Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
Decided to make a thread on this as we don’t currently have one. Anyway, for those of you who don’t know about Six Flags New Orleans and its turbulent history, here’s a brief summary of what has happened over the course of the park’s short life:
Anyway, I didn’t create this thread just to recap the history of Six Flags New Orleans. I made it because I wanted to tell you guys about an interesting redevelopment proposal from the Paidia Company that really caught my eye. Basically, this plan first came about in 2014, when the City of New Orleans was requesting redevelopment plans for the SFNO site. The Paidia Company submitted a plan that would involve the park being renamed to its original name of Jazzland, and would see many great improvements, including:
So, what do you guys think of this plan? I personally think it will be great if it comes true.
P.S. Apologies for the long post.
- The park was originally opened in 2000 by AlphaSmart Parks (the American division of Parques Reunidos now known as Palace Entertainment) and was named Jazzland.
- Jazzland had a Mardi Gras theme and a variety of attractions, including the Sally dark ride known as Jocco’s Mardi Gras Madness and the CCI wooden roller coaster known as Mega Zeph to name just a few.
- In 2001, AlphaSmart put the park’s lease up for sale due to the park not being profitable for the company. In March 2002, the lease was purchased by Six Flags.
- Following Six Flags’ purchase of the Jazzland lease, they majorly overhauled the park for the 2003 season. This overhaul included a park rename to Six Flags New Orleans and the addition of multiple new rides, including a Batman: The Ride clone (relocated from Thrill Valley in Japan where it was formerly known as Gambit) and a Vekoma Hurricane named the Jester (relocated from Six Flags Fiesta Texas where it was formerly known as Joker’s Revenge).
- The park operated as normal until August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Due to the park’s lakeside location, it was severely flooded, and was under 6 or 7 feet of corrosive water for weeks after the Hurricane. Six Flags inspectors deemed the rides and buildings “80% demolished”, the flat rides were all destroyed due to water immersion and Mega Zeph was said to be damaged beyond repair. Batman: The Ride, however, escaped the Hurricane relatively unscathed due to its elevated station platform and corrosion-resistant support structure (good old B&M!). As such, it was one of the first things to be removed from the park, being shipped off to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in December 2006, where it now operates as Goliath. Other rides that were removed include the S&S shot towers; these were sent to Great Escape where they are now known as Sasquatch and the Vekoma kiddie coaster; this was relocated to Six Flags Magic Mountain where it now operates as Road Runner Express. Following these removals, Six Flags exited their lease on the park.
- Over the years since Katrina, the park has had multiple redevelopment proposals from multiple companies, including one to turn the park into a Nickelodeon themed park and one to turn the park into an outlet mall. The site has also been used to film movies like the Nicolas Cage film Stolen, Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters, Jurassic World and Deepwater Horizon.
Anyway, I didn’t create this thread just to recap the history of Six Flags New Orleans. I made it because I wanted to tell you guys about an interesting redevelopment proposal from the Paidia Company that really caught my eye. Basically, this plan first came about in 2014, when the City of New Orleans was requesting redevelopment plans for the SFNO site. The Paidia Company submitted a plan that would involve the park being renamed to its original name of Jazzland, and would see many great improvements, including:
- The complete refurbishment and revival of Mega Zeph by the Gravity Group.
- A new water park named Baritone Beach.
- An on-site hotel.
- A new wild mouse coaster to replace the old one that was destroyed during Katrina.
- A retheme of the park’s log flume to the Louisiana sugar industry.
- A retheme of the Jester to Driskill Mountain, including turning the ride’s trains forwards.
- Many new themed areas, including The Beach and Sportsman’s Paradise.
- And much more!
So, what do you guys think of this plan? I personally think it will be great if it comes true.
P.S. Apologies for the long post.
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