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 wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. Big changes for Sugar Island, good changes-it has made the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the island.It was not safe. The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. 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. The last summer that Bob-Lo operated as an amusement park was almost two decades ago: 1993. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. caliyah mcnabb photos; singapore new first class; grilled chicken with marinated tomatoes and onions; common entry level jobs for aerospace engineering; sims 4 reshade presets 2021; why did boblo island close. They are located next to the Dance Hall. why did boblo island close Menu fatal shooting in los angeles today. The steamers, the Ste. The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. [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. By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. Please dont judge us without knowing us! 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. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. Windsor Mayor Arthur John Reaume wanted the island to be designated a National Park. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. He was 20 years older than me. 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. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. My husband is on the Grosse Ile Historical Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island in its heyday. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). Hard to believe, but for the first time in 124 years, there is no such place as Boblo Island. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. Thank you again!! The Boblo boat took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. Can you go over to the island any time? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Unclaimed. The best time was 8 hours and 42 minutes turned in by 17-year old Dorothy de Caussin and 15-year old Ida Mutnick, both of Detroit. It was like a little cruise. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. Hard to believe it was an big destination, it seems too small to support an amusement park. 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. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. 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. The Columbia's ship keeper, Sam Buchanan, said the St. Clair has "a prominent role" in. One island. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. 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. Over the roughly two-and-a-half decades that have passed since the closure, many of the most telltale signs of the park have faded away, including the ultra spooky-looking ferry boats that used to. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. Boblo closed for good in September 1993. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. A street sign shows people where they are as they arrive on the island. 2022-09-26. It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. 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. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. (LogOut/ [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. - Bonnie, Oh! Change). Today, 24 years after the park was closed and 118 years after its grand opening, little remains as a reminder of the islands history. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. Though not all is lost. They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. [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. FOX 2 Detroit (WJBK) - The name 'Boblo' came back recently after a massive fire destroyed an iconic ferry that used to take people to and from the now closed island amusement park. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? 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. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. Well, it went out of business a long time ago, but we found a few videos of what it looks like today -- check them out here. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. You support the mega millionaires who dont care about anything else in life except their bank accounts. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. It is now an expensive, gated housing community with a private clubhouse. The ferrys were known as "Bob-Lo Boats" and held about 2,500 passengers each. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. Anyone can go on the island via the ferry for a fee of $10 round-trip, but Boblo isn't a typical tourist destination. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? Boblo Island today: . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. You know what I think, I have never been over there. 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. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. The first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The 16mm film is from around 1960. | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. Technically speaking, the island was a part of Canada (Bois Blanc Island, Ontario to be exact) but was just a short ferry ride up the Detroit River from the city of Detroit. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. The Bobl-Lo Island of today? The price is around $500k. The Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority found a way to end a 100-year agreement that gave the Moroun-owned Ambassador Port Co. sweeping control, but questions remain about the speed at which the deal gained approval of the public authority's board, transparency about the deal and what it means for the port going forward. 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. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. These steamers could carry more than 2,000 passengers from Detroit to the island. The Bob-Lo boats, once looked upon as part of the attraction of going on a trip to Bob-Lo were later being looked at as time wasted that could have been spent at the park. He's been with WDIV since 2013. Today it is overgrown: The Powerhouse, which looks like small limestone chapel, that provided electricityto the Carousel: The Dance Pavilion a 35,000 feet steel and limestone building designed by Albert Kahn and John Scott and completed in 1913. 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! The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. Claire, built in 1910. After 1796, British interests controlled the island and it was the staging point for the first local action in the War of 1812. [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. Competition came in, e.g., Sea World. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! steeped in history is open for business. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. The park, which. 2023 Detroit Historical Society. Locate and compare Service d'ambulance in Mersea ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. Why did Boblo Island close? It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. Kathi. Or not. How to get to Boblo Island: There are two total bedrooms in this home. Sq.Ft. A shack which held dynamite used for dredging the near-by channel was fired into by a group of boys out hunting or fishing. One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. The native Wyandot called the island "Etiowiteendannenti.Both the Wyandot and French names refer to the white wood appearance lent by the birch and poplar trees that line the banks. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. It is a story told in a new movie that premiered last week in Detroit called "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale". Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you . Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. If the boat looks familiar, it is not your imagination. mike smithson tutor perini; ford f 350 ignition switch replacement. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. For more than a century, Bob-Lo Island had belonged to Ontario Province.

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