A Brief History Of Detroit’s Lost Amusement Park: Boblo Island
Today, if someone in Michigan is looking for thrills at an amusement park in West Michigan, they're most likely headed to Michigan Adventure in Muskegon. But for almost a century, the east side of Michigan could rely on one amusement park just across the Detroit River.
Boblo Island was just a short ferry ride from the mainland to an island of fun - literally. Roller coasters, Ferris wheels, dance halls, and more drew hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Sadly, it shut its doors just before the turn of the millennium, leaving behind abandoned buildings and an intriguing new second chapter in Bois Blanc, Canada.
Welcome to a brief history of one of Detroit's most iconic 20th-century locations.
Boblo Island, Detroit's Beloved Amusement Park
Way back in 1898, Boblo Island opened its doors as an entertainment destination, originally as a place to picnic and swim, before becoming an amusement park. Because of its unique location on the border of America and Canada, Boblo was an amusement park that both Americans and Canadians could visit via ferries from opposite sides of the island. The SS Ste. Claire and the SS Columbia could each carry ~2,400 passengers per trip. Trips took about 80 minutes to cover 20 miles.
Upon arrival, guests were greeted by Bobbie the Bear and Louie the Lion before entering the park. Over the years, more and more rides were added to the park, including roller coasters, Ferris wheels, spinning gondolas, and Swan Boats.
The End of Boblo's Island
However, all good things come to an end. As the years went on, the park's parts were sold off, and it began to dwindle. The Island received a death blow after the passenger ferries stopped service in 1991, and the park officially closed in 1993.
One of the few things to survive Boblo's closing was the iconic ferries, which were auctioned off along with everything else after it shut down. These ferries sat in the marina for years. Tragically, news broke in 2018 that the SS Ste. Claire, one of the ferries, caught fire and was declared a total loss.
Bois Blanc, Boblo's New Residential Hot Spot
While passengers used to take ferries to and from the island for hours of fun, ferries nowadays exist to shuttle residents and their vehicles across the Detroit River. After Boblo closed in 1993, it sat dormant for many years before houses began to be built where the attractions once stood.
As of two years ago, there were 150 homes on the island, with over 200 other plots bought for homes to be built. The Island population is quickly growing, yet the community remains protective of Boblo Island's remains. The Obscurist Tourist posted a great walkthrough of what's left of Boblo in its current state, which you can view below.
Even though the park shut down just shy of its 100-year anniversary, it still gave generations of people memories they'll never forget.
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