Would love to know more about your experience working on the Bob-Lo boats. . Kathi. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. "[2] The Michigan Supreme Court fined the company $25 for the discrimination they presented towards Ray. A street sign shows people where they are as they arrive on the island. The sociology of unemployment - Tom Boland 2015-07-01 The sociology of unemployment is an analysis of the experience and governance of unemployment. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. 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.. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. 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. Did you work on both the SS Ste. The men's entrance is to the left. You can take a tour of the model homes on Boblo Island on Saturdays and Sundays with an island specialist by calling 519-736-1111. After the boats docked at night back in Detroit, Mr. Short continued entertaining at the local bars and taverns he frequented.[33]. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. 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. These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. My favorite ride was the Log Ride, I thought it was the greatest thing of all time. They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. Boblo Island was very special. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. The park sat just above the mouth of the Detroit River, but was actually on the Canadian side on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. The haunting pictures show graffiti, decrepit rides, and overgrown greenery. The Island is now stripped on most of anything that would resemble an amusement park. This is now the only ferry which goes to and from Boblo Island. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. 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. You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. It lies just above the mouth of the Detroit River and was commonly referred to as Detroit's Coney Island. 2y Guy Adelini One of my favorite rides! People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. Getting to the dock in Detroit early in the morning, the anticipation of boarding the boat, the ride on the river, the views, the fact I could play an arcade game on a boat blew my small mind. 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. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who spent summers riding the ferry to Boblo Island, visiting its amusement park or just enjoying a picnic. [1] The "Bob-Lo boats" boats were sold in November 1991. When Ste. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. Everyone has a memory to tell. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. Why did Boblo Island shut down? You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. [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. I am only 12. The reasons for its closure were numerous, ranging from rising maintenance costs and poor management to stronger competition from the nearby, more attractive Cedar Point Park. 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. 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 case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. I learned this and most of what I know about the history of Bob-Lo Island from 1670 2006 in the book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island by Patrick Livingston (published in 2008 by the Wayne State University Press in Detroit as a part of their Great Lakes Books series): How does Bob-Lo Island appear today, Saturday, July 30, 2011? I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Many of the other rides are still entertaining guests at parks in Texas, Maryland, British Columbia, and Mexico. 1937 Technically, it was known as Eastwood Amusement Park, but nearly everyone called it Eastwood Park, or just Eastwood. A private community is now being built on the island. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. 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. - Sally. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. After Memorial Day Weekend in 1997, park rangers learned that the arch had collapsed. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. Can you go over to the island any time? Pinterest. [25], American investors were scared away after the September 11 attacks, which hurt the financial outlook for the development. 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. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. saki, Japan. [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. The rides were sold to other amusement parks around the country. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. 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. 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. [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on . I know had I been related to this man, I would have kept his memory alive. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. The park closed in 1996 after several personal injury lawsuits were filed against it. They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. To the north of the road leading from the ferry dock is a subdivision ofmini-mansions and duplexes, with an emphasis on stone and heavy on Victorian-style turrets. 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. After coming aboard, visitors could look down from the main deck into the engine room, where powerful shafts and cams slowly warmed up. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. 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. Ray was there to celebrate her graduation from secretarial school with her classmates. You do it for other people. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. 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. This is the structure that once housed the Boblo Island Amusement Park bumper cars. Today, 24 years after the park was closed and 118 years after its grand opening, little remains as a reminder of the islands history. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. . [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. Bleacher seating remains intact in the abandoned theater. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. [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. I found this very useful for Information! The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. 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 first thing I did when I got back home was to search for a Bob-Lo Historical Society on the Internet. Newly restored in the Spring of 2013 by the residents of the community, they now offer Blockhouse tours on most Sundays from 1pm - 4pm. Feb 11, 2022 - One of my favorite memories as a child. The living space of the Deerview twin villas. The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take . During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. The homes come with all appliances. Flags at the Amherstburg Dock. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. 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. . We dont save anything for history any more. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. For more than 85 years, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was famous for being served by the Steamer Ste Claire and the Steamer Columbia excursion boats that could hold about 2,500 passengers each. Or not. . "For people who don't know, Boblo was an island amusement park that . . 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. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. The remnants of Boblo Island Amusement Park: The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. [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. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. 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.. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. It's sister boat, the Columbia, was built in 1902. My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. 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 can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. When did Boblo boat stop running? For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. The swan paddle boat ride was added in 1970, which became a fan favorite. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. From Queens, you can get there via the Roosevelt Island Bridgethis is the only way to walk or drive onto the island. 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. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . 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. "That's probably because I have about twice as many rides as Boblo Island." 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 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. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/grosse-iles-sugar-island-beach-opens-to-public-saturday/ (Sorry, you may need to copy and paste the website addresses above; my link feature is not successfully linking at the moment. The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. I would make sure my friends knew all the history of Bob-Lo. After the short ferry ride, residents simply drive right onto the island onto Boblo Island Blvd. [5] The boats were sold off as a result of a decision to shutter operations at the Detroit dock. 525 55 shares Like Most relevant Ryan Hance How long ago did this place close and why did it close down? 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. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. 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). [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. If you are adventurous and don't mind a difficult climb, you can make a reservation (months in advance) and enter the crown. The park closed in 1993 as a result of poor management and attendance was shrinking because of other parks like Cedar Point. There are just two ways in and out of the island. By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK entertained people from both Canada and USA for 96 YEARS ! Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. . These are the remains of some of the washrooms. This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). 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 fact didn''t go as much as I would of liked to. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. A woman leans against the fence in the foreground to take a picture of the ride. - Kathy G. We kids were able to run up and down the stairs on the boat and go to the dance floor. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once back. 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