Six Flags New Orleans, first opened under the name Jazzland in 2000, is an abandoned theme park in New Orleans, Louisiana that has been closed since just before Hurricane Katrina struck the state in August 2005 and is currently owned by the City of New Orleans. The park was located in Eastern New Orleans, in the Ninth Ward of the city off Interstate 510.
Initial damage reports by Six Flags inspectors stated that the park buildings were 80% demolished, all of the flat rides (except for one which was being serviced off-site at the time of the storm) were effectively destroyed by long-term salt-water immersion and both the wooden track and steel superstructure of the Mega Zeph were likely damaged beyond repair.
This 140-acre surreal setting has morphed into a nightmarish land of twisted dreams in post-apocalyptic atmosphere. All the rides are left to rust, the attractions rot, and the buildings crumble. Once filled with children’s laughter, today, a decade after Hurricane Katrina, this place is crawling with alligators as the murky water rose to six feet high throughout the park.
The site is a well-known urban exploration destination among thrill-seekers; although trespassing is strictly prohibited due to the dangerous state of the park, and the pernicious wildlife.
The New Orleans Police Department officers can be seen patrolling the park daily to prevent illegal trespassing.
The park had 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.
Recently, the park has been used as a film set location for films “Jurassic World” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”