Part Of A Long-Forgotten Michigan Theme Park Has Reopened

Part Of A Long-Forgotten Michigan Theme Park Has Reopened

Recently, we posted about former theme and amusement parks that operated in Michigan, such as Cereal City, U.S.A., in Kalamazoo, or Grand Rapids' Ramona Park, which opened before 1900. On the east side of the state, on an island south of Detroit, was an amusement park that brought both Americans and Canadians to Bois Blanc Island for a day of fun at Boblo Island.

For almost a century, the SS Ste. Claire and SS Columbia brought visitors from the mainland to hang out with Bobbie the Bear and Louie the Lion as passengers rode roller coasters, Ferris wheels, swan boats, and more. But in 1993, the park closed for good, and the island entered its next chapter. You can read more about Boblo Island.

After its closing, the SS Ste. Claire sat in the marina for years until it tragically caught fire in 2018. However, an extensive restoration project has brought the boat back to life, and for the first time in over thirty years, a piece of Boblo Island is open to the public.

Boblo Boat Ste. Claire Restoration Museum

As mentioned, the SS Ste. Claire caught on fire and was deemed a total loss. But before it burned, the ferry had been purch...