BLOSSER ISLAND
Blosser Island: Goshen’s Lost River Resort
Along the Elkhart River, just outside downtown Goshen, once stood one of the city’s most beloved early-20th-century recreational destinations: Blosser Island. Though today the island is quiet—reclaimed by trees, wildlife, and the river itself—its story reflects Goshen’s growth, its embrace of leisure and tourism, and the entrepreneurial spirit that shaped the community during the early 1900s.
Amos Peter Blosser and a Vision on the River
Blosser Island was the vision of Amos Peter Blosser, an ambitious Goshen resident with a keen sense of opportunity. Blosser was born on June 7, 1854, in Foraker, Indiana, the son of Peter Blosser and Mary Reed Blosser. On February 25, 1883, he married Clara Alice Apple in New Paris, Indiana. Clara was born in 1864 in Harrison Township, Elkhart County, and the couple would remain lifelong residents of the Goshen area. Both Amos and Clara are buried at Violett Cemetery in Goshen.
When Blosser purchased what would become known as Blosser Island, it measured approximately 3½ acres. The island sat directly across the river from his boat landing, making it ideally positioned for river access and development. Blosser quickly envisioned the island not simply as property, but as a destination—a picnic and recreation resort where families, organizations, and visitors could escape the routine of daily life.
His plans were ambitious for the era: shaded picnic grounds, swings and hammocks, possibly a pavilion, and a dependable ferry service to transport guests to and from the island. One of the island’s most notable natural features was its numerous freshwater springs, described as bubbling with “the clearest and finest water.” Blosser piped this spring water for drinking use, adding both convenience and appeal to the resort.
Opening Day and Early Success
With assistance from the Winona Interurban Railway Company, Blosser’s vision became a reality. The park officially opened on June 11, 1909, and it was an immediate success. The interurban connection made travel to the island easy, allowing large crowds to attend organized outings and special events.
By July of 1910, Blosser Island was drawing thousands. One notable event that month was the W.O.W. (Woodmen of the World) picnic, which reportedly attracted 3,000 people in a single day. The event featured a full concert program performed by the W.O.W. band, underscoring the island’s growing reputation as a premier entertainment venue in the region.
A Full-Scale Amusement Park on the Elkhart River
At its height, Blosser Island offered an impressive array of attractions, rivaling many small amusement parks of the era. Visitors could enjoy:
- Boating and canoeing on the Elkhart River
- A designated bathing area
- A baseball park
- A toboggan slide
- A band concert pavilion
- A vaudeville theater
- A skating rink measuring 100 by 40 feet with polished maple floors
- A shooting gallery
- Multiple refreshment stands
The island maintained 25 boats and canoes, along with a steam launch capable of carrying 30 to 40 passengers at a time. This blend of outdoor recreation and organized entertainment made Blosser Island a popular gathering place for church groups, fraternal organizations, company outings, and families throughout northern Indiana.
The Ferryman: “Captain” Carl Lederer
No story of Blosser Island would be complete without mentioning its longtime ferryman, “Captain” Carl Lederer. Lederer was a colorful and well-known character among island visitors. A veteran of Kaiser Wilhelm’s army during World War I, he reportedly suffered from shell shock—what we would now recognize as PTSD—and was known for repeating everything he said twice.
Lederer whistled at the girls, chatted endlessly with passengers, and took great pride in his work. His favorite boast was repeated often:
“Twenty years a ferryman and never lost a life.”
For many Goshen residents, the ferry ride itself—guided by Captain Lederer—was as memorable as the island attractions.
A Change in Generations and the Island’s Decline
As Amos Peter Blosser aged and his health declined, he passed management of the park to his son, Asher Apple Blosser (1891–1973). Asher attempted to continue his father’s legacy, but changing times and the onset of World War II marked the beginning of the island’s decline. During the war years, the park closed.
After the war, Asher made an effort to reopen Blosser Island and restore its role as a recreational destination. One addition during this period was a Nickelodeon music machine, intended to provide entertainment for visitors. However, its volume proved controversial. Local resident Ed Stoudt formally petitioned against the noise, and the renewed operation of the island came to an end.
New Owners and a Quiet Transformation
Eventually, Asher Blosser sold the island to the Island View Corporation and moved to Florida. One of the corporation’s members, prominent local businessman Harold A. Schrock, later purchased the island outright.
In a remarkable personal gesture, when Schrock married his second wife, Betty (Corn) McDonald, on May 24, 1997, he gave Blosser Island to her as a wedding gift. Tragically, Betty passed away later that same year on September 14, 1997. In her will, she left the island to her son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Karen (Roose) McDonald, who remain the island’s present owners.
Blosser Island Today
Today, Blosser Island bears little physical evidence of its lively past. Only a few concrete foundations remain, quietly marking where pavilions, buildings, and attractions once stood. Nature has reclaimed the land, transforming the former resort into a haven for wildlife.
Local lore suggests that bald eagles now nest on the island, a fitting symbol of renewal and endurance along the Elkhart River. While the laughter, music, and ferry whistles have faded, Blosser Island remains an important chapter in Goshen’s story—a reminder of a time when riverfront recreation brought thousands together and transformed a small island into a regional destination.
