From Inside The Magic:
Terminal Update: Six Flags Park to Stay Closed Forever, All Future Reopening Plans CanceledQuoteHurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans was profound, and Six Flags New Orleans was no exception. The once vibrant theme park was left in ruins, its interior completely destroyed by floodwaters. Faced with a staggering $32 million repair bill and grappling with financial struggles, Six Flags made the difficult decision to abandon the park./quote]
FULL ARTICLE HERE (https://markholtz.info/2uz)
This "rust in place" plan just boggles my mind. While the park equipment was damaged beyond repair almost twenty years ago, I'm of the opinion to either "redevelop the land" or "sell it to someone with some sort of plan". Unfortunately 2008 came around, and New Orleans isn't the attraction it once was.
I just assumed it was abandoned already. It was all the rage for awhile amongst the urban exploration crowd.
At the NOLA meet, it was pretty evident that it was dead as a doornail.
Met up with another local friend on that trip that said that a lot of development has shifted north to the other side of Lake Ponchartrain, rather than to the east as was once expected.
It's not exactly in a happening part of town; close to lots of other decaying areas, an industrial-zoned mish-mash, on the fringes of higher-crime suburbia bordering nature preserves. East New Orleans isn't featured on postcards.
The amusement park fans need to pinch themselves from the fever dream of reopening this site. If anyone needs that specific piece of land with all of the additionally-associated demolition costs, they'll come knocking. It would likely be cheaper to build anew somewhere else.
What happened in 2008?
Quote from: ZLoth on June 04, 2024, 11:54:53 AMFrom Inside The Magic:
Terminal Update: Six Flags Park to Stay Closed Forever, All Future Reopening Plans Canceled
QuoteHurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans was profound, and Six Flags New Orleans was no exception. The once vibrant theme park was left in ruins, its interior completely destroyed by floodwaters. Faced with a staggering $32 million repair bill and grappling with financial struggles, Six Flags made the difficult decision to abandon the park./quote]
FULL ARTICLE HERE (https://markholtz.info/2uz)
This "rust in place" plan just boggles my mind. While the park equipment was damaged beyond repair almost twenty years ago, I'm of the opinion to either "redevelop the land" or "sell it to someone with some sort of plan". Unfortunately 2008 came around, and New Orleans isn't the attraction it once was.
It also seems to me that the best course is to let nature take its course here, I see no other economical use for the land. Perhaps that site could make a good long-tern case study in natural processes. After all, it took nature about 35 years or so to completely reclaim Prypyat, Ukraine.
Mike
Quote from: IMGoph on June 04, 2024, 12:54:10 PMWhat happened in 2008?
Quote from: ZLoth on June 04, 2024, 11:54:53 AMFrom Inside The Magic:
Terminal Update: Six Flags Park to Stay Closed Forever, All Future Reopening Plans Canceled
QuoteHurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans was profound, and Six Flags New Orleans was no exception. The once vibrant theme park was left in ruins, its interior completely destroyed by floodwaters. Faced with a staggering $32 million repair bill and grappling with financial struggles, Six Flags made the difficult decision to abandon the park./quote]
FULL ARTICLE HERE (https://markholtz.info/2uz)
This "rust in place" plan just boggles my mind. While the park equipment was damaged beyond repair almost twenty years ago, I'm of the opinion to either "redevelop the land" or "sell it to someone with some sort of plan". Unfortunately 2008 came around, and New Orleans isn't the attraction it once was.
The financial crisis of 2008 nationwide, and Hurricane Gustav.
Quote from: mgk920 on June 04, 2024, 12:58:32 PMIt also seems to me that the best course is to let nature take its course here, I see no other economical use for the land. Perhaps that site could make a good long-tern case study in natural processes. After all, it took nature about 35 years or so to completely reclaim Prypyat, Ukraine.
Mike
Rocky Mountain Arsenal outside Denver was made a national wildlife refuge when it closed, and that seems to be working well.
I figured it would be a matter of time before the unfortunate permanent closure was announced, but Katrina was its death warrant.
One of the park's roller coasters still lives on to this day; the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas was originally at Six Flags New Orleans as the Batman ride. I've ridden it several times and it is a fun ride, but I don't think many people know that the coaster is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina.
They have to do something with what is left of the former Jazzland/Six Flags park. At least clear the land and remove the eyesore that is the rusted rides of that were left behind.
A better plan for New Orleans instead of Jazzland could have been maybe a boardwalk -- like Santa Monica/Cruz Boardwalk or like those on the Jersey Shore -- somewhere on the interface with Lake Pontchartrain, instead of a park a good distance away from the city.
Fun fact: Six Flags lost two parks in 2005 -- AstroWorld in Houston (intentional closure) and Jazzland in New Orleans (destroyed). Both closures were announced around the same time in September 2005 (one planned closure and one unexpected closure).
The motivation for clearing the site would be to discourage trespassers. Lawyers will insist on it.
So was it actually closed these whole 19 years?
Quote from: epzik8 on June 05, 2024, 03:25:44 PMSo was it actually closed these whole 19 years?
Yepper.
Mike
Quote from: CoreySamson on June 04, 2024, 03:40:26 PMOne of the park's roller coasters still lives on to this day; the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas was originally at Six Flags New Orleans as the Batman ride. I've ridden it several times and it is a fun ride, but I don't think many people know that the coaster is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina.
That coaster has a strange history. It started its life at a park in Japan, and Six Flags bought it when that park closed in 2002.
As for the park site, at this point it's been abandoned for three times as long as it was open, and the state of the property is a warning to potential developers of how badly their investment could go. It would be nice if New Orleans got an amusement park again somewhere, as unlikely as that seems, but they should just turn the old Six Flags site back to nature.
Wait, it took them 19 years to say the quiet part out loud?
Quote from: epzik8 on June 05, 2024, 03:25:44 PMSo was it actually closed these whole 19 years?
Immediately after Katrina came thru, the park sat in a pool of water for about a month before it finally drained out. Afterwards, Six Flags didn't have any interest in repairing the damage and abandoned the park.
The owner of the land there is actually the city of New Orleans itself. Six Flags had a 75 year lease to operate the theme park. That lease was voided when Six Flags went thru a bankruptcy in the late 00's.
There's been several attempts to bring life back to the park, but ultimately the cost of doing so is much greater than anyone wants to deal with. So, yep, 19 years later, the park remains closed.
In a timely article just published yesterday, there's a new developer that's looking into fixing up the site for a...waterpark. https://www.chron.com/culture/article/new-orleans-six-flags-demolition-19496595.php . Estimated costs are about $1 Billion to bring the area back to life. I won't hold my breath on these plans actually succeeding either...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-tY8JoxHC4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rYzoskylbM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS3fO6Qz0mE
Has anybody seen this recent documentary called Closed For Storm? It's really cool and well-told story about the history of the former (and what's left of) Jazzland Park and its location.
Disclaimer: I know the last official name of the former park was 'Six Flags New Orleans', but I like to still call it by its original name 'Jazzland Park' I like how it sounds and more convenient to type than typing out 'Six Flags New Orleans'