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Abandoned Six Flags New Orleans video is creeping us out

by Leigh Caldwell (RSS feed) on Nov 5th 2010 at 4:30PM

Six Flags New Orleans, which closed as Hurricane Katrina approached in 2005 and has never reopened. The sign outside the park still announces that it's "CLOSED FOR STORM."

The theme park was in New Orleans' Ninth Ward, one of the hardest hit areas during Katrina and the flooding after the storm. Though many of the rides still stand, Six Flags says that saltwater from the flood has corroded them to the point that they cannot be saved.

The only ride to survive the flood - Batman: The Ride, which was elevated above most of the floodwaters - was refurbished and moved to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 2008.

After viewing this video of the rotting theme park, I'm wondering why the City of New Orleans, which owns the land, isn't renting it out as a location for horror movies. Louisiana photographer Teddy Smith shot this video in October, with permission from the City of New Orleans.

As Gizmodo notes, you almost expect to see a horde of zombies come ambling through a scene or two.

Filed under: North America, United States, Theme Parks

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Malaycobra Nov 5th 2010 5:00PM

Left4Dead the Movie!

Who wants to invest?

morgan Nov 9th 2010 11:37AM

omggg i loovvee that game make a movieee

Shannin Moody Nov 7th 2010 9:44AM

Sure,

Why not shoot film in Hiroshima as well.

Tis toxic, dangerous, and rotting.

I'd auction off the parts, level it, and build a mini city park.

Maggie Nov 8th 2010 9:50PM

To Shannin: That you compare this to Hiroshima is a sad and shocking display of your complete lack of perception and awareness. I wonder how many other ignorant people out there cannot comprehend the difference between an act of nature and one of man-made brutality. And don't bother writing me, anyone; I know all about Pearl Harbor.

Bill Nov 8th 2010 8:52PM

Sad that Six Flags didn't think enough of it to restore the park! What a waste!

Gary Nov 9th 2010 7:20AM

TAX WRITEOFF , , IT"S THAT SIMPLE

L Nov 9th 2010 10:30AM

I love ignorant comments from people who dont' live here. Most of the city is back better than ever and the rest is from people who are too irresponsible to come back and clean up their property. I would love for it to open up so I could go there again and so do tons of other people. Just remember that New York City is below sea level same as us and that one day it will happen there but I doubt there will be any hesitaion at all to rebuild there

Joy Nov 8th 2010 9:00PM

Be comforted.
"God is making all things new."

lindathearteest Nov 8th 2010 9:10PM

wow that was an amazing video. there were so many things they could sell whom i think collectors would just love. i saw lots of fencing there that could be used for childrens parks, part of the merry go round were still beautiful. i would buy some of the pieces...you should let the artists in there first to take what they can and repurpose some things, then demolish the rest...that katrina sure did a lot of damage but there is resurrection again...

CommonSense Nov 8th 2010 11:24PM

I don't even think it looked that bad aside from what the vandals did. Yes though, they most definetely should open it up for auction, if they're not gonna do anything else with it. They could also donate alot and get a tax break for that, they're not making anything w/ it just sitting there, it's not helping anyone else, so make it worth some while some where.

Jaki Nov 9th 2010 12:28PM

So sad, to see such a grand place, left to rot. Yet another death Katrina caused. Seems like some of it could have been salvaged and sold to other parks, but, I suppose salt water is destructive and it may have been in 10 feet of it, who knows? Still, a great loss to tourism for New Orleans, an area that will be recovering from Katrina for many, many years to come, if ever.

Diana Nov 8th 2010 9:27PM

I totally agree with Linda the arteest I too seen many beautiful things that could be saved. fencing, window boxes, planters to name a few. Why doesn't the city put it up in pieces first then what doesn't sell sell it for scrap metal

Boxwood Nov 8th 2010 10:11PM

While this is sad to see, the ambiance and over all tone is ideal for a horror movie. I agree that Holly wood should be all over this place.
GPS Watch You can't get anymore real than this! In the video, I love the sign with the bald guy that someone spray painted with "Welcome to Zombieland" LOL!!!

madsahader Nov 8th 2010 9:40PM

I'm from Biloxi, the surge zone of which was also totally destroyed and for the most part has not been rebuilt. The park didn't reopen because it was losing money big time. I went ONCE and was very disappointed. The rides were fine, but the concessions were a joke and the customer service was a joke. I stood in line for a buffet and after twenty minutes of watching employees move with the speed of a three toed sloth and the line never moving, I gave up and went to a hot dog vendor...I'm not making this up when I say there were at least thirty people in line to pay like five bucks for a hot dog and the TWO employees (also afflicted with three toed sloth syndrome) were taking a full five minutes to put a weenie on a bun and some Coke in a paper cup. That sort of stuff might fly in other parts of the country, but not down here. People were like me, they went one time and never went back.

Diane Nov 8th 2010 9:41PM

Too bad for New Orleans, I'm sure that the city could use the park as revenue, not only by operating it again but the much needed jobs that it would provide to repair it and operate it. Except for the vandalizem it looks like it could be repaired.

1jagfan Nov 8th 2010 9:41PM

I wanted to also correct article 6 Flags is not in 9th Ward. It is closer to Slidell. Does not belong to the city, but to 6 Flags. It is a shame that 6 Flags is so afraid that there will be another hurricane that they won't repair it. I have been back to NO. Garden District doing fine as is Bourbon Street.

Lisa Nov 8th 2010 11:44PM

I think its terrible that Six Flags didnt go in after the storm and clean up and get rid of the stuff that they could. Leaving everything like that is just wrong. They could afford to have cleaned it up. I live in Texas near Six Flags I dont think i will ever go there.

J.E.B. Nov 8th 2010 9:44PM

Creepy. The last time I saw anything like that was when the "Destination Truth" crew visited the ghost city of Pripiyat, next to the Chernobyl nuclear plant that had a melt down in the former Soviet Union. How sad.

madsahader Nov 8th 2010 9:46PM

Many tourists who visited the French Quarter and surrounding areas complained about the smell. It had nothing to do with "urine", but rather with the environment. The reason they have to put graves in mausoleums instead of in the ground is that most of the ground is basically swamp. Most of the city is below sea level. Take ground that stays wet all the time, bake it in our 100 degree summers, and cover it with our near 100 percent humidity, and you get the smell you're talking about for nine months a year.