why did boblo island close why did boblo island close

Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. I worked on the Boats in 1980. The Boblo Island Detroit dock building can be seen on the Detroit, Michigan side of the Detroit River. At the end of the turbulent 75 minutes, Boblo Boats brings us up-to-date on restoration efforts for both ferries while simultaneously summoning an unanticipated moral force. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this site. The railroad began operating on the island in 1956. It is a wonderful place with beautiful heritage and history, that is why I chose to live here. Big changes for Sugar Island, good changes-it has made the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the island.It was not safe. The ship in mid-swing. In the beginning it was a picnic spot with beaches, athletic fields, bicycle tracks, and a stunning Mangels-Illions carousel. [2] Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Technically speaking, the island was a part of Canada (Bois Blanc Island, Ontario to be exact) but was just a short ferry ride up the Detroit River from the city of Detroit. The boat would stop there to take people to the island for the day. One reason is competition from larger theme parks. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. [29], The tower for the Space Needle ride was demolished in 2021, with Amicone citing "health and safety concerns". The park opened in 1898 and closed its doors for good on September 30th,1993 as a result of poor management, rising maintenance costs and declining attendance thanks to more attractive parks in the region like Cedar Point. Thank you again!! There appears to be no such organization, which may not be so surprising. By 1742, a French mission among the Hurons was established. Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. It may be under different management than when I had a pretty tasty perch sandwich there, but you can find out more, including their hours at: http://www.boblo.ca/pages/living/restaurant.html, Thank you very much for info. Once a landmark amusement park, Boblo Island is ready to essentially triple its current population through a new. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. [1] The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the Detroit River. Over the roughly two-and-a-half decades that have passed since the closure, many of the most telltale signs of the park have faded away, including the ultra spooky-looking ferry boats that used to. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. Plants and overgrown grass fill the dirt paths near the Space Needle. why did boblo island close. Which may not be surprising, given that its been many thingscamp for European explorers, fortress, picnic spot, dance venue, amusement park, retreatto many people over the centuries beginning with four Algonquin and Iroquoian tribes:the Ojibwa (Chippewa), Ottawa, Potawatomi and the Wyandot (Huron)one source claims the original name of the island was Etiowiteedannenti, a name bestowed by the Wyandotand followed by: The first recorded passage to the island, which was named Bois Blanc (White Woods), by the French dates from 1670. There is a dock at the restaurant on the island, Sue. The Whip was installed in 1920, which was a huge hit, essentially paying for itself. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. These homes are 1,250 square feet on the sides, 1,625 in the middle. (Check out more Boblo history at BobloSteamers.com), Alex Atwell put together an awesome tour of the Ste. why did boblo island closeconservation international ceo. Only one blockhouse remains today. One island. You will find even more information in: Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, by Patrick Livingstone (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2008); Bob-Lo: An Island in Troubled Waters, by Annessa Carlisle (Royal Oak, MI: Momentum Books, 2005); and for more photographs, Bob-Lo Revisited, by Bill Rauhausuer (Chicago: Lorentz, 2003). All rights reserved (About Us). The east side of the island is now home to residential property, marinas, a restaurant and more. The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide - just 272 acres. Ray was removed from the boat because she was not white, enforced according to a Bob-Lo company policy "excluding so-called 'zoot-suiters', the rowdyish, the rough, and the boisterous, and it also adopted the policy of excluding colored. As a child I went to Bob-Lo Island every summer from the Detroit Side of the island. Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. I enjoyed BobLo so much as a child-we boarded the boats in Wyandotte. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at a fee of $10 each way. People from all over Michigan, Canada and from as far away as California, have chosen to make Boblo Island their home. Why did Boblo Island close? About Boblo Island: One to pick up, and one to return people. For more excitement there was the Whip, Wild Mouse, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Dodgeem Cars. Hard to believe, but for the first time in 124 years, there is no such place as Boblo Island. Many of you remember taking the journey to the top for a breathtaking view of the park. Would love to know more about your experience working on the Bob-Lo boats. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. The SS Ste. (LogOut/ One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. [14], The 1993 season proved bumpy and was marred by miscues including disputes with island residents and the Canadian Coast Guard, compounded by the leader of Enchanted Parks, Michael Moodenbaugh, being seriously injured and breaking his spine in a car accident in Toledo, Ohio, in September. I was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan. The marina on the west side of Boblo Island. Check out recent photos from one of the Boblo boats. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who. The once site of the infamous amusement park has been renamed erasing one of the last remnants of days gone by. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. The 16mm film is from around 1960. My husband is from The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. One step on the old dock, and I saw an old run-down white platform, no life, no care in worldlike everyone was evacuated and told not to come back. Windsor Mayor Arthur John Reaume wanted the island to be designated a National Park. A sign leads residents and visitors to dining venues and the marina on Boblo Island. Bois Blanc Island was where Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, a Native American warrior, decided to place his headquarters during the War of 1812. A private community is now being built on the island. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. This is a small area of the white sand beach open to residents of Boblo Island. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. Here are some of the homes and what life is like on Boblo Island today. Update: A couple of them were partially restored and used during the filming ofTransformers 4. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). You can find the Boblo Island Beach House restaurant on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina Also the Boblo Island Marina: https://www.facebook.com/BobloIslandMarina You may be able to get the information you need by writing to: BOBLOMARINA@BOBLO.CA You may want to mention youre coming from the States; I dont know the protocol for private boats crossing the international border in the river to dock. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The classic boats stopped running in 1991 and the amusement park was shuttered after the 1993 season. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a notable 1948 decision construing the scope of the commerce clause. Bleacher seating remains intact in the abandoned theater. [23] Townhouses and condominiums were proposed in 1997. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. During the 1920s and 1930s, swimming contests were held that went fromBelle Isleto Bob-Lo, covering 24 miles. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. The website is that of Bob-Lo Island Custom Home Builder, the developer of the Marina Resort Community, Boblos current rendition. This photo shows people boarding the SS St. Claire (built in 1910) bound for Boblo Island. [2] After Michigan found Bob-Lo guilty and fined the company, Bob-Lo filed a lawsuit against the state, Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, 333 U.S. 28 (1948). Each year the largest gathering was sponsored by the St. Andrews Society of Detroit, which would often draw more than 10,000 visitors to their Scottish Games. The steamers, the Ste. They created a destination to keep themselves busy on the weekend. Edit: I hope it's just a tracker issue but it seemed to be working fine. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. In June 1945, Sarah Elizabeth Ray and 12 other female workers involved in the war effort (and referred to as "girls" during the legal proceedings) took part in a sponsored trip to Boblo Island. The place just went completely downhill. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. The Boblo Island amusement park closed in the 1990s after a century of operation. Loved going to Bob-Lo as a kid. This is the observation area which would rise to the top. Each held about 2,500 passengers. The park opened in 1898 and closed its doors for good on September 30th,1993 as a result of poor management, rising maintenance costs and declining attendance thanks to more attractive parks in the region like Cedar Point. Built in the early 1900s, the SS Columbia and SS Ste. The park was closed for the 1933-1934 seasons due to the Great Depression. Departing from the foot of Woodward Avenue, whereHart Plazais now, theColumbiaandSte. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". Valentine and Sons United Publishing Company - This image is part of the Canadian Copyright Collection held by the British Library, and has been digitized as part of the "Picturing Canada" project. - LJ. We need to preserve what we have left, just for historys sake. Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin is located on the western shore of Boblo Island, and is open for residents and visitors from Thursday through Sunday. The Columbia's ship keeper, Sam Buchanan, said the St. Clair has "a prominent role" in. The dock is gone and the passageway is mostly surrounded by weeds and overgrown grass. It's a place for those looking to surround themselves with nature, including the more than 50 different species of birds. You can also visit Boblo.ca. The people of Detroit, Michigan, characterized it as the city's Coney Island. That is what the park was supposed to be about. Of more concern than strangers arriving by ferry would be the boats that pull up and anchor around the island on summer days. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. how much was bitcoin in 2010. pets4homes boost advert 9, Juin, 2022. smugglers inn steak soup recipe; It was like a little cruise. [Meta] Sticky Comment. Boblo Island is preparing to greet more than 200 new residents with construction soon to begin and new roads in the south end of the island recently completed . Few physical reminders remain from the amusement park, which closed in 1993, but the island has had a surprising resurgence - as a quiet but thriving residential community. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. The control room area through broken glass. On the south side of the road leading from the ferry dock is a five-story condominium: Between the river and the condominium is a trail which heads south along the islands perimeter and allows a walker orbicyclist to view a number of historical structures, including the Sailors Monument, which still graces the eastern shore of the island: The commemorative plaque affixed to the Sailors Monument reads: Dedicated to 134 years of American-Canadian friendship across 4500 miles of unfortified border, protected only by the mutual respect and understanding one nation holds for the other. When did Boblo boat stop running? I believe the unfortunate combination of being a Canadian island with almost all American history is the reason its not being cherished by people in Canada. Mon-Wed 8:30 - 7:00 Thu-Fri 8:30 - 7:00 Sat 8:30 . To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. The restaurant is open to residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. It was a Canadian Island and had passenger boats that sailed from Detroit, Gibraltar and Amherstburg Ontario. Please dont judge us without knowing us! This was particularly true during the Great Depression and the World War II era, when finances were tight and the world seemed to exist in a perpetual state of anxiety. It's docked in New York. The Columbia is undergoing restoration. Anyone can go on the island via the ferry for a fee of $10 round-trip, but Boblo isn't a typical tourist destination. She was one of the first residents of Boblo Island. With probably more than a bit of clean-up and reconstruction, it would make a wonderful venue for a wedding reception!!! The park was sold but never got up and running again so all the rides and boats were sold. Remember it was a time when girls wore dresses and not pants, so we sure had to be careful on the rides (check out the pictures how the girls were dressed). These people had no clue whatsoever as to the history of Detroit, or of Bob-Lo. caliyah mcnabb photos; singapore new first class; grilled chicken with marinated tomatoes and onions; common entry level jobs for aerospace engineering; sims 4 reshade presets 2021; why did boblo island close. Twin villa homes on the north end of the island. British troops captured 60 of the attackers and built three log blockhouses to defend the island. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 The reasons for its closure were numerous, ranging from rising maintenance costs and poor management to stronger competition from the nearby, more attractive Cedar Point Park. Few physical reminders remain from the amusement park, which closed in 1993, but the island has had a surprising resurgence - as a quiet but thriving residential community. - Kathy G. We kids were able to run up and down the stairs on the boat and go to the dance floor. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Did you work on both the SS Ste. He previously worked for Ringling Brothers Circus and captivated children with adventurous tales and knock-knock jokes until his retirement in 1974, at the age of 90. Thank you again for the information. The park, which. Beginning in 1952, Joe Short, a man of diminutive physical stature, was employed as 'Captain Boblo', and traveled on the boats entertaining passengers of all ages. The SS Ste. The ferry is run for the island residents, their guests, and prospective buyers of lots in the Triamico Development Affiliates marina resort community. However, there is a public restaurant, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House, on the west side of the island by the marina (ferry docks at the east side). An old silent family home movie of a trip to Boblo Island Amusement Park, no longer existing. There are two total bedrooms in this home. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 Though not all is lost. Yes, Kathy, the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant is an easy walk. An incident in 1902 caused a man-made mini earthquake on the island. McLeans Mansion (Holly Lea): The historic building that was saved by the local community from demolition, The ruins of Richmond Castle: one of the oldest Norman fortresses in England. Locate and compare Service d'ambulance in Mersea ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. why did boblo island close. [4], IBC declared bankruptcy in 1991. - Mellissa M. Sources: BobloSteamers.com, Water Winter Wonderland. I remember going to Boblo Island when I was a child, having fun riding rides; our children will never be able to do that. The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. Second case of COVID-19 confirmed in Windsor-Essex City of Windsor declares state of emergency, Devonshire and Tecumseh malls to close Boblo Island residential development plan moving forward. How to live on Boblo Island: 2023 Detroit Historical Society. Neither will my grandchildren. Many years later, the ferries were sold but the service was continued by a number of different, smaller boats. You'd be hard-pressed to find much evidence of those rides now. In my days they were very comparable although I think Cedar Point was a little larger. 6 reviews #1 of 2 Restaurants in Pointe Aux Pins American Pub. why did boblo island close Menu fatal shooting in los angeles today. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you . [32] The dance hall was the second largest in the world, holding 5,000 dancers at full capacity[31] and featured one of the world's largest orchestrions from the Welte company: a 16 foot tall, 14 foot wide, self-playing Wotan-model orchestrion with 419 pipes and percussion section. If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. During the mid-19th century, the island was sold in parcels to several private owners who built cottages, stables, and trails. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. Review. We live on the east shore of Grosse Ile, we would love to take our boat to eat at the restaurant. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Bob-Lo Excursion Company and the 50 years of Canadian-American use of Bob-Lo Island as an International recreation area. In 1898, the Detroit, Windsor and Belle Isle Ferry Company opened up a recreation park on the Detroit River, about 18 miles southwest of Windsor. (LogOut/ Millions of Americans and Canadians share memories of riding the Swan Boats or the train that circled the park. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). The island is 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide. The Beach House Goodie Shack offers apparel, gifts, and home decor for residents and visitors Thursday through Sunday. It was awesome place. The best time was 8 hours and 42 minutes turned in by 17-year old Dorothy de Caussin and 15-year old Ida Mutnick, both of Detroit. The native Wyandot called the island "Etiowiteendannenti.Both the Wyandot and French names refer to the white wood appearance lent by the birch and poplar trees that line the banks. The name 'Boblo' came back recently after a massive fire destroyed an iconic ferry that used to take people to and from the now closed island amusement park. The island is about 2.5 miles long, 0.5 mile wide and 272 acres in size. For 81 years, she ferried generations of families as they experienced a Windsor-Detroit right of passage: an island getaway to the beloved Boblo Island amusement park. Unfortunately, my search came up empty. Boblo officially closed in 1993. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny. I just would like to see whats there and for my family to share it with me. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. To the north of the road leading from the ferry dock is a subdivision ofmini-mansions and duplexes, with an emphasis on stone and heavy on Victorian-style turrets. I, too, went there every year as a child from Detroit. . [20] Oram then leased and shut down the White Sands boater's hangout adjacent to the park site, citing trespassers but infuriating boaters; as a result, the lease was dropped within weeks. In 1973, the Thunder Bolt coaster was built, which drew long lines. The ferrys were known as "Bob-Lo Boats" and held about 2,500 passengers each. In 1958 the island was the site of joint Canadian-American war games, addressing a hostile force presence with amphibious units from around the Great Lakes. Filming of the movie began across Metro Detroit earlier this year. We also traveled from past to the present on the island, which was a must-visit destination for families for decades. Change). Anyone remember how much fun the dance floor was and how beautiful the boats were. A shack which held dynamite used for dredging the near-by channel was fired into by a group of boys out hunting or fishing. You may have more than a few challenges now that people live there, but I wish you the best of luck! It's located in Amherstburg, Ontario. 2022-09-26. As one can use motor vehicles only in the northern residential tip of the island, if you plan to explore the island, you may want to bring a bike with you. Ironically, after Canada abolished slavery in 1793, the island became a rest stop for escaped slaves traveling the Underground Railroad. The 106-year-old classic excursion steamer Ste. We toured the Ste Claire in 2015 while restoration efforts were ongoing before fire gutted it on July 6, 2018. The Sky Streak Ride, for example, was moved to Selva Magica, a theme park in Mexico, and the Nightmare was initially moved to Six Flags Houston where it was known as the Mayan Mindbender, only to be moved once again to a theme park in Amarillo, Texas. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. - Brandon, I am 73 years old and remember my parents taking me to Bob-Lo after picking me up at Willow Run Airport after a visit with relatives in Miami FL when I was 8 years old. Larry Benaroya, his associate, and his Northern Capital took control of the property; Mancini was fired, and the ownership group put it back on the market in January 1994. No one was injured, and there is no word as to what punishment the boys received. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. The cars operated by drawing power from an overhead electric grid unlike the Bumper Boats in use today. The middle section of the island was developed as a park. Barely visible remains of the park. An island in Amherstburg, Ont. [7] Though one expert felt that Boblo was too big to fail outright and could be turned around,[8] By June, however, no firm offers had been made for the park. . The living space of the Deerview twin villas. Remember, the island is in Canada, so you can't just cross over from the U.S. and dock there. Claire, built in 1910. In 1991, those boats were sold and smaller ferries took people from Gibraltar, Mich., to the island, as well as Amherstburg. I remember the log ride, where we''d all get wet but would soon dry out running about, the carousel, and of course the roller coaster. Baths. Potentially, it could become a wedding reception hall or hotel. http://bit.ly/2cIo6Ny (Video by Alex Atwell), VINTAGE BOBLO: Throwback video of the old Boblo boat and Boblo Island. The 1991, the boats ceased their 81-year run, and the park closed in 1993. The little that remains of the park is covered with vegetation or has been demolished. what a fun and exciting place. Each historical society serves as a bead on a rosary linking current and future generations to the past, acts as a tool to support prayers of keeping the memories alive, keeps a link to the human roots of a distinctive place that has meant many things to many people over the years. It was in a time when the parents didn''t have to worry about the children. Yes, I list http://www.boblo.ca as a source where one can get more information in my book Great Lakes Island Escapes: Ferries and Bridges to Adventure (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2016). The Carousel Building, built in 1905 to house the first amusement ride on Bob-Lo Island, served as a convention hall and later, the roller-skating rink (beginning with the 1940 season) before ending up as a theater. It was great to see all the vintage photos and stories from the good old days of classic boating when wooden boats were the norm, not the exception. All rights reserved (About Us). He's been with WDIV since 2013. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. airbnb sarasota downtown; payday 2 infinite equipment mod; conduct unbecoming a police officer examples; randomforestclassifier' object has no attribute estimators_ Between my concerns for the submerged rocks of the river and the mortar of history I was climbing over, I thought, what a wonderful place this island would be to explore if you were a kid or teenager and what a nightmare it poses for parents or grandparents of those explorers! Sq.Ft. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. I agree, Jennifer, very sad. . For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. You can explore and find the foundations of the dance floor ruins. So sad. The amusement park was so famous in its day that Henry Ford himself provided money for a Dance Hall to be built, designed by the architect John Scott. Once built, the dance hall was the second largest in the world, able to accommodate no less than 5,000 dancers. (From 2018: Old Boblo Island boat catches fire at Detroit marina), BOBLO BOAT TOUR: Take a video tour of the historic boat that traveled the Detroit River for 81 years. - Marva, I am 63 years old and I remember Bob-lo so well. To tell you the truth I remember the boat rides to the park more than the park itself. Today the community on this island is known as the Marina Resort Community. The Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority found a way to end a 100-year agreement that gave the Moroun-owned Ambassador Port Co. sweeping control, but questions remain about the speed at which the deal gained approval of the public authority's board, transparency about the deal and what it means for the port going forward. "We are at the point in restoration to where it was a steel skeleton structure ready to be rebuilt." Claire provided . In this respect, today, Bob-Lo Island appears a bead broken off from the strand, adrift in more than just the Detroi River, its historic integrity drowned in the current of a sequence of ill-fated development schemes. Building the lighthouse on the island instead of the shoal presented several advantages: a shorter tower could be used due to the . [16] Moodenbaugh later sued Benaroya and others for attempting to sell the park while he lay in a "virtual coma". You can also see the large stage and the curtain with big holes in it. You can visit the island now, as I did in July of 2011 (all the photos accompanying the blog posting above were taken on that visit), by taking a small car ferry across a narrow strip of the Detroit River from the Bob-Lo Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, Ontario. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. Boblo Island looks much different today, and if developers reach their goals, it will be almost unrecognizable to past thrill-seekers. If youre interested, check out Patrick Livingstons book Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island, published by Wayne State University Press in 2008. This is now the only ferry which goes to and from Boblo Island. when was the last day of this park operated (i mean the last summur )when it was open for public for the last and until what day was the ferry or the steamer making trip, and can you visit it now. [11] Roger Fachini, a 40-year-old engineer for General Dynamics and owner of a waterpark in Utica, Michigan, placed the winning $3.8 million bid and proposed redevelopment after two years,[12][13] but Boblo's creditors turned it down; after the deposit cheque bounced, they took $600,000 less in the bid from Enchanted Parks of Seattle, owners of the Wild Waves Theme Park near that city. Families need to be brought back together and enjoy their children once again. Its very sad because growing up that was all everyone talked about was Boblo Island, and all the amazing memories. Boblo Island Amusement Park had its own custom version of bumper cars, known as Boblos Scootaboats. During the Rebellion of 1837, "patriots" from the U.S. invaded the island in 1838. - Sally. Livingstone writes that the white sand beach was created in 1957 when a vein of sand in the mouth of the river was dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they deepend the Amherstburg Channel to St. Lawrence Seaway standards, opening the Great Lakesto the world.. Its too bad they couldnt have it ready for this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary.