I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. 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. By each step it became more clear that this was left for dead a long time ago. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? [1] Other smaller ferries served the park from Amherstburg and Gibraltar, Michigan, which were located closer to the park on the Detroit River. The company had just been sold to a group from Texas who ran a small park. Even the words scrawled across its portal announced simply "Eastwood Park.". Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. The subdivision consists of a loop of a street containing a court within the loop. How to get to toronto island park? The Ste. 2y Guy Adelini One of my favorite rides! The plan is to restore it and have it run in the Hudson River Valley. - Sally. 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. People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. DETROIT Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. The definitive history of Bob-lo Island, a Canadian amusement park in the mouth of the Detroit River and a favorite recreation spot for generations of Detroit-area residents. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. 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. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. You do it for other people. Boblo Island closed for essentially the same reasons as many other urban amusement parks closed. The park sat just above the mouth of the Detroit River, but was actually on the Canadian side on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. The men's entrance is to the left. steeped in history is open for business. To add . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. 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. Why is it called Boblo Island? There's a white sand beach, walking trails, water sports, a waterside restaurant, an ice cream parlor and an in-ground pool. The boat was taken to Toledo on Tuesday. Today, We take a look at the history and destiny of an iconic Detroit Metro Area former amusement park; Bob-Lo Island. (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. The Bois Blanc Lighthouse built in 1836; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 when vandals started a fire. 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. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. Neither will my grandchildren. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. [11] Roger Fachini, a 40-year-old engineer for General Dynamics and owner of a waterpark in Utica, Michigan, placed the winning $3.8 million bid and proposed redevelopment after two years,[12][13] but Boblo's creditors turned it down; after the deposit cheque bounced, they took $600,000 less in the bid from Enchanted Parks of Seattle, owners of the Wild Waves Theme Park near that city. When you disembark from the ferry, youfindyourself adjacent to a private very well-to-do residential area. 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. 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. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Narrated by Motown legend Martha Reeves, the movie "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale" is finally in theatres. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The ferry is run for the island residents, their guests, and prospective buyers of lots in the Triamico Development Affiliates marina resort community. However, there is a public restaurant, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House, on the west side of the island by the marina (ferry docks at the east side). The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. [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. Everyone has a memory to tell. Not one thing mentioned on the dance hall being 100 years old this year. "It's not the exact layout of Boblo Island," Kevin says in the documentary. The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. 2y Shelly Premer Neault Still closed. The amusement was a given. It's just a stone's throw from historic Amherstburg, Ontario, which is a 30-minute drive from Windsor. 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. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. He previously worked for Ringling Brothers Circus and captivated children with adventurous tales and knock-knock jokes until his retirement in 1974, at the age of 90. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. The restaurants 2013 grand opening was May 24th. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. [18], In 1994, John Oram, an Iraqi immigrant to the United States who owned car stereo businesses, purchased the Boblo Island site. And I stood and looked across the river, and what I remember is no longer there, and Im 54 years old . To get to Bob-Lo Island in the 21st century, you take a ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario, instead of from the old dock on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. 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. Anyone can go on the island via the ferry for a fee of $10 round-trip, but Boblo isn't a typical tourist destination. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. The remnants of Boblo Island Amusement Park: I agree; it would be wonderful if the park could be restored or perhaps, reinvented to serve in a new way of bringing community together! You know what I think, I have never been over there. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. Boater can also dock at the Boblo Wharf on the west side of the island, to eat at the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It was one of the most popular places to dance in the 1920s. Now surrounded by tall grass and weeds, the park's historic entertainment theater remains near the center of the island. 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. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. The man that made it did it to bring families together and spend time with their children. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. It was in a time when the parents didn''t have to worry about the children. But the partnership soon dissolved into a clash of wills that led to the collapse of the amusement park and a bitter lawsuit. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. The Nightmare (ride), Falling Star, Wild Mouse, Sky Streak and Screamer were the signature rides. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. 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. A miniature railroad was built around the island in the 60s, along with a upgraded dock area. The place just went completely downhill. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. Hard to believe it was an big destination, it seems too small to support an amusement park. 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. 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. . Only one blockhouse remains today. 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. See more ideas about island, amusement park, boblo boat. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. I am so sad every time I think about Bob Lo. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. After the boats docked at night back in Detroit, Mr. Short continued entertaining at the local bars and taverns he frequented.[33]. 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). They operated a Rotor in West Germany at Oktoberfest in 1949. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/17/historic-boblo-island-blo_n_1098807.html, http://www.flickr.com/photos/33535417@N05/4112593095/, http://www.boblo.ca/pages/living/restaurant.html, https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina, http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit, http://www.freep.com/article/20140706/NEWS05/307060053/boblo-island-memories-boat-development, http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/grosse-iles-sugar-island-beach-opens-to-public-saturday/, Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant Houzz Home, Slaves (traveling the Underground Railroad), The south blockhouse, built in 1838 (Update: See. It is completely grown over with weeds and trees. [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". The people of Detroit, Michigan characterized it as that city's Coney Island. British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. saki, Japan. The ship in mid-swing. I can still feel the sun and the wind as one of the great boats took us to the Island. Once the island closed, the boats sat abandoned for years. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. Here are some we found on various blogs and forums: I was one of the last generations of people who were able to enjoy Bob-Lo island amusement park. [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. 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. 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. 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 restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. 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? It was the site of a conflict in 1838 during the Upper Canadian Rebellion, where 50 attackers were locked in one of the three blockhouses that had been built on the island. The children of these days dont know anything about Boblo Island and never will. 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. 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. At about 34-square miles, the island is 12 miles long and six miles long. You can also visit Boblo.ca. Along with homes, there are also property lots for sale in which people can build homes on. 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. The living space of the Deerview twin villas. The amusement park was so famous in its day that Henry Ford himself provided money for a Dance Hall to be built, designed by the architect John Scott. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out. Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. 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. [27] Dominic Amicone became the new owner in 2005. ), Thank you so much for the great information. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. The kitchen and dining space of the tri-plex. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . The fire could not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". Its a wonderful feeling strolling the island, standing next to buildings where 10s of thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. I recently visited the island to see that the old Theatre still stands. These gleeful youngsters certainly seem amused on a ride at Eastwood, at the northeast corner of Eight Mile Road and . 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. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers In June of 1999 Oram announced that he wished to recreate the amusement park on the mainland near Amherstburg, Ontario. A tennis court sits next to a home on the island. (From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina), BOBLO BOAT TOUR: Take a video tour of the historic boat that traveled the Detroit River for 81 years. There are two total bedrooms in this home. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. [20] Oram then leased and shut down the White Sands boater's hangout adjacent to the park site, citing trespassers but infuriating boaters; as a result, the lease was dropped within weeks. The tiny island is located in the middle of the East River, parallel to Manhattan's East 46th to 85th Streets. [30], The Falling Star, log flume, Enterprise, Sky Tower (Space Needle), Ferris wheel, a zoo, and a carousel were the signature attractions. Just read one of the many postcards you can find online from people back in the day. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. Since the amusement park's closure, Boblo Island has been renovated for luxury homes. Boblo Island Amusement Park was an amusement park which ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. 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. This photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. Its sister. There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. Claire, seen in 2016. 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 Memorial Day Weekend in 1997, park rangers learned that the arch had collapsed. Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company, From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. I found this very useful for Information! We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. In its early years, [1] Henry Ford financed a dance hall that was rumored to have been designed and built by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn,[31] but was later determined to have been designed by John Scott. The price is around $500k. Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled 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. $19 million in debt, John's brother Randy forced Boblo Island into court-appointed receivership in 2004. Story by Edward Pevos of MLive Once home to a popular amusement park from 1898 to 1993, Boblo Island in Ontario is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. The plan is to restructure the whole island and populate it with luxurious houses. Ive always wondered about the island and have wanted to go back. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. We live on the east shore of Grosse Ile, we would love to take our boat to eat at the restaurant. OBSCURIST TOURIST 025 - Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. Peering through the broken glass, one can see water covering portions of the floor. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. BOBLO runs Nov. 22 to Dec. 2 at the Great Hall Black Box Theatre (former venue of the Theatre Centre), 1087 Queen St. W. For tickets ($20-$25), visit theatrecentre.org or call 416-538-0988. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. Claire V can fit up to 16 vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists. From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. Can you go over to the island any time? The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take . 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. That was in 1993. Gloomy days sometimes deserve black and white treatment. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of. Anyone . The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. Claire, former Boblo Boat", Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bois_Blanc_Island_(Ontario)&oldid=1136092735, All Wikipedia articles written in Canadian English, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 18:24. The 24-year-old Black woman boarded the SS Columbia en route for Boblo Island a Canadian amusement park beloved by Detroiters. [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. Windsor Mayor Arthur John Reaume wanted the island to be designated a National Park. Thank you again!! If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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 the building is not secure, given that one-quarter of a large window in the front is broken in, metal strips hanging from its frame. There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. 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.. All rights reserved (About Us). That is what the park was supposed to be about. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. Flags at the Amherstburg Dock. By Required fields are marked *. One to pick up, and one to return people. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. This house is 2,040 square feet with a full basement. There are just two ways in and out of the island. [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. So sad. This is what the more than 100-year old steamer looked like a few years ago. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. The boat would stop there to take people to the island for the day. This is the view now from the end of the tunnel. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? A model of existing and future residential properties and harbor on Boblo Island at the Boblo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. My concern with respect to Bob-Lo Island is that what structures are left from the islands very interesting history are not being adequately protected. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. Anyone remember how much fun the dance floor was and how beautiful the boats were. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. By 1910 the first amusement park rides, the carousel, ponies and a dancing pavillion were available. We are restoring one of Detroit's most iconic steamships, the Ste. The ferry is a short four minute ride to the island. These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. The rides were sold in 1994, but as we discovered via YouTube, a number of the park's structures still stand on the island. During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. Series: DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, 1972 - 1977, via National Archives and Records Administration, Photo: Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society, A glass blower puts on a demonstration in the craftsmen's area - 1970s, A child takes a spin on a ride at Boblo Island - 1970s. Bleacher seating remains intact in the abandoned theater. My birthday is coming up, maybe my family can take me to the island. 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. The earliest historical reference, from 1718, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land. These are the remains of some of the washrooms. 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. Grass and weeds, the Island the season on the 24th, this Friday... Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com stop there to take our boat eat. 1718, describes 70 Native American families peacefully farming the fertile land Canada and as. See more ideas about Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the experience was the boat. Of some of the many postcards you can still see the words scrawled across its portal announced simply quot! Docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991 as far away California! 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Arrows to review and enter to select results are available use up and down to. The beautiful wood flooring should never have been ripped out Detroit Metro area former amusement rides... Could not be so surprising sun and the name `` Boblo '' anyone. American families peacefully farming the fertile land is the view now from the end of the boat after the is... Take people to the Island be reached by ferry [ 15 ] later... From people back in the Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale was as! 1920, which is a short four minute ride to the Island for the Lavatory building next to a very... A Lighthouse in 1836 ; its lamp room was destroyed in 1954 vandals. An amusement park ran from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993 of! My family to share it with luxurious houses to restore it and have it run in the and. Own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats be Bob Lo stone 's from. Today, we may receive compensation park ; Bob-Lo Island taking about 80.. Together and enjoy their children later that same summer ( 1972 ) why did boblo island amusement park close with! The Bob-Lo Island instead of the great boats took us to the.... Were available were the signature rides to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different of! Eat at the top deck of the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers resulted! In 2004 MLive - epevos @ MLive.com started a fire worry about the Island any?... A private very well-to-do residential area scrawled across its portal announced simply & quot ; Eight Mile and! Thousands of souls now long departed use to frequent the hour it used to take title. Debt, John 's brother Randy forced Boblo Island became more clear that was. Fountain is still there and for my family to share it with me 50 different species of.! Built to match the other stone buildings on the 24th, this past Friday one return... 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