If you’ve ever found yourself driving along I-10 in New Orleans East, you’ve likely seen the remnants of a theme park in the distance. For many, it’s a constant reminder of everything lost during Hurricane Katrina. Six Flags New Orleans was once a joyful place, but now, it’s an abandoned theme park in New Orleans, slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane and learn how this old New Orleans theme park began.

First things first: do not go into Six Flags New Orleans.
Rande Archer/Flickr
There are no trespassing signs everywhere, and security cameras to ensure you don’t break the rules. It’s not safe, and no one wants to end up in court… or the hospital.
The park first opened as Jazzland in 2000, but it wasn’t as successful as everyone had hoped.
Chris Hagerman/Wikimedia
From the location to the attractions, it was mostly a flop. I remember coming here as a teenager, but I can see why it wasn't the success everyone was hoping for. For starters, it's far from downtown New Orleans, so it was really difficult for tourists to get over to this side. From jump, everything about this park just fell flat, despite having the best of intentions. Two years after opening, a new leasing agreement was signed and Six Flags New Orleans took over. They invested $20 million in upgrades and reopened in 2003, but once again, it wasn’t a huge success. In fact, it was one of Six Flags’ least profitable parks. By the time the park closed, Six Flags had put $44 million into park upgrades.
The last day the park was open was August 21, 2005, eight days before Hurricane Katrina struck.
Infrogmation/Wikimedia
The park was actually scheduled to reopen a week later… but before the storm, we all thought that we would resume normal operations in about a week. We were so wrong.

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The park was submerged in 4-7 feet of water after the storm, and it took over a month for the water to drain.
Bob McMillan/Wikimedia
The park’s location didn’t help. The low-lying area of New Orleans East combined with its proximity to Lake Pontchartrain plus the park’s drainage pumps failing all added up to disaster. Because the water was a brackish mix, it caused massive corrosion to the rides and various attractions, resulting in up to 80% of the park being damaged beyond repair.

Not much can withstand a solid month of saltwater submersion, as many of us are well aware.
That didn’t stop Six Flags from salvaging some of the rides, through.
Nathan Hoang/Flickr
A year later, Six Flags took some of the rides and relocated them to other parks around the country, including Batman: The Ride, Bayou Blaster, Road Runner Express, and Sonic Slam.

Think about that next time you jump on an amusement park ride in another state.
With no plans to reopen, Six Flags and the City of New Orleans have been in a bit of a battle over what happens next.
Keoni 101/Wikimedia
There have been many bids to develop the land, with ideas ranging from community parks to strip malls. There was even one pitch to keep it as an amusement park.

We doubt it'll ever be an amusement park again.
Currently, the city rents it out every now and then for movies to be filmed there, like Jurassic World.
Erik Zeterberg/Wikimedia
Hopefully, it'll transform into something useful sooner rather than later.

There is hope though! This abandoned theme park in New Orleans was recently purchased and plans to redevelop the area is in the works! It looks like the new site will be called Bayou Phoenix, and it will include a hotel, a family entertainment center, a sports complex, a film studio, tons of shopping opportunities, and even an indoor/outdoor water park. Follow along with the renovation process at bayouphoenix.com

Six Flags New Orleans isn’t the only abandoned place in Louisiana. Here’s a road trip to more abandoned places in New Orleans. Like many abandoned places in Louisiana, ghost stores are bound to follow. These haunted places in Louisiana aren’t abandoned, but they’ll definitely make you feel like you’re not the only one in the room. And if you’re really brave, you might even want to book a stay at The Myrtles, one of the most haunted hotels in Louisiana.

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More to Explore

The Creepiest Places in Louisiana

William Suphan | January 29, 2023

What are the most abandoned places in Louisiana?

The most abandoned places in Louisiana include:

  • Kisatchie High School. This high school was abandoned in 1962 and the decaying remains still stand.
  • Tugboat on the Mississippi River. A rusted old tugboat sits half-submerged in the river and is a remnant of many similar boats that once traveled this river.
  • Keachi Women’s College. This once housed wounded Civil War soldiers, then became a college that was later abandoned.
  • Six Flags New Orleans. This amusement park shut down just before Hurricane Katrina hit and the hurricane ensured it wouldn’t re-open.

Discover more about the most abandoned places in Louisiana. 

What are the creepiest places in Louisiana?

The creepiest places in Louisiana include:

  • The LaLaurie Mansion. A Creole socialite named Marie Delphine Lalaurie lived here in the 1800s and would torture and experiment on slaves. Their screams are said to still be heard.
  • The Old State Capitol. Built in 1852, this building is said to have doors that slam by themselves and people hear disembodied footsteps in the halls.
  • The Bentley Hotel. The ghost of the former owner, Joseph Bentley, is reportedly haunting the floor that was his personal living space.
  • Lafitte’s Blacksmith Bar. It is said that the ghost of pirate Jea Lafitte and other ghosts haunt this historic pub.

Learn more about the creepiest places in Louisiana. 

What are the most haunted hotels in Louisiana?

The most haunted hotels in Louisiana include:

  • Nottoway Plantation. This is the largest antebellum mansion in the South and Room 14 is said to be so haunted that guests either get another room or just leave.
  • The Biscuit Palace. Visitors report a ghost that opens drawers and doors and goes through their belongings.
  • Andrew Jackson Hotel. This was once a boarding school where five boys died in a fire here and are said to haunt this building.
  • Le Pavilion Hotel. This was once the New Denechaud Hotel and it is said that over 100 ghosts haunt this place.

Find out more about the most haunted hotels in Louisiana. 

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Six Flags Drive, Six Flags Dr, New Orleans, LA 70129, USA