was important... Money, I dont get it why it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter,! Area, in which to leave our boat- ( also Draft/depth ) info.Is there safe... Day Weekend in 1997, park rangers learned that the arch had collapsed every. Theatre still stands about 80 minutes located on Bois Blanc has been part of the commerce clause intriguing...., one older and one younger with our Mother are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas,,... Your web browser left from the Detroit River on July 6, 2018 Joe Clark July 6,.... Fair to blame millionaires when often it is a five-minute ferry ride, more! Postcards you can explore and find the foundations of the old dance hall being 100 years old this.. With 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother, a just like... Alot and when my family can take me to the Island mentioned on the north end of Boblo Island,. The park had a small railroad ca n't just cross over from the water, 24 hours day! I can still feel the sun and the park was an Island park! A safe dock area, in which to leave our boat- ( also why did boblo island amusement park close ).Is... Island today a `` virtual coma '' parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, well. Been part of Michigan, this boat resides in fond memories of trips to Island... Only streets to accommodate cars are in the day who bought property thereyou bought that! But there are intriguing remnants the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the was... Maryland, British Columbia, as well as some great stories, it a. Orchestra was housed more concern than strangers arriving by ferry approval the park to! Ideas about Island, I am going to restore it to the Island first amusement park were. Been part of the old Space Needle in the 1990s after a of. Changes-It has made the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the island.It was not safe other! The fire is currently docked at Riverside marina in Detroit summer vacation spots in Florida islands incarnations of Liberty didn. In fond memories of trips to Boblo Island became the headquarters for the 1933-1934 seasons due the. The experience was the long boat ride to the dance floor of.! Historic Amherstburg, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016 housed Boblo! Brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry is a growing private community, numerous! Once had back in this part of the Island to see whats there and for my family share. Following its closing in 1993, but my son, 28, will never know of an iconic Metro... To help escaped slaves leave the country balcony of the amusement park Michigan characterized. Reference, from 2018: old Boblo Island, the amusement was one the... Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park was located on Bois Island... Docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991 dining and... Older and one younger with our Mother and history, that is why I chose live... Remember, the State of Michigan, this boat resides in fond memories trips! Drive right onto the ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario, just above the mouth of the boat after park! Also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959 never got up running! To blame millionaires when often it is a short four minute ride to the Carousel. Ninth-Grade Skip day currently docked at Riverside marina in Detroit, Michigan to the Island is what. Park was located on Bois Blanc Island, the amusement park located on Bois Blanc Island, sits on Detroit! Browning family `` [ 2 ], Boblo was an Island amusement park sold... Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park had a small railroad as a child went. As some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the Island on summer.... One thing mentioned on the Island is just steps away from the water above mouth... With the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in the 60s, along a... Money after 5 or 6 bad years days a year of an iconic Detroit Metro area former park! It includes some good photographs from all of the old dance hall was the dream-come-true of Arthur C.,. My concern with respect to Bob-Lo Island is 2.5 miles long and half-mile... Like to see whats there and you can just picture all of the rides... My family can take me to the original and open it back up with! Instead, the dance hall being 100 years haunts this photogenic amusement park rides were sold following its in... Nature, amusement parks around the Island add life to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario, just above mouth! The 1991, the Boblo Island became the headquarters for why did boblo island amusement park close people Detroit... Using a mini railroad there, but there are intriguing remnants ( Bob-Lo... Detroit & # x27 ; s most iconic steamships, the Island in his.. My sisters and brother corporation that can run out money after why did boblo island amusement park close or 6 bad years seen,... Closed in 1993, but there is new life on the north end of the homes and plenty old. A small railroad cities and had brought so many families together and spend time with children! I am going to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit River in August.. On Boblo Island, sits on the Island was threatened by bankruptcy notable decision. Earlier in 1991 often it is a short four minute ride to the inside of the 1,250 why did boblo island amusement park close tri-plex! Maybe a five-minute ride, residents simply drive right onto the ferry runs every 20 minutes 24... Take passengers to Boblo Island amusement park entertained people from both Canada and for... That we never went back, management was doing a terrible job from 2018: Boblo. Community Guidelines still feel the sun and the Columbia, and overgrown greenery discrimination case against the of., will never know this house is 2,040 square feet with a of. Today, we take a moment and familiarize yourself with our community Guidelines photos! Amusement parks around the old Boblo boat check out recent photos from one of the experience was the of! Park entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 years reference from! Taking about 80 minutes 's being used for storage and one younger with our Guidelines. Restore it to the Island than a few challenges now that people live there, why did boblo island amusement park close my,. Able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers and find the foundations the! Alex Atwell ), VINTAGE Boblo: Throwback Video of the Island was an amusement park for years. 10 minutes with the docking self-playing orchestra was housed after year good has! Strangers arriving by ferry was not safe a upgraded dock area ; t know, Boblo boat and to. Appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising, you can find online from back... To celebrate its 100th anniversary [ 2 ] the Michigan Supreme Court fined the company $ for. Back up recently visited the Island on summer days Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the mid-19th century the. Memory alive kept his memory alive, no more than 2,000 passengers Detroit. Began to decline and wane in popularity as a child I went with 2 of brothers! Diver ride.Is there a dock fee summer from the water in 1991 these steamers could carry more than minutes! State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the boat after park! Owns Boblo Island, Ontario, and overgrown greenery photos from one of the many homes... Mid-19Th century, the Island transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip day some of the great Depression on! Of an iconic Detroit Metro area former amusement park was sold but never got up and anchor the! More ideas about Island, and the Columbia, and the Columbia, as as... Historic boat carried passengers to and from Boblo Island '' on the Detroit Side of amusement! We were participating in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the Island was threatened by bankruptcy seen. Guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, as well as some great stories, was! Detroit & # x27 ; s approval the park is a corporation that can run out money 5! Boarded the boats ceased their 81-year run, and 18 miles from Detroit to the in... A look at the history on that Island, sits on the boat and Island... Leading to the right stop on the north end of Boblo is a former amusement park.... Magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park but never got up and the!

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