The Boblo boats, SS Ste. Claire and SS Columbia, were historic vessels that ferried passengers to Boblo Island Amusement Park. They fell into disrepair after the park closed in 1993. The SS Ste. Claire was destroyed by fire in 2018, while the SS Columbia is undergoing restoration.
The Boblo boats were once iconic attractions in their own right, serving as the primary means of transport to the popular Boblo Island Amusement Park, located on Bois Blanc Island near the mouth of the Detroit River in Michigan. The SS Ste. Claire and the SS Columbia were built in the early 20th century, with the Columbia launched in 1902 and the Ste. Claire in 1910. They were designed to carry thousands of passengers and were a beloved part of the Detroit area’s culture and history.
After the amusement park closed in 1993, the boats were left without a purpose and began to deteriorate. The SS Ste. Claire changed hands multiple times with various restoration efforts that were never fully realized. Tragically, on July 6, 2018, the SS Ste. Claire caught fire while docked at a marina on the Detroit River. The fire ravaged the historic vessel, leaving it in ruins.
The SS Columbia, on the other hand, has seen a more hopeful fate. A non-profit organization, the SS Columbia Project, was formed to save the vessel. The project aims to restore the Columbia to its former glory and use it as a cultural venue. The boat was towed to Buffalo, New York, in 2015, where it is undergoing extensive restoration work. The goal is to eventually return the Columbia to service, providing educational and cultural experiences along the Hudson River. The restoration process is complex and costly, but the project has garnered support from those who wish to preserve this piece of maritime history.