The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (LogOut/ By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. Boblo's trains made a 20-minute circuit around about 2 miles of track . The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. 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. Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. . Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. [6] In February 1992, the park was put up for sale for US$9 million, half of its 1988 purchase price, though it committed to opening it for that summer. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. The name of the island was changed to Boblo in 1929 when visitors had problems correctly pronouncing the original French name. 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. People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. Boblo Island was very special. We also traveled from past to the present on the island, which was a must-visit destination for families for decades. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. This is private property and the doors are chain locked. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. 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. Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. It is the remnant of a place where river boats took passengers to an amusement park on a Canadian island just to the south western end of the Detroit River. Claire and the SS Columbia? I agree, Jennifer, very sad. I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. Parts of that tower still stand. During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. By golf cart or bike or on foot are the only ways to navigate the crushed limestone trails that cover the remainder of the island,but for the residential area (the only place where cars are allowed). Detroit Publishing Co via the Library of Congress, This appears to be the SS Columbia Boblo Boat, which was built in 1902, Ferry dock on Boblo Island - between 1890 and 1901. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. They are located next to the Dance Hall. But, when I get enough money, I am going to restore it to the original and open it back up. Though not all is lost. Boblo Island is an Island in the Detroit River located directly west of Amherstburg, Ontario, on the Canadian side of the border. What a wonderful goal, Andrew! This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. In June 1945, Sarah Elizabeth Ray and 12 other female workers involved in the war effort (and referred to as "girls" during the legal proceedings) took part in a sponsored trip to Boblo Island. This is what the more than 100-year old steamer looked like a few years ago. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. I dont think it is sad at all! [1], The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. Founded in 2017, K.K.Dhandapani World School, Deevanur is a part of the Dharani Educational institutions group. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. Every home on the island is just steps away from the water. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. The island is about 2.5 miles long, 0.5 mile wide and 272 acres in size. What Occupation Did The Boblo Boat Workers Have? Mon-Wed 8:30 - 7:00 Thu-Fri 8:30 - 7:00 Sat 8:30 . Places like fort custer, MI and fort sheridan, illinois, all sold to profiteers. 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). The ferry runs 365 days a year, departing every 20 minutes. 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. . You do it for other people. The existence of such an organization would certainly be complicated by the facts that 1) Bob-Lo is a Canadian island with an overbearing American past, and 2) today Bob-Lo primarily serves asa retreat for the wealthy, who I can imagine would not want people coming to visit the historical remains there,any more than they would want hunters (although if theyown a cat or a small dog, the latter might be welcome if they could take care of the coyote population). 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). Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. It closed for good in 1993, 25 years ago. Barely visible remains of the park. 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 Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. Over the years, the crowds going to Bob-Lo on the boat would were increasingly loud and rude and some people avoided going to Bob-Lo to avoid the noise. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. The Boblo Island boat, S.S. Ste Claire, was destroyed on Friday morning after a massive fire on the ship. 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. Change). 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. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. You know what I think, I have never been over there. 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. - Brandon, I am 73 years old and remember my parents taking me to Bob-Lo after picking me up at Willow Run Airport after a visit with relatives in Miami FL when I was 8 years old. I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. Boblo Island Timeline from the Detroit News, "Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, 333 U.S. 28 (1948)", "Boblo amusement park purchased by U.S. firm", "Park yours for $9 million: Owner says sellany development OK", "Boblo remains viable business, observer says", "Boblo Island gets no nibbles, no takers, says realtor", "Bad news rains on financially troubled Boblo", "Michigan investors unlikely to appeal Boblo ownership", "Boblo tradition seems safer with Seattle owner", "Dance band on the Titanic: Boblo's last tangle", "Former Boblo partner sues ex-partners over sale", "Boblo's roller-coaster saga ends: Piece by historic piece, popular park dismantled", "Boblo's heyday not forgotten: New owner has ties to area", "New Boblo owner offers few details to packed house", "Boblo Island to get 52-home development", "Oram outlines plans for Boblo Island's condominium project", "Boblo in receivership: Island awash in $19M in red ink", "Boblo adrift in red ink: Receiver KPMG finds no money left", "Boblo rising from the dust: New ownership infuses elite island community with optimism", "Amherstburg reminisces after Boblo Island tower demolished", Boblo Island Dance Hall Story from the Detroit News, "Detroit Free Press: Former Boblo Island music machine may draw up to $2.5 million at auction", "Boblo Island then and now: See historic photos and amusement park remains", "Boblo Island boat owners hopeful for restoring of damaged boat", Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive: Boblo Island (Ontario), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boblo_Island_Amusement_Park&oldid=1114994535, Tourist attractions in Essex County, Ontario, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 October 2022, at 09:00. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season.