Rediscover Childhood: Soon You Can Step Aboard an Iconic Boblo Boat Again

Do you remember the days of carefree summers, the wind in your hair, and the excitement of setting sail on a Boblo boat? Well, hold onto your hats because we've got some incredible news that's about to give you a nostalgic rush like no other!

Soon you will be able to once again step onto an original Boblo boat.  That's right, the legendary vessels that were once the embodiment of summertime joy are making a comeback thanks to some intense renovations.

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The legendary boats were used to shuttle kids of all ages to Boblo Island for more than 85 years and were decommissioned in 1991, two years before the park closed. The Steamer Ste Claire and the Steamer Columbia could hold about 2,500 passengers each and were both sold in November 1991.

Today, the SS Columbia is in Buffalo, New York undergoing restorations according to reports. The SS Ste. Claire remains here in Michigan and is on her way to being what she once was thanks to the Ste. Claire Restoration Project, led by Stephen Faraj. The team is working to restore the iconic boat and repair the damage she suffered n a 2018 fire sparked by a welding accident. The goal? To once again welcome guests aboard.

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Once finished, the boat will act as a docked museum filled with memories of those magical Boblo days gone by.

“We are currently working on getting the last deck complete. Our plans are to have the entire fourth deck done by the end of September,” Faraj wrote on the official Boblo Boat Facebook page. “The final addition will be the pilot house, either in the fall or spring. We have the original blueprints and will recreate it with the walkways that were on both sides of the pilot house."

The goal is to be up and running by Spring to much anticipation.

"In the Spring, we will turn the main deck into a museum loaded with dozens of artifacts and historical pieces we have collected over the years as well as a souvenir stand with new items. We want to give people a chance to come down and walk the decks, reminisce, and see our plans for the future."

The famous ships were the subject of a documentary last year titled Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale which told the story of the revival in process for the important pieces of Detroit history.

For those looking to return to the island, you can actually book a stay. Now a residential community, there is one Airbnb available for rent, minus the amusement park rides.