Boblo Island

How many of you remember a now defunct amusement park called Boblo Island? It was located on an island between Canada and Detroit, which you had to take a ferry to get to, and closed a number of years ago. I went there numerous times before it closed, and actually thought it was a great park. I don't recall why it closed however.

So my question, besides just wanting to bring the park up and see what others who have been there thought about it, was about their indoor/dark ride, Nightmare. It was the newest coaster before the place closed, and was a ride I really liked. I was just wondering: what happened to it? Did it just get demolished, or did it move to another amusement park. I noticed that there is a ride called Nightmare at Krackaxle Canyon in the database, but it didn't list it as moving from Boblo. At any rate, I was just wondering if anyone else remembers this quaint park, and if anybody knows what happened to Nightmare, or any of the other rides. Thanks!

Take care and God bless!

Nightmare is now Mayan Mindbender at Six Flags Astroworld
Screamer is at Playland in Vancouver as Corkscrew
And the Sky Streak is at a park in Mexico called Selva Mágica, and it's now known as Titan.

Unfortunetly my parents never took me to Boblo before it closed. Which is a shame, as it seemed like a cool little place.

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Vortex Crew - 2002, WWC Lead 2003

Oh yeah Boblo was a huge part of my youth. I went yearly and often sevral times a year. The park closed because of the all mighty $. Low attendance and very high cost of maintanance on the boats drove it into extiction. The island istelf is now a luxury home development.

I recently set out on a mission to find out what happened to the boats so near and dear to my heart. It took some work but I found both still in alive and a float. Near the end they were cast aside and left to rot at downriver docks.

The "Columbia" is in such sad shape there was doubt it could be saved but last year it was purchased by a historical society. Apparently these two ships found salvation from the scrap heap by out lasting all other to become the last two steam passenger vessels of their kind ( there are others but they are auto ferries not passenger )

The group that saved the Columbia will be moving it to NY over the summer to begin restoration.

The restoration on the St. Claire is nearly completed and the boat lives and can be seen in the Toledo OH area .

Here is a great site about the boats and island.

http://www.boblosteamers.com/start.html

The photos of the Columbia 's current condition are heartbreaking but the log and photo's on the restoration of the Ste. Claire will bring a smile.

I plan to go see and take photos of both boats this summer.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane

Pamala

After looking around the site for a moment I thought I should mention that while the Ste Claire has its own restoration page on the navigation bar you must go to the image pages link to find the Columbia.

Enjoy the site its a great place to look around

Thanks to you both for answering my questions! I was just thinking what a shame it was that the park closed, as it was a great place, and wondering what happened to everything. I can now have sleep filled nights again! ;-)

Take care and God bless!

Here is another Boblo link:
http://www.detnews.com/history/boblo/boblo.htm

Trips to Boblo were a summer staple when I was growing up in the 60's. Once I discovered Cedar Point, trips to Boblo declined. I especially enjoyed the cruise down the river on the Boblo boats and enjoyed the live bands they had and the dance floor.

Sadly, the fellow who worked so hard to restore Boblo to it's glory was severely injured in a car accident. He could no longer provide the driving force behind the park, and his partners opted to give up.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
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