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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 4 of 5)

BP Nov 9th 2010 7:07PM

Chrystal, we'd love to have you. Take a little time getting to know the area - there are many neighborhoods that are not below sea level, such as nearly all of Uptown, the Garden District, Warehouse District, and several more. Not to mention the neighboring communities that are less than 15 minutes from Downtown.
It's a place like no other, and if you have ever been here for more than Bourbon Street, you will see it's true beauty.

Kellee Nov 9th 2010 1:01PM

#1--Jazzland (what it used to be called) is NOT in the 9th ward. It's way out past the east!

#2--I doubt if the structures are sound enough to have movie crews and equipment around it all the time. Plus the health risks of all kinds of microbes out there....The insurance you'd have to take out to film something there would probably blow the budget.

#3--to the person that said it stinks in the N.O. because it's below sea level and because of the above ground graves-- PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF! You sound retarded. It's because of tourists pissing and vomiting in the streets all the time because they aren't used to being able to walk around with liquor like we are. They abuse our streets and then go home, leaving us to clean up their messes.

Gary Dawson Nov 9th 2010 3:07PM

6 Flags you should be ashamed of your self. Leaving the clean up to New Orleans. I bet no one will be spending money at 6 Flags. Until you go back there and help the same people that made 6 Flags of New Orleans successful.

Dan Nov 9th 2010 1:59PM

When did this Six Flags park open? Nobody seems to know!

surely Nov 9th 2010 2:26PM

This film seems to attempt to be a art piece rather than actually showing the desolation of the park. Long sweeps of decorative railing with blurry backgrounds. Close ups rather than shots to demonstrate the size and specter of the sadness. It became long and boring.

Scootrbum Nov 9th 2010 2:24PM

Another aspect of Bub'ya's legacy and a very visual representation of how he left our country!

Lewis Nov 9th 2010 3:26PM

KerryC , well said. However, I was speaking about those who are trying to help themselves get out from under proverty. Those who want to work and feed there family, like my self. Not put money in the hands of people who could care less about changeing their life. That's why my question was how many of the people there will be offered jobs to help tear down the park and rebuilding of N.O., verses shipping in workers. Sorry I was misunderstood.

Jay Nov 9th 2010 3:59PM

That is awesome footage.

JT Nov 9th 2010 6:13PM

1:25- 1:40 28 weeks later.

Mark Nov 9th 2010 8:12PM

How melodramatic can you be? New Orleans was built in a soup bowl next to a giant lake in an enormous river delta feeding into an ocean gulf. Of course it was going to flood, and it will continue to flood for thousands of years. What an overly ponderous video. There are plenty of other Six Flags theme parks left. Detroit is a far more interesting example of decline and decay than New Orleans.

l. Nov 9th 2010 9:30PM

What a cool video. Who does that song?

L. Nov 9th 2010 9:33PM

Nevermind, just saw it at the end. :)

Holly Nov 11th 2010 7:13PM

Where do I begin I have been to new Orleans this year what a beautiful place to be I would move there if I could for those of you who continue to to say awefull things you should be ashamed of yourselfs they have been through enough they don't need outsiders giving them useless opinions when you don't know anything this video is very sad but nature has taken it's course regardless these brave people have stood behind everything they work and live for and I am enviouse to all of you it was a great place to visit such nice people we had soo much fun so thank you to everone in new Orleans who madey trip as great as it was

Will Nov 10th 2010 1:38AM

Looks like an episode of "Life After People" on The History Channel.

NOLAGuy Nov 10th 2010 9:26AM

The legal battle over the park between Six Flags, the city, and other interested parties is far too complex to get into in a "comments" section on a website. Do your research on what's happened with the park since the storm and you will understand. The truth is, this WAS a failing park, but the city has tried to hold Six Flags to its contract. Other companies have tried to buy the land and restore the park, even build hotels and expand, but have hit walls for one reason or another. The park is in an odd location (not in the 9th ward), and it's not generally where tourists would go.

What bothers me the most is how this video has somehow inspired people to open fire on New Orleans as a city that needs to be destroyed. As one of the most historic cities in America, New Orleans deserves just as much protection and preservation as any other. Art, music, architecture... New Orleans is distinctly unique and should be cherished.

Whatever you may feel about welfare abuse, it's not a problem that exists solely in New Orleans. On television, you saw a lot of very poor people who did not have the means to get out of the city; this was successfully fixed for hurricane Gustav by the way. These are people who have ridden out many storms in their lives, like most of us have, and were caught completely unaware by the floods--a man-made disaster resulting from neglect of the levee systems. And of course, everyone who keeps attacking the city seems to be hiding their racism behind social reform. Bravo--you're completely transparent.

To those of you who say, "New Orleans is so cute. I would live there if it weren't so dangerous." Well, wether you mean weather (which, by the way, hurricanes don't just pop up) or crime (all I can say is that perhaps "white flight" will make you feel safer), you're probably not ready to live in New Orleans. It is a city, and like any other city, citizens must take precautions.

I love the guy who complains that he visited New Orleans and was offered coke in the French Quarter. (The same thing happened to me in D.C. by the way, and it didn't make me appreciate the place any less). If you've come to New Orleans only to see Bourbon Street, then you deserve the vomit smells and high prices that are reserved just for you. Next time, try visiting the CITY.

New Orleans is a part of American, a part of our history. How easy it is for some Americans to throw history away. It's quite sad to know that what other countries say about us is somewhat true.

Holly Nov 10th 2010 7:44PM

You are absoulutly rite, it is very easy for people to jugd. I probly have no idea what everyone in new Orleans went through and as I said before you are all very brave, I live in Canada we don't get weather like you do but when I did visit in feb I had a great time I didn't get a chance to visit out side of the french quarter and I really wish I had hopefully I will come back sometime soon to explore the rest of this beautiful place and for those of u who have nothing nice to say, don't jugde everything on what you see on tv or read in a paper most of that stuff is fully calaberatrd, most of you are only so negative because deep down you fear disaster and it can strike anywhere.

L Nov 10th 2010 9:43PM

A moderate revisionist? Or someone not sleepwalking thru life with the world revolving around "me." Not deluded that it all comes down to "me." Wasted but hey...

Bravo

SeanNOLA Nov 10th 2010 11:57AM

*phew* I'm glad someone else said it, not just me. Honestly, I think people outside of Louisiana just assume that "Ninth Ward" is slang for "less rich area of Louisiana" - like everything outside of the Quarter and the Garden District is the Ninth Ward.