Six Flags New Orleans

Six Flags New Orleans
Location	New Orleans, Louisiana
Coordinates	30°3′4.0″N 89°56′3.9″W
Owner	New Orleans
Previous names	Jazzland (2000-2002)
Rides	20 total 4 roller coasters 2 water rides

Six Flags New Orleans is an amusement park in New Orleans, Louisiana which has been closed since just before Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.

The park is located in Eastern New Orleans, in the Ninth Ward of the city off Interstate 510. The park first opened under the name "Jazzland" in 2000, operated by Alfa Smartparks before Six Flags took over the park's lease in 2002.

The land, owned by the city of New Orleans, was leased to and operated by Six Flags. After Hurricane Katrina, Six Flags sought to end its lease on the site. The owners claimed the park must remain shut down as long as outstanding claims with insurance companies remain unsettled.

On August 18, 2009, it was announced that the land would be re-developed into a Nickelodeon-branded water/theme park.

On September 18, 2009, the city of New Orleans fined Six Flags $3 million and ordered the park to vacate its lease.

As of early 2010, the site was overgrown with debris and weeds. Removal of the debris and underbrush had begun.

As of April 11, 2010, the site was still shut down with no future clear, since New Orleans officially now owns the property and the plans for the Nickelodeon-branded theme park fell through three months after bonds failed to come through.

In October 2010, Southern Star Amusement Inc. was working to recover the park.

February 6th 2012 it was reported that the selection committee rejected the plan for the site of Six Flags New Orleans to become a theme park, leaving the upscale outlet mall as the only proposal being considered by the committee. Despite the committe's actions, one of the original eight entrepreneurs is continuing to try to get public support for thier proposal. Jazzland park aims to return the park to its roots. They also plan to add a water park and movie studio back lot to the site.

"Batman" ride at Six Flags New Orleans in 2004

History

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 (a Vekoma Boomerang), and Spillway Splashout, as well as many others. A water park was in the planning stages before Hurricane Katrina struck.

History After Hurricane Katrina

The park still flooded 2 weeks after the Hurricane Katrina levee failure disaster

Eastern New Orleans was badly flooded in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (see: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans). The park grounds are located on a low-lying section of Eastern New Orleans, with a 6-foot (1.8 m) earthen flood berm running along the perimeter, creating an artificial basin. After the park's drainage pumps failed during the storm, the berm retained the combination of rainwater and sea water overflow from Lake Pontchartrain caused by Katrina's massive storm surge, submerging the entire park grounds in corrosive, brackish floodwater to a depth of 4–7 feet. The floodwater was not drained for over a month. Due to the damage received, the park is closed indefinitely with no plans to reopen.

Damage reports by Six Flags inspectors stated that the park buildings are 80% demolished, all of the flat rides (except for one which was being serviced off-site at the time of the storm) have been effectively destroyed by long term salt-water immersion, and both the wooden track and steel superstructure of the Mega Zeph have been damaged beyond likely hope of repair. The only large ride to escape relatively unscathed was the Batman: The Ride roller-coaster, due to its elevated station platform and corrosion-resistant support structure.

On July 1, 2006, having previously announced that the park would be closed "at least" through 2007, Six Flags Inc. announced that they had concluded their damage assessments and declared the park to be an "effective total loss"—with no desire or intent by the company to undertake the prohibitive cost of rebuilding—and was 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. However, then-Mayor Ray Nagin said he planned to hold Six Flags to the lease agreement and force them to rebuild. If held to the terms of the lease agreement, Six Flags would be legally obligated to rebuild the park on the same site, 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 had collected $11.5 million of insurance proceeds, bringing the insurance receivable balance to $24.4 million. 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 the remaining amount of $175 million in coverage.

The park had long been 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 West Bank or in Metairie, as these places are a shorter distance from tourist districts. Even more so, these locations would have placed the park much closer to affluent population centers where a strong local base of repeat customers could be cultivated, as opposed to the poverty and crime-afflicted Eastern New Orleans district where few residents could afford or were interested in expensive season passes to an amusement park.

Sign by Six Flags entrance still displaying post-Katrina floodwater lines a year later

Same sign by the entrance in November 2010.

On December 15, 2006, Six Flags confirmed that they were removing Batman: The Ride for refurbishment and relocation to a new park, as it was considered to be the only salvageable ride. Batman: The Ride was reassembled in 2008 at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio and opened under the new name Goliath. In addition to Batman: The Ride, Six Flags removed shade coverings, ride parts, lights, security cameras, planting structures, and various other salvageable items. Six Flags also removed their large lighted sign from the park entrance, effectively indicating their intent not to return.

Despite the park's condition, as late as 2009 the Six Flags Corporation website still stated the following: "Six Flags is still in the process of settling claims with its insurers due to substantial damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. As a result, Six Flags New Orleans will remain closed at this time. We know that it is still a difficult time for the residents of New Orleans, and we remain committed to working with the city in support of the recovery efforts." The New Orleans section has since been removed from the Six Flags website.

Renewed Interest

In April 2008 Southern Star Amusement Inc. 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 an RV park. Southern Star Amusement Inc. pledged to open the park as Legend City Adventure 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. The New Orleans City Council is studying the proposal. One issue concerning rebuilding has been Six Flags' continued removal of infrastructure from the park. In a quarterly conference call Six Flags discussed plans to remove the S&S Towers by 2009 with more ride removals to follow. Items from existing Jazzland rides, such as Mega Zeph's trains and Spillway Splashout's boats, have been sent to other parks. On September 27, 2008, Southern Star Amusement stated on their website that they would no longer be trying to revive Six Flags New Orleans. Southern Star does not comment on what situations influenced their decision, but it is speculated that the extensive recycling and removal of rides and current economic situation were key issues.

As of February 2009, Southern Star Amusement Inc. is taking another look at the park and considering a takeover bid with the City of New Orleans. Should SSAI go forward it would be a scaled down effort, with intentions only to reopen the park with a waterpark added within the existing midway area. The idea is to reopen and build incrementally, saving about $50 million in improvements for the next few years. Given the current economic situation, this plan seems to be the only way that the park can be saved. The basic idea is to use investors and Go Zone Bonds to raise the $35 to $40 million needed to just reopen the park with basic improvements that are needed to make a real recovery and profit. Southern Star Amusement's CEO Danny R. Rogers is asking that Six Flags stop all removal action of equipment from the park, as the equipment in question belongs to the City of New Orleans and not Six Flags Inc. The return of other equipment taken from the park by Six Flags Inc. is also being asked for.

On January 21, 2011, SSA went public with its redevelopment plans for the park, posting a link on their company website. On January 26, 2011, SSA posted a Letter of Intent for the park on its website. The redevelopment plans give a brief history of the property, pre and post- Katrina condition photos, development concept photos, written descriptions of each phase of the redevelopment procedure, and business projections for when it opens. During "Phase I," SSA plans on restoring what is left of the park, as well as expanding upon it by adding more rides and reverting the park back to its original Louisiana theme. The park will be revamped to reflect Louisiana's history and heritage, with one of the proposed sections paying tribute to the now defunct Pontchartrain Beach Park, which closed in 1983. "Phase II" entails adding a water park and future expansion phases include adding a youth sports complex, an on-site hotel/resort, and a movie studio/backlot that would cater to the needs of production companies filming in the N.O. area. Plans also include developing an entertainment and shopping district within the park. These plans do entail utilizing all 224 acres of the site of which only 100 acres are developed and occupied by the remains of the park. The Letter of Intent from SSA simply hashes out a lease agreement between the city and SSA, stating SSA's proposed terms of the lease and its intent for utilizing and restoring the area. SSA will enter a 75-year lease and take on the property in its current condition. SSA plans to take possession of the property prior to the establishment of the lease in order to provide preliminary security and repair/cleanup services. The lease will not take effect until SSA has taken possession of the property, started the cleanup process, and provided proof of funding to the city. After that, the city has 15 days to execute its end of the agreement. Any and all improvements made will belong to SSA and the lease will end in the year 2085. Both documents can be found in full on SSA's website.

In August 2011, the city of New Orleans called for proposals for redevelopment ideas for the site. Eight entrepreneurs stepped forward to suggest turning the property into everything from a power plant, a theme park, or even an outlet mall. As of November 29, 2011, the city of New Orleans has chosen two of the proposed projects, an outlet mall and a green theme park. On February 6, 2012, it was reported that the selection committee rejected the plan for the site of Six Flags New Orleans to become a theme park, leaving the upscale outlet mall as the only proposal being considered by the committee. Despite the committee's actions, one of the original eight entrepreneurs is continuing to try to get public support for their proposal. Jazzland Park aims to return the park to its roots. They also plan to add a water park and movie studio back lot to the site.

Standing but not operating rides

Roller coasters

• Zydeco Scream (Vekoma Boomerang)
• The Jester (Vekoma Hurricane)
• Mega Zeph (Custom Coasters International Double Out and Back Wooden Hybrid)
• Muskrat Scrambler (L&T Systems Wild Mouse) - Rusted and several areas have decayed

Flat rides

• Catwoman's Whip (Mondial Shake)
• Dizzy Lizzy (Fabbri Boomerang)
• Krazy Krewe (Fabbri Cataclysm)
• Gator Bait (Huss Airboat)
• Lex Luthor's Invertatron (Zamperla Windshear)
• Mad Rex (Chance-Morgan Wipeout)
• Zydeco Zinger (Fabbri Wave Swinger)
• Joker's Jukebox (Wieland Schwarzkopf Polyp)
• Lafitte's Pirate Ship (Fabbri Pirate Ship)
• The Big Easy (Vekoma Ferris Wheel)
• Jocco's Mardi Gras Madness (Sally Corp. Interactive Dark Ride)
• Mardi Gras Menagerie (Chance-Morgan Carousel)
• SpongeBob SquarePants The Ride (SimEx-Iwerks Motion Simulator)

Water rides

• Ozarka Splash (Hopkins Rides Log Flume)
• Spillway Splashout (Hopkins Rides Shoot-the-Chutes)

Upcharge attractions

• Skycoaster (Skycoaster Inc. Reverse Freefall Swing)

Former Rides

Roller Coasters

• Batman: The Ride (Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster) - Refurbished and rebuilt at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and re-named Goliath.
• The Road Runner Express (Vekoma Junior Coaster 207M) - Removed by Six Flags and is now at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California and is still called Road Runner Express

Flat Rides

• Bayou Blaster (S&S Worldwide Space Shot) - Refurbished and installed as Sasquatch at Great Escape in Lake George, NY
• Sonic Slam (S&S Worldwide Turbo Drop) - Refurbished and installed as Sasquatch at Great Escape in Lake George, NY.

(note: Bayou Blaster and Sonic Slam were both part of the same tandem ride—Bayou Blaster started at the bottom and shot riders to the top, while the Sonic Slam lifted riders to the top slowly, then dropped riders free-fall style to the bottom.)

• King Chaos (Chance-Morgan Chaos) - Removed in earlier 2005 and seen in the boneyard.
• Pontchartrain Flyers (Chance-Morgan Aviator) - Removed for parts.
• Voodoo Volcano (Chance-Morgan Inverter) - Removed in earlier 2005 and seen in the boneyard.

External links

• Jazzland Park
• Photos of the park in 2010 (Abandoned USA)
• Six Flags New Orleans (official)
• Video gallery of Six Flags after Katrina (Sun Times Blog/Roger Ebert)
• Gallery of pictures of Six Flags after Katrina
• Southern Star Amusement