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. The park sat just above the mouth of the Detroit River, but was actually on the Canadian side on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. Ray was there to celebrate her graduation from secretarial school with her classmates. Boblo Island Amusement Park was an amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. 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. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. Obscured in a small wooded area between the Dance Pavilion and the Terminal are the remains of the minature golf course: Consider this: I did not see another person during my entire afternoon exploration of the historic sites on the island, except for three young teenage girls I observed leaving the Resorts community pool and making their way down to the river alone, to the channel between Bob-Lo and Amherstburg, where, nestled next to the Terminal, is a very small sand beach where they swam. 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 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. [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. Larry Benaroya, his associate, and his Northern Capital took control of the property; Mancini was fired, and the ownership group put it back on the market in January 1994. . "That's probably because I have about twice as many rides as Boblo Island." Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. [1] The "Bob-Lo boats" boats were sold in November 1991. [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! Starting in the mid-1990s, however, it began a tumultuous phase that ultimately ended in its demise. You can find the Boblo Island Beach House restaurant on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina Also the Boblo Island Marina: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina You may be able to get the information you need by writing to: BOBLOMARINA@BOBLO.CA You may want to mention youre coming from the States; I dont know the protocol for private boats crossing the international border in the river to dock. 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. After 1796, British interests controlled the island and it was the staging point for the first local action in the War of 1812. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. Such a sad and difficult ending to such a WONDERFUL PLACE. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. http://boblo.ca/. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. There are two total bedrooms in this home. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. I worked on the Boats in 1980. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Opened in Orlando in 1976, River Country was Walt Disney's first waterpark. 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. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. You'd be hard-pressed to find much evidence of those rides now. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. The last day of "Oldies Week" is today (at least for now), and the response from the Woody Boater community was fantastic. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Following the war, British forces garrisoned at Fort Malden in Amherstburg, across the river from Bois Blanc, and strengthened their position by building three blockhouses on the island. "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. 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). It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River. 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. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. And then came the Boblo Island Amusement Park with its famous Screamer, Nightmare, and Wild Mouse rides, its zoo, and carousel. [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. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. 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. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. 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. I am so sad every time I think about Bob Lo. Each historical society serves as a bead on a rosary linking current and future generations to the past, acts as a tool to support prayers of keeping the memories alive, keeps a link to the human roots of a distinctive place that has meant many things to many people over the years. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. The haunting pictures show graffiti, decrepit rides, and overgrown greenery. Well I would say as a resident (who by the way is not a mega millionaire), that we dont mind having company on the island and share it with those who want to come out. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. Kathi. The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. 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. One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. I can forward them to you if you would like. Its a shame that Boblo Island had to close. 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. The men's entrance is to the left. I agree with Maureen. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. On a summer day in 1945, Sarah Elizabeth Ray stood up for something because she wasn't allowed to sit down. It opened in 1898 as Boblo Island Amusement Park on Bois Blanc Island (not the Bois Blanc up near Mackinac Island, but the one on the Detroit River). However, due to lack of demand, the park closed in 2001 and never reopened. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. In 1958 the island was the site of joint Canadian-American war games, addressing a hostile force presence with amphibious units from around the Great Lakes. Pinterest. 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 island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from a dock next to the "Bob-Lo Discovery Centre.". One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. It was awesome place. At one time, the amusement was one of the top summer vacation spots in Florida. 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. Action Park in New Jersey is known as the most dangerous amusement park in the country, six people passed away from 1980 to 1987. One of the more high-end homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. 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. From 1898 to 1993, the park was a summer staple for Detroit families. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. It was a terrible idea to put a roller coaster in there. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. My husband is from Before I rode on it on the Island I had gone to a local fair and 3 other girls and I rode together on it and we laughed and really enjoyed it. Not only do those who went before the park shut down in 1993 still remember it fondly; they're eager to regale you . I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. It had e. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. Since 1989, Kevin has collected miniature amusement park rides, and built a loose replica of Boblo Island in his home. By 1920 the famous amusement ride, the Whip was installed on the island and the first season alone paid for the maintenance and the purchase of the ride. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. These are the remains of some of the washrooms. How to get to Boblo Island: Plus it was a place where the 400-pipe, 4-meter high, self-playing orchestra was housed. Is there a safe dock area, in which to leave our boat-(also Draft/depth) info .Is there a dock fee? 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. It is boarded up but . What a wonderful goal, Andrew! McLeans Mansion (Holly Lea): The historic building that was saved by the local community from demolition, The ruins of Richmond Castle: one of the oldest Norman fortresses in England. Bring a bike or plan to hike as the only streets to accommodate cars are in the development. It broke my heart to see the way everything looks these days. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. 272 acres. 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. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. By 1910 the first amusement park rides, the carousel, ponies and a dancing pavillion were available. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. 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. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. 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