New Orleans has made a deal with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) and the Bayou Phoenix development group to reimagine the city’s abandoned Six Flags theme park.
Originally opened as the $130 million Jazzland in 2000, the amusement park was acquired by Six Flags in 2002. The company spent $20m on upgrades and reopened the attraction as Six Flags New Orleans in 2003.
LaToya Cantrell, the mayor of New Orleans, hailed NORA and Bayou Phoenix “on reaching this critical milestone toward the redevelopment of the blighted former Six Flags site”.
NOLA and Bayou Phoenix to reimagine park
Cantrell said the city “continues to invest our resources into this project that we believe will successfully return the site to commerce”.
Brenda Breaux, NORA‘s executive director, said the company will work with the community and Bayou Phoenix “to deliver services and benefits for the residents of New Orleans East”.
Six Flags New Orleans did not reopen after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The site has been held since 2009 by the Industrial Development Board (IDB).
The board “has invested many years of its funds in maintaining, insuring and securing the site and now look forward to signing the final agreement to transfer the property to NORA”, said Darrel Saizan, the president of the IDB.
Plans to “ return the site to commerce”
“This final agreement will cement the next step in moving forward with redevelopment of the site by Bayou Phoenix,” he added.
Bayou Phoenix was selected as the master developer for the former Six Flags site in October 2021.
“Our team has completed the feasibility analysis of this effort with very exciting results – and as a resident of New Orleans East, I believe that this project will be transformational for the entire region,” said Troy Henry, Bayou Phoenix’s team leader.
Earlier this month, Six Flags reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2022 and the full year, revealing a decline in revenue due to lower attendance.
