Boblo Island Amusement Park, Amusement park on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario
Boblo Island Amusement Park was a leisure complex on Bois Blanc Island in the Detroit River, reachable by steamship from Michigan. The grounds featured roller coasters, carousels, and log flumes along with a large dance pavilion and picnic areas near the water.
The park opened in 1898 and became one of the most popular family destinations for Detroit residents and surrounding areas. After nearly a century as an operating amusement ground, the site closed in 1993 and its old structures were gradually removed.
The park's dance hall, funded by Henry Ford, ranked as the second largest worldwide and featured a 419-pipe orchestrion for musical entertainment.
The island was accessible only by boat, so visitors planned for a crossing of around 20 minutes across the river. On busy summer days, the grounds often drew thousands of guests who sought shade along the shoreline areas and enjoyed the lake breeze.
The park's orchestrion contained 419 pipes and a percussion section, making it one of the largest self-playing orchestra machines in existence.
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