Erin S., Toronto

When I was a kid growing up in LaSalle in the 1980s, we took the ferry over to Boblo Island several times during the summer months. Located in the Detroit River across from Amherstburg, part of Boblo Island operated as an amusement park from the turn of the 20th century until its closure in 1993.

A few years ago in 2015, we took the car ferry over to the island to do some exploring. Part of the island is now a residential development, but remnants and ruins of the amusement park still remain. While the rides were removed long ago, concrete pads still mark their location. The ferry docks where we would line up at the end of a fun-filled day were still intact. Even though it had been more than 20 years since setting foot on Boblo, I could still remember the excitement and anticipation of spending a hot summer day on the island.