Bob-Lo Island

Bob-Lo Island, once a beloved amusement park, has been revived and brought into the 21st century by developer Dominic Amicone, who purchased the island in 2005. Bob-Lo Developments, Inc., a division of Amico, has succeeded in honoring the island’s unique and storied history while also creating a one-of-a-kind community in Essex County. Today, it is a growing community of friendly and welcoming neighbors of all ages and backgrounds. Living on this island is not reserved for the elite of the community – properties and lots are more affordable than you would think and they offer views and amenities that would cost triple the amount on the mainland.

The minute you step off the Bob-Lo Island ferry, it feels like you’ve been transported to the picturesque landscapes of the Muskokas. The historic Maritime Monument, a landmark that is over 100 years old, still stands in pristine condition and is one of the first sights on the island. From there, the winding lazy streets are adorned with homes akin to those in Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard. You will not find stark uber-contemporary homes or subdivisions where every house looks the same.

Each home on Bob-Lo Island is uniquely beautiful and warmly inviting, no matter the budget. There are many lots available and ready for families to build their dream home. Even if your home is not a waterfront property, it can still have water views. Every home on the island can have a million dollar view but not a million dollar price tag.

Bob-Lo Developments, Inc. has a wonderful assortment of residential properties to suit any taste, any style and any budget. With available property starting at $68,000 for a good-sized lot on an island – you can’t beat that anywhere else! Amazing and contemporary interior concepts and designs abound in their DeerView and Eagles Nest Townhomes ($269,000 and $239,000) and their Family Ranch home site ($399,000), which boasts over 2,000 square feet of open living space, three bedrooms and a generous back porch – ideal for avid entertaining.

No matter where you are on the island, you can have a great water view even if you’re not on the water side – just being surrounded by water allows you to slow it down a bit automatically. But the value is not just in the property – the value comes from being able to live a more relaxed lifestyle in a beautiful landscape and most importantly, giving my kids the opportunity to be kids and letting them just run and experience fun.

– says Gena Boschin, Bob-Lo’s Marketing Director. On Bob-Lo, your socio-economic status does not define you. “Everyone is the same on the island, regardless of income and status or background, largely because they all share the same easy lifestyle in common,” says Boschin.

You do not have to be a millionaire to have a yearning to live by the water and take your boat out whenever you please. The marina resort community is a boater’s dream. There are about 60-plus boat slips, and plans are in the works to add additional slips to the marina. Full washroom and shower facilities are available as well for those day-trippers out to the island.

The landscape beckons active individuals to take advantage of exercising outdoors on one of the many scenic trails. Parents can have the utmost peace of mind letting their children play outside to expand their imagination and creativity by building tree houses and exploring their natural playground. There are very few cars driving around, and the private ferry service acts as a 24-hour security system to ensure the safety of everyone on the island.

My family is moving to Bob-Lo this year. I have two small children and I would not be moving here if I didn’t feel confident in just how easy it is to get to and from the mainland – with two little schedules to keep – the ferry service is so easy! For myself personally, it allows me the time to de-stress, watch the lapping waves in the water and to really simply enjoy the ride.

The ferry service departs every 20 minutes and docks at the Bob-Lo Island Discovery Centre in Amherstburg, the safest community in Canada. It is a reliable and dependable service that runs 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. It also serves as the island’s security system. Residents have stickers in their vehicles to identify them. Friends and families of residents are able to take the ferry free of charge. For those who want to visit the island for a family barbeque, date night, or just a little getaway, there is a $20 charge roundtrip per vehicle. There is a discounted rate of only $6 for those wishing to dine at the island’s marina restaurant – The Bob-Lo Island Beach House.

The island’s parks attract families and friends for picnics, exercise and play. At the south end of the island, the beautiful stretches of White Sands Beach are the perfect spot for a romantic walk on the water. With a resident swimming pool, picnic tables, gardens and gazebos on the north side, the opportunities for fun are endless. The Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant recently opened to rave reviews and it may become a year-round venue. Guests can enjoy the panoramic waterfront views, creative dishes, seasonal catches, delicious wines and unparalleled service. The atmosphere is casual and inviting, keeping to the island way of life. The patio at the Bob-Lo Island Beach House Restaurant will feature live music and other events. The entertainment possibilities are exciting and endless.

Remnants of the old amusement park, such as the theatre and the lighthouse, are still standing and structurally sound. The centerpiece of the island, the 50,000 sq. ft. dance hall, which once hosted Elvis and Guy Lombardo, is still a beautiful building with all the potential in the world for the right set of eyes. The walls made of steel and stone still look the same as they did 100 years ago and the sky-high cathedral glass wall is intact and illuminates the balcony and grand pavilion.

Amicone has no intentions or desire to demolish the remnants of the amusement park. The historic sights are being preserved and eventually revived under the right vision. In the future, the Bob-Lo Island community will expand to have local vendors, cafes and a farmer’s market that are integrated, not laid over the old landscape. “We are open to a vision that is an adaptable re-use of the structures as part of keeping Bob-Lo’s history alive and being more green for the environment,” says Boschin.

This year, a Stay & Play Experience package was introduced for those who want to experience island living. Individuals and families who are considering a move to Bob-Lo choose to stay in a fully appointed, fully furnished condo at Harbourview Condominiums. It’s not hard to fall in love with Bob-Lo’s easy breezy way of living, and the Stay & Play Experience package allows people to “try before they buy” by giving them a glimpse into what it’s like to include a three-minute scenic ferry ride in their daily commutes, to wake up to unmatched views and to explore the landscape.

There are times when you need to escape. Forget your worries. Act like a kid again. Those times call for a visit to Bob-Lo Island. It will bring back cherished memories and create new ones. It will reignite your lust for adventure and invigorate your senses with its lush scenery, panoramic water views and fresh air. You might just want to stay forever. Give yourself the gift of balance with a laid-back, slower paced lifestyle counterpart to a busy and hectic work schedule. Give your children the opportunity and desire to ditch the electronics, go outside and use their imaginations again. When you’re living on Bob-Lo Island, all that matters is what matters to you.