He was 20 years older than me. 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. I wouldnt identify the owners in this suburban retreat as millionaires, but the island has been many things to many people over the centuries: the Ojibwe, the Ottawa, the Potawatomi, and the Wyandot all used the island before it was christened Bois Blanc. Later it was: a camp for European explorers, the site of a French Catholic mission, within reach of a British fort, headquarters for the Shawnee chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812, an invasion site for Canadian patriots during the Upper Canada Rebellion, and more recently, a picnic spot and a dance venue, all before the rise and decline of the amusement park. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. 10. [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. Bois Blanc is known regionally as the former home of the Boblo Island Amusement Park, which began operation in 1898 and closed on September 30, 1993. . 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 [2], The State of Michigan brought a racial discrimination case against the operators of the ferry service. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. These steamers could carry more than 2,000 passengers from Detroit to the island. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. 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. Once the island closed, the boats sat abandoned for years. It was finally decided in 1949 to officially re-name the island and the park Bob-Lo, in a matter of simplification (today it is still referred to by both names on maps of the area). One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. Watch. This is now the only ferry which goes to and from Boblo Island. The 24-year-old Black woman boarded the SS Columbia en route for Boblo Island a Canadian amusement park beloved by Detroiters. Only one blockhouse remains today. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. From 1898 to 1993, the park was a summer staple for Detroit families. Claire, built in 1910. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. 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. 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. A parking stub from Boblo Island, 1988 St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. A new film tells us. This is the observation area which would rise to the top. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. Colorful adirondack chairs surround a campfire pit near Captain Bob's. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. 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.. 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. This is the inside of the 1,250 square foot tri-plex home. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from a dock next to the "Bob-Lo Discovery Centre.". You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. "For people who don't know, Boblo was an island amusement park that . To move visitors around the island, the park had a small railroad. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. Thank you again for the information. On that trip, my companions on the Bob-Lo Excursion Line steamer were other ninth graders from Livonias Holmes Junior High. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. The north side of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums. 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. Bois Blanc Island, former site of the Bob-Lo Island amusement park, is located at southern endof the DetroitRiver before it enters Lake Erie,and is about one-half mile wide and three miles long. Each held about 2,500 passengers. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. 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. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. [32] The dance hall was the second largest in the world, holding 5,000 dancers at full capacity[31] and featured one of the world's largest orchestrions from the Welte company: a 16 foot tall, 14 foot wide, self-playing Wotan-model orchestrion with 419 pipes and percussion section. Its maybe a five-minute ride, no more than 10 minutes with the docking. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. The last screams of joy could be heard from the little island of fun 25 years ago as the Cedar Point of Michigan closed for the final time. Founded in 1906, it was located on the Detroit River just west of the Belle Isle Bridge, an area that's now Gabriel Richard Park. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). The 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. That is what the park was supposed to be about. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. The Carousel Building, built in 1905 to house the first amusement ride on Bob-Lo Island, served as a convention hall and later, the roller-skating rink (beginning with the 1940 season) before ending up as a theater. I, too, went there every year as a child from Detroit. . All the passengers who had purchased round-trip tickets were comfortably aboardall, that is, but one. I loved going there as it was much smaller than Cedar Point so riding the rides didnt take so long. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. 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. Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. Starting in the mid-1990s, however, it began a tumultuous phase that ultimately ended in its demise. I know the kids and people of this generation are definitely looking forward to more developments. The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. Why not this man who gave everyone joy in life with their families? By 1910 the first amusement park rides, the carousel, ponies and a dancing pavillion were available. The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. Though not all is lost. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. Photojournalist Seph Lawless has taken pictures of 10 abandoned theme parks around the US. The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. Some recent activity indicates this one might be saved. Rides, music, thrills, and lights attracted thousands of visitors year after year. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. If all this talk of Edgewater Park has sent you into a nostalgic funk, never fear: the video below, posted The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. 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. In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. The audio journey to Mars is etched in my brain! 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. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. 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. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. An estimated 30,000 people passed through the island on their way to freedom. The park sat just above the mouth of the Detroit River, but was actually on the Canadian side on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. My companions on the island in Ontario in 1898 but one comfortably aboardall, that is what park. But the legend of Boblo is a growing private community, with numerous homes and condominiums home decor residents... 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