We dont save anything for history any more. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. 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. 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. Colorful adirondack chairs surround a campfire pit near Captain Bob's. The rides were sold to other amusement parks around the country. 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. 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. If it wasnt for him to have done that for everyone, our world would never have known how peaceful, relaxing, fun, and most of all memorable a park could be. Poison ivy now grows in the ring of mature trees in front of the Lavatory building, where I imagine the men in hatsretiring for a smoke while they await their dates inflapper attireto emerge from The Ladies Room.. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. The island was home to a popular amusement park starting in the late 1890s. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. Bois Blanc has been part of Canada since 1787. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . 1937 Technically, it was known as Eastwood Amusement Park, but nearly everyone called it Eastwood Park, or just Eastwood. They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Narrated by Motown legend Martha Reeves, the movie "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale" is finally in theatres. 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. The subdivision consists of a loop of a street containing a court within the loop. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. I, too, went there every year as a child from Detroit. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . 2y Julie Enmei Bondy Private cottages and government property remained at the north and south ends of the island. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Required fields are marked *. [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. Bois Blanc Island (sometimes referred to as Boblo Island despite complaints from people downstate who are familiar with the Boblo Island Amusement Park in Bois Blanc, Canada, in the Detroit River) is an island in Lake Huron in the southernmost part of Mackinac County. In 1898, the Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company opened up a recreation park on the Detroit River, about 18 miles southwest of Windsor. Although there was a bike rental business near the marina and Beach House Restaurant on the west side of the island (the ferry dock is on the east side of the island), it was not open for business on the beautiful summer weekend day I was there, so I wouldnt count on being able to rent a bike on the island. 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. To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. . Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. [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. Finally, A young entrepreneur who successfully turned around a floundering amusement park in suburban Seattle bought Bob-Lo hoping to turn it around. Many locals still have great memories riding the ferry to Boblo Island Amusement Park, which eventually. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. what a fun and exciting place. 2y Shelly Premer Neault Still closed. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. Hard to believe it was an big destination, it seems too small to support an amusement park. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. "Yeah, she's 110 years old, but she's well-built and she survived," said boat co-owner, Ron Kattoo. Bois Blanc Island, commonly called Boblo Island, is an island in the Detroit River on the Canadian side of the border and is part of Amherstburg Skip to content Menu Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. steeped in history is open for business. 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. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". 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. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. Im glad you made this comment. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. 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. - Bonnie, Oh! After Memorial Day Weekend in 1997, park rangers learned that the arch had collapsed. A powerhouse that supplied electricity to the nearby Carousel which is no longer there. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. We live on the east shore of Grosse Ile, we would love to take our boat to eat at the restaurant. 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. 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. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. 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. 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. Located at the mouth of the Detroit River, which . The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. A parking stub from Boblo Island, 1988 | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. They operated a Rotor in West Germany at Oktoberfest in 1949. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. One of the three original blockhouses still stands on the southern end of the island. The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. You know what I think, I have never been over there. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. I agree, Jennifer, very sad. This is what the more than 100-year old steamer looked like a few years ago. Ray was there to celebrate her graduation from secretarial school with her classmates. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". 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 boat took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. 2y Gord Bailey OMG I worked that Ride! People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. Boblo Island became the headquarters for the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812. [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. 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 ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. Claire, built in 1910. As one can use motor vehicles only in the northern residential tip of the island, if you plan to explore the island, you may want to bring a bike with you. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. 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? A tri-plex home. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. It's docked in New York. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. The juvenile coyote was gone in another blink of the eye. It had e. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. The 18-mile boat ride was carried out by the famous ships: the Columbia, built in 1902, and the Ste. By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. Parts of that tower still stand. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. The boat would stop there to take people to the island for the day. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. 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. The park's coasters and rides were sold following its closing in 1993, but there are intriguing remnants. 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). 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. . Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new. About Boblo Island: - Marva, I am 63 years old and I remember Bob-lo so well. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. Your email address will not be published. The earliest historical reference, from 1718, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land. 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. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. Thank you again for the information. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. Some recent activity indicates this one might be saved. 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. 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. British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. Livingstone writes that the white sand beach was created in 1957 when a vein of sand in the mouth of the river was dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they deepend the Amherstburg Channel to St. Lawrence Seaway standards, opening the Great Lakesto the world.. The only access was via one of two ferries from Detroit or Amherstburg, the SS Ste. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Claire was engulfed in an accidental fire while docked on the Detroit River on July 6, 2018. On June 21, 1945, the steamer Columbia blew its whistle and left the Detroit dock to make the eighteen-mile trip to the Bob-Lo Island Amusement Park. It is sad, Cheryl. A company called Premier Parks acquired the classic amusement park in 1995. People quit coming in the 1980s, then the money for upkeep is not there. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. 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