Ernie Boch Confirms He Is New Owner of Swansea's Pleasure Island

Car dealer Ernie Boch, Jr. has confirmed to WBSM that he is the person who purchased Swansea’s Pleasure Island estate.

We first reported on Wednesday that Boch had posted a photo Tuesday evening to his Facebook page of Pleasure Island’s famous wooden bridge that connects the island to the mainland. We also documented the history of the property and its potential sale over the past few years.

Although Boch’s Facebook post offered no further information, we speculated that it was possible that Boch could be the buyer of the property, after a report that someone had swooped in at the last minute before a potential auction of the island and bought it outright.

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Late Thursday night, Boch returned a message from this writer confirming that he is indeed the new owner of Pleasure Island.

We asked Boch if he was planning on using the island for personal use, or if he had some commercial ideas for the property.

“I’m working on some ideas,” he responded.

A previous attempt by local restaurateur Al Monte to purchase the property fell through when Town Meeting voters failed to reach the number of votes needed to allow the property to be zoned completely commercial. It remains zoned as mixed-use.

We will be sure to update you with any more information on Boch’s plans for Pleasure Island as soon as they become available.

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