Six Flags New Orleans

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Six Flags New Orleans

Location New Orleans, LA
Address 12301 Six Flags Parkway
Phone numbers 504-253-8100
Website SixFlags.com
Owner Six Flags, Inc.
Previous names Jazzland- 2000 to 2002
Operating season Closed since 2005
Rides 20 total
  • 4 roller coasters
  • 2 water rides


Six Flags New Orleans is an amusement park in New Orleans, Louisiana, closed since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Six Flags New Orleans is located in Eastern New Orleans, in the Ninth Ward of the city off Interstate 510. This park was formerly known as "Jazzland" which opened in 2000 and operated by Alfa Smartparks before Six Flags took over the park lease in 2002.

The land, owned by the city of New Orleans, is currently leased to and operated by Six Flags. After Katrina, Six Flags has sought to end its lease on the site. The owners claim the park must remain shut down as long as outstanding claims with insurance companies remain unsettled.[1]

As of early 2008, the site is overgrown with debris and weeds.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

View of a portion of the park
View of a portion of the park

Rides included the Mega Zeph, a wooden roller coaster track built on a steel frame to prevent termite infestation and withstand hurricane force winds. The Mega Zeph was inspired by the old Zephyr roller coaster at the closed Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park that was located next to Lake Pontchartrain by the University of New Orleans. The original intent was to rebuild the Zephyr but it was a smaller roller coaster so that idea was scrapped in favor of the current larger Mega Zeph. Other rides include Batman the Ride, The Jester, Zydeco Scream, and Spillway Splashout, as well as many others. A water park was in the planning stages before Hurricane Katrina occurred.


[edit] History After Hurricane Katrina

Sign by Six Flags entrance still displays post-Katrina floodwater lines
Sign by Six Flags entrance still displays post-Katrina floodwater lines

This area of Eastern New Orleans was badly flooded in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (see: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans). Due to damage, the park is closed indefinitely. Initial reports said that buildings are damaged about 70%, many flat rides are destroyed, and the Mega Zeph has been damaged beyond repair; later updates, however, stated that Mega Zeph could in fact be repaired. It was one of the least profitable parks in the Six Flags portfolio, being well away from the French Quarter and other tourist attractions. It has been stated that the park would most likely have been more profitable had it been built somewhere on the westbank or in Metairie, as these places are a shorter distance from some tourist districts but more so because they are closer to affluent population centers and are historically safer areas from crime.[1]

The combination of economics and damage might argue against a reopening; however, in the months after the storm the company expressed an interest in rebuilding the park; although it would take a long time because of insurance issues. Work on the still closed park was seen underway in January, 2006. On March 15, 2006, Six Flags announced that the park will not open for the 2006 season and on their website said the park would remain closed in 2007. On July 1, 2006, an announcement was made that Six Flags Inc. does not wish to reopen the park, and is in negotiations with the City of New Orleans to make an early exit from the 75-year lease which Six Flags entered into on the property.[2] However, Mayor Ray Nagin says he plans to hold Six Flags to the lease agreement. Under these terms, Six Flags would be required to rebuild, but only to the extent of the insurance money Six Flags receives. Six Flags determined the value of assets destroyed by the storm at $32.5 million. As of September 2006, Six Flags has collected $11.5 million of insurance proceeds bringing the insurance receivable balance to $24.4 million [3]. It remains unknown whether the amount of money the park receives will be enough to successfully rebuild it. In January 2007, Six Flags officials revealed to the Times-Picayune that the company is suing its insurers for remaining amount of $175 million in coverage.

December 15th, 2006 - Six Flags has confirmed that they are currently removing portions of the Batman: The Ride for refurbishment. It was not confirmed or denied if the ride was being refurbished for the New Orleans park or another property. [3]. In August 2007, Batman the Ride showed up at Six Flags Fiesta Texas near the maintenance shed, behind Scooby Doo Ghost Ride. It has been confirmed that Batman The Ride will be assembled in 2008 at Six Flags Fiesta Texas under the new name Goliath.

[edit] Renewed Interest

In April of 2008 Southern Star Amusement Group proposed to take over the site lease, promising to expand the park to over 60 rides (more than double its pre-Katrina size), complete a water park that Six Flags had been planning, and add a campground. Southern Star Amusement Group pledged to open the park, with 60 rides in place, including a new water park by the summer of 2009 if the city approved the lease takeover, with the campground to follow. Southern Star proposed that the park would be open year round, as opposed to only in the summer as it was under Six Flags. The New Orleans City Council is studying the proposal.[4].

[edit] Former roller coasters

[edit] Former flat rides

[edit] Former water rides

[edit] Extra charge attractions

  • Skycoaster (Skycoaster Inc. reverse freefall swing)

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Lost New Orleans Landmarks", WDSU News Video (Windows Media Player). Retrieved on 2007-10-28. 
  2. ^ "Six Flags Wants Out", Times Picayune, [2006-07-01]. Retrieved on 2007-08-09. 
  3. ^ "Six Flags removes Batman from its New Orleans park", Times Picayune, [2007-01-23]. Retrieved on 2007-08-09. 
  4. ^ "Proposal to revive Six Flags unfurled", Times Picayune, [2008-04-23]. Retrieved on 2008-04-24. (English) 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Languages