Years after Hurricane Katrina, demolition at Six Flags in New Orleans begins

Nov 5

Jack Aylmer Anchor

By Jack Aylmer (Anchor), Mirlie Larose (Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

Demolition crews have started dismantling the former Six Flags theme park in New Orleans, bringing down crumbling rides and buildings that have long served as an eerie reminder of Hurricane Katrina’s impact. The park, which originally opened in 2000 as Jazzland, went bankrupt after just two seasons. Six Flags then took over the lease, but the park never reopened after Katrina flooded it, along with much of New Orleans, in 2005.

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After years of negotiations over ownership, the New Orleans Industrial Development Board and the city’s Redevelopment Authority recently reached an agreement to move forward with a redevelopment plan.

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New Orleans-based Smoot Construction is leading the demolition, paving the way for a new vision for the site. Developer Troy Henry, who is part of the project, expressed optimism about the transformation.

“It is a good thing. It is a happy day,” Henry said. “We are excited about the progress and happy to see the ball rolling.”

The redevelopment project, called Bayou Phoenix, includes plans for a distribution center, an educational facility run by the local nonprofit STEM NOLA, a water park, hotel, esports arena and a movie studio.

Henry shared that Bayou Phoenix has already secured one of three “anchor tenants” for the site’s core projects and hopes to finalize agreements with the remaining tenants by the end of the year.

Developers are set to release further updates later this month. The long-vacant Six Flags site may soon transform into a vibrant hub of activity and innovation for eastern New Orleans.

Tags: natural disaster, New Orleans

[Jack Aylmer]

AN ABANDONED THEME PARK THAT’S BEEN THE SUBJECT OF DOCUMENTARIES AND MORE THAN A FEW INFLUENCERS – IS FINALLY GETTING SET TO MEET THE WRECKING BALL.

DEMOLITION CREWS ARE NOW HARD AT WORK DISMANTLING THE FORMER SIX FLAGS THEME PARK IN NEW ORLEANS.

THE PARK’S CRUMBLING RIDES AND BUILDINGS HAVE LONG SERVED AS A HAUNTING REMINDER OF HURRICANE KATRINA.

THAT PARK ORIGINALLY OPENED IN 2000 AS JAZZLAND, BUT IT STRUGGLED AND WENT BANKRUPT AFTER JUST TWO SEASONS.

SIX FLAGS TOOK OVER, BUT WHEN KATRINA HIT IN 20-05, THE PARK WAS FLOODED ALONG WITH MUCH OF NEW ORLEANS AND NEVER REOPENED.

NOW, AFTER YEARS OF BACK-AND-FORTH OVER OWNERSHIP, THE CITY’S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND THE NEW ORLEANS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAVE CLEARED THE WAY FOR A FRESH START.

NEW ORLEANS-BASED SMOOT CONSTRUCTION IS LEADING THE DEMOLITION, AND DEVELOPERS ARE READY TO GIVE THE LAND A NEW PURPOSE.

THE PROJECT, KNOWN AS BAYOU PHOENIX, HAS BIG PLANS FOR THE SITE.

THEIR VISION INCLUDES A DISTRIBUTION CENTER, AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY, A WATER PARK, AND EVEN A MOVIE STUDIO.

HENRY ALSO SHARED THAT BAYOU PHOENIX HAS ALREADY SECURED ONE OF THREE MAIN “ANCHOR TENANTS” FOR THESE PROJECTS, AND NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING FOR THE OTHER TWO. THE TEAM HOPES TO FINALIZE THOSE AGREEMENTS BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

DEVELOPERS WILL BE SHARING MORE UPDATES LATER THIS MONTH. THIS LONG-VACANT SITE COULD SOON BECOME A HUB OF ACTIVITY AND INNOVATION FOR EASTERN NEW ORLEANS.

FOR SAN, I’M JACK AYLMER