A fire broke out over the weekend at the site of the abandoned Six Flags New Orleans, igniting a section of the Mega Zeph roller coaster, which had been out of operation for nearly two decades.
The blaze occurred amid ongoing demolition efforts aimed at redeveloping the park, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Sparks from workers dismantling the coaster structure triggered the fire, which spread to a 15-foot section of the track, approximately 70 feet in the air.
Shot of roller coaster tracks fire at former Six Flags site in New Orleans East. 📷: @WWLTV photographer Sam Lowe
Shot of roller coaster tracks fire at former Six Flags site in New Orleans East. 📷: @WWLTV photographer Sam Lowe https://t.co/xwxIjeevI6 pic.twitter.com/mnP9CeNP56
— Lamar Bourgeois III (@lamarbourgeois) January 19, 2025
Despite reports of visible flames and smoke from nearby residents, the fire posed no risk to public safety, according to local authorities.
Six Flags New Orleans, originally known as Jazzland before Six Flags took over in 2002 (with the name changed the following year), was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina, which submerged the park under six feet of water. Although efforts were made to safeguard the park from flooding, the drainage system could not withstand the storm’s intensity.
After the storm, the park sat abandoned for years, with its rides and attractions becoming a popular spot for urban explorers. In addition to its decaying structures, the site also served as a backdrop for various films, including Jurassic World (2015) and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013).
Since last October, demolition work has been underway at the site, led by Smoot Construction and Bayou Phoenix. The redevelopment project will eventually transform the area into a complex featuring youth sports facilities, a water park, two hotels, and a film studio.
Troy Henry, the leader of the redevelopment project, noted that the fire may have been burning for some time before it was noticed (via Nola.com).
“That old roller coaster is a combination of steel and wood, which gave it that old clackety-clack sound,” Henry said. “As workers were cutting some of the steel away, some of the wood caught fire. They have isolated it, and it is not a threat.” He added that crews plan to cut that section and submerge it in the adjacent man-made lake.
Six Flags New Orleans had a brief existence before it was abandoned, with only a handful years of operation under the Six Flags name. The park’s closure marked the end of a short-lived chapter in the Six Flags brand’s history, but it now stands as a symbol of the devastation caused by Katrina and the slow, ongoing recovery of the city.
Did you ever get a chance to visit Six Flags New Orleans?