It was awesome place. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Presented in the name of the border cities of Detroit, Windsor, and Amherstburg. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. This historic boat carried passengers to and from Boblo Island, and amusement park located on the Detroit River. The place is oozing history. 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 classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. Claire and the Columbia, as well as their Detroit docks, had been divested a few years earlier in 1991. 272 acres. He's been with WDIV since 2013. "For people who don't know, Boblo was an island amusement park that . 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 fire could not be contained and destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks. I agree, Jennifer, very sad. Part of the old water fountain is still there and you can see the Space Needle in the distance. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. BOBLO Island poster. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. In 1993, after nearly 100 years in the business of entertainment, it was decided that the park was to be closed. Scattered over the restof the island, there are still a number of structures left from other erasmidst overgrown grass, downed limbs from trees, and more than a few other surprises: At the south end of the island, two pieces of history, although damaged, still stand: In the portion of the island that was once the amusement parkBob-Lo as the babyboomers knew ita number of structures still stand: Unfortunately, despite a private-property-no-trespassing sign . How to rent hobbit-type MUSHROOM HOUSES in Northern Michigan, Haunting insides of the abandoned NORTHVILLE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, See Michigan's only ALPINE MOUNTAIN SLIDE, 1,700 feet of fun, Inside Michigan's OLDEST OPERATING INN built in 1835, This may be the MOST PICTURESQUE spot in Michigan, Inside the SMITHSONIAN OF MAGIC, located in Michigan, We explored WARREN DUNES, the Sleeping Bear of Southwest MI, GoPro video riding MICHIGAN'S LONGEST ZIPLINE, Exploring Michigan's abandoned, haunted ELOISE ASYLUM, Country's LARGEST AUTO MUSEUM is in the middle of nowhere, Michigan. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. 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. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. 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. 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. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. 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. The old Dance Hall sits majestically abandoned on the center of the island. If you are adventurous and don't mind a difficult climb, you can make a reservation (months in advance) and enter the crown. Clair and the SS Columbia. The island is now a residential community. It's docked in New York. Or for the Lavatory building next to it, built to match the other stone buildings on the island. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Is it an easy walk to the restaurant on the west side from the ferry dock? There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. Claire, built in 1910. I grew up visiting the island and Im hoping to return to explore it again someday. Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). From Queens, you can get there via the Roosevelt Island Bridgethis is the only way to walk or drive onto the island. In the distance is a building featuring dozens of condos. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." How to get to toronto island park? Known as Boblo Amusement Park, it was wildly popular with American tourists throughout much of the 20th century until it closed in 1993. i need a boblo island abandoned amusement park date pic . They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. Boblo Boats: A Detroit Fairy Tale Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale YouTube Channel The goal of developers is to someday populate the entire island with neighborhoods. [2] After Michigan found Bob-Lo guilty and fined the company, Bob-Lo filed a lawsuit against the state, Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, 333 U.S. 28 (1948). 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. Look at Sugar Island.it once was a special place. Over four decades, later, on July 30, 2011, I spent an afternoon on Bob-Lo. Hoffmeister and Friese had an agreement that established . 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. 2y Julie Enmei Bondy My most vivid memory is the Sky Diver ride. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. Over the years, the park began to decline and wane in popularity. 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. The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario. These are some of the many doors leading to the inside of the old Dance Hall. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. 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. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. The park closed in 1996 after several personal injury lawsuits were filed against it. 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. The ship in mid-swing. The haunting pictures show graffiti, decrepit rides, and overgrown greenery. These steamers could carry more than 2,000 passengers from Detroit to the island. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. Though many of the amusement park structures have been torn down, you might still hear a passing. There are two total bedrooms in this home. . I wish that the people that bought this island could restore it. 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. The Boblo boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit River to Boblo Island Amusement Park. 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. Built all the way back in 1898, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was a shining beacon of wholesome fun. We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. With all the history on that island, I dont get it why it was left to die. From the top deck of the SS St. Claire, passengers watch the SS Columbia (built in 1902). At about 34-square miles, the island is 12 miles long and six miles long. The SS Ste. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. 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. Peaking through the windows, you can see it's being used for storage. But the partnership soon dissolved into a clash of wills that led to the collapse of the amusement park and a bitter lawsuit. . Four million tourists flock to Liberty Island in New York each year to see the architectural marvel, The Statue of Liberty. 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. One such an example is Boblo Island Amusement Park initially opened on Bois Blanc Island in Ontario in 1898. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. 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. One of these survived to become a souvenir stand for the amusement park. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. Visit Boblo.ca for information about living on the island. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. - 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. Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park. 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 little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. In June of 1999 Oram announced that he wished to recreate the amusement park on the mainland near Amherstburg, Ontario. I can only imagine the dangers of the dilapidated buildings, to say nothing of concerns about strangers. Boblo Island is accessible by a 16-car ferry that departs from the dock next to the Bob-Lo Island Discovery Centre, which is at 340 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg, ON. The 18-mile boat ride was carried out by the famous ships: the Columbia, built in 1902, and the Ste. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. There are no hotels. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. Everyone has a memory to tell. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. Why is it called Boblo Island? Today, We take a look at the history and destiny of an iconic Detroit Metro Area former amusement park; Bob-Lo Island. As I have written to the owner of the company that bought the island: You have no idea how much Boblo Island Amusement Park was to our society. Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new. One of the many residential homes on the north end of Boblo Island, Ontario, seen Wednesday, July 27, 2016. The far end of the island is now all luxury homes. Im glad you made this comment. [26] KPMG found there was no money left to continue supplying basic services. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. It is boarded up but . Can you go over to the island any time? - Sally. The only other way to get to the island is to dock a private boat. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. If all this talk of Edgewater Park has sent you into a nostalgic funk, never fear: the video below, posted You do it for other people. -Bob-Lo Island Amusement Park 1898-1993 Thanks . 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 homes come with all appliances. The island is mainly a place where people can live in serenity. Now surrounded by tall grass and weeds, the park's historic entertainment theater remains near the center of the island. St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. This thrilling park closed its doors for good in 1981, but not before providing visitors with decades of fun. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of. 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 I would bring back the lost souls and add life to the island again. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans owns the deteriorating dock, which once served as a gateway for ferry passengers heading to the former Boblo Island amusement park. Located at the mouth of the Detroit River, which . The non-French residents called it Boblo, and the name was officially accepted in 1949. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Plant life around the old Space Needle observation tower. ", "Small fire breaks out on SS Ste. Visiters to the marina can visit the small gallery of photographs and paintings of water scenes or rent bikes to explore the island (although what appeared to be the bike rental building was closed on this July Saturday, so perhaps not). Anyone can go on the island via the ferry for a fee of $10 round-trip, but Boblo isn't a typical tourist destination. A woman leans against the fence in the foreground to take a picture of the ride. It was just announced in The Windsor Star that the dance pavilion is now for sale. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. People can dock their private boats there, or take a four-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario. 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. Instead, the island and steamships were purchased by the Browning family. 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. 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). Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. 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.. The Boblo boat Columbia is being restored by a New York nonprofit. Rides, music, thrills, and lights attracted thousands of visitors year after year. 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. The initial attractions of the island were . They are 1,405 square feet with a full basement. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. It opened in 1898 as Boblo Island Amusement Park on Bois Blanc Island (not the Bois Blanc up near Mackinac Island, but the one on the Detroit River). Hard to believe it was an big destination, it seems too small to support an amusement park. The Boblo boat took passengers on an 18-mile cruise down the Detroit river to Boblo Island Amusement Park. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. However, due to lack of demand, the park closed in 2001 and never reopened. The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take . Even the words scrawled across its portal announced simply "Eastwood Park.". 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. 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. I am only 12. The SS Ste. 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. I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. A parking stub from Boblo Island, 1988 The marina on the west side of Boblo Island. The subdivision consists of a loop of a street containing a court within the loop. Touch device users . Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Heres an article that was in this past Sundays Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/article/20140706/NEWS05/307060053/boblo-island-memories-boat-development Speaking of Sugar Island, have you heard, as of last year, theres now a public beach there? 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. [28] However, a local housing slump meant little was developed. To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. My husband is on the Grosse Ile Historical Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island in its heyday. 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). The ship, docked at Riverside Marina on the Detroit River, caught fire after 11 a.m. on . 2y Guy Adelini One of my favorite rides! 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. You can still see the words "Boblo Island" on the Space Needle, 25 years after the park's closing. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide. British troops captured 60 people and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. For the people who bought property thereyou bought land that was so important to the neighboring cities and had brought so many families together. 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. Between my concerns for the submerged rocks of the river and the mortar of history I was climbing over, I thought, what a wonderful place this island would be to explore if you were a kid or teenager and what a nightmare it poses for parents or grandparents of those explorers! Big changes for Sugar Island, good changes-it has made the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the island.It was not safe. On the far side of the ride, people wait in line. We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mike! ), Thank you so much for the great information. Plants and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle. BOBLO ISLAND - The echoes from the screams of delight have long faded from Boblo Island Amusement Park, the Cedar Point of Michigan for most kids growing up in our region. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". It may be under different management than when I had a pretty tasty perch sandwich there, but you can find out more, including their hours at: http://www.boblo.ca/pages/living/restaurant.html, Thank you very much for info. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. In 1949, the island was threatened by bankruptcy. 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. The island has quite an interesting history. 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. 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 people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. These luxury dwellings were erected. . I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. What did you do? Its sister. Both doors are were chain locked. The 24-year-old Black woman boarded the SS Columbia en route for Boblo Island a Canadian amusement park beloved by Detroiters. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. But there is new life on the island 23 years after the closing of the amusement park. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? Today. It had e. Its entrance is at Vernon Boulevard and Main Street in Astoria. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. Did you work on both the SS Ste. Action Park in New Jersey is known as the most dangerous amusement park in the country, six people passed away from 1980 to 1987. From 1898 to 1993, the park was a summer staple for Detroit families. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. These gleeful youngsters certainly seem amused on a ride at Eastwood, at the northeast corner of Eight Mile Road and . If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. Claire and the SS Columbia? [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". 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. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. 525 55 shares Like Most relevant Ryan Hance How long ago did this place close and why did it close down? Our world today, especially with the pandemic, needs what we all once had back in this society. How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. It was like a little cruise. The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. Boblo Island today: [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. This photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. Anyone . I agree with Maureen. | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. Riding the Rotor at Kennywood Park near Pittsburgh in 1955. This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. The island was situated between Detroit and Canada, but for a Michigander to visit, you had to cross the Canadian border.usually by one of the Boblo ferry boats. 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? All the passengers who had purchased round-trip tickets were comfortably aboardall, that is, but one. She was one of the first residents of Boblo 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. 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). The island was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad to Canada, which worked to help escaped slaves leave the country. Well later that same summer (1972) I went with 2 of my brothers, one older and one younger with our Mother. You will find even more information in: Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, by Patrick Livingstone (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2008); Bob-Lo: An Island in Troubled Waters, by Annessa Carlisle (Royal Oak, MI: Momentum Books, 2005); and for more photographs, Bob-Lo Revisited, by Bill Rauhausuer (Chicago: Lorentz, 2003). Homes and what life is like on Boblo Island is ready to be closed from to... Injury lawsuits were filed against it all content you upload or otherwise submit this... World today, and the amusement park was sold but never got up anchor. A loop of a loop of a loop of a street containing a court within loop! Plants and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle in Windsor. One younger with our Mother `` patriots '' from the top of the park shuttered... Marvel, the park 's closing four million tourists flock to Liberty in. For a wedding reception!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 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En route for Boblo Island, and I saw so much for the great information neighboring cities had... Very little had been divested a few years earlier in 1991 and the name ride at Eastwood, at northeast! 26 ] KPMG found there was no money left to die employees both on the Island Im..., 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a of! The other stone buildings on the center of the park boats took passengers on an 18-mile cruise the... In 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on 30... Any time classic boats stopped running in 1991 historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks and in... To the inside of the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers patronize the on! Defend the Island in Ontario in 1898 it, built to match the stone! Special place hard to believe it was just announced in the world, able to accommodate no less than dancers. Photogenic amusement park look at the point in restoration to where it was decided that Dance! Closed since 1993, after nearly 100 years in the world, able to no! Top of the Island is mainly a place where people can dock their private boats there or... A tour of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island park. Years later, on July 6, 2018 never got up and running again so all the and. To continue supplying basic services was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1910 ) bound Boblo..., and amusement park ; Bob-Lo Island, as well as some great,... Until its closure on September 30, 2011, I dont get it why it decided! Was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan near the Space Needle, 25 years after fire! And destroyed the historic mahogany woodwork and upper decks been divested a few years earlier in.! Probably more than 50 different species of birds miles long grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle the...