Six Flags New Orleans

Six Flags New Orleans

Previously known as Jazzland- 2000 to 2002 Six Flags New Orleans-2003 to Present
Location	New Orleans, LA
Owner	Six Flags Inc.
Operating season	Closed since 2005
Attractions
Total	20
Roller coasters	4
Water rides	2
Website	Six Flags

Six Flags New Orleans is an amusement park in New Orleans, Louisiana, which has been closed since 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," opening 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 Hurricane 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.

As of early 2008, the site is overgrown with debris and weeds. Removal of the debris and underbrush has now begun.

History

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 struck.

History After Hurricane Katrina

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

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 was and still 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 areas historically safer from crime.

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 would 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. did not wish to reopen the park 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, 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 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.

On December 15, 2006, Six Flags confirmed that they were removing portions of Batman: The Ride for refurbishment. 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 salvageable items. Six Flags also removed their large lighted sign from the top of the park entrance.

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.

SFNO 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)
• The Road Runner Express (Vekoma Junior Coaster 207M)

Former roller coasters

• Batman: The Ride was refurbished and rebuilt at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and re-named Goliath (Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster)

Former flat rides

• Catwoman's Whip (Mondial Shake)
• Dizzy Lizzy (Fabbri Boomerang)
• Voodoo Volcano (Chance-Morgan Inverter)
• Krazy Krewe (Fabbri Cataclysm)
• King Chaos (Chance-Morgan Chaos)
• Gator Bait (Huss Airboat)
• Lex Luthor's Invertatron (Soriani & Moser Super Loop on Top)
• Mad Rex (Chance-Morgan Wipeout)
• Zydeco Zinger (Fabbri Wave Swinger)
• Joker's Jukebox (Wieland Schwarzkopf Polyp)
• Lafitte's Pirate Ship (Fabbri Pirate Ship)
• Pontchartrain Flyers (Chance-Morgan Aviator)
• The Big Easy (Vekoma Ferris Wheel)
• Jocco's Mardi Gras Madness (Sally Corp. Interactive Dark Ride)
• Mardi Gras Menagerie (Chance-Morgan Carousel)
• Sonic Slam (S&S Power Turbo Drop)
• Bayou Blaster (S&S Power Space Shot) - Refurbished and will be installed as "The Sasquatch" at The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom in Lake George ,NY

Most of the rides and roller coasters survived the storm and can be refurbished and reopened. Six Flags has since begun removing salvageable assets and relocating them to other properties.

Former water rides

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

Extra charge attractions

• Skycoaster (Skycoaster Inc. Reverse Freefall Swing)

External links

• Six Flags New Orleans (official)
• SFNO.com (fan site)
• Gallery of pictures of Six Flags after Katrina
• Southern Star Amusement