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Trip Report: Six Flags New Orleans

Six Flags New Orleans: Kenny Hitt checks in and let's us know how the former Jazzland is faring under Six Flags' management.

From Kenny Hitt
Posted June 9, 2003 at 4:19 PM
So this weekend, I took a trip to Baton Rouge to visit a friend of mine for a few days. As kind of a last minute thing, we decided to take a trip to Six Flags New Orleans (aka the Park Formerly Known as Jazzland).

The first thing we did was head for BATMAN: THE RIDE. Incredible, although the themeing is done a little better at SFOG. But their comic themeing will never stand up to Islands of Adventure's.

The ZYDECO SCREAM (a clone of BOOMERANG at Wild Adventures in Valdosta, GA) was quite rough. The initial drop was fine, but the stop on the chain lift was a helluva jerk, and the stop at the station was a bit of a jolt.

But none of this compares to the battering we received on the MEGA ZEPH. For those not familiar, it's an out & back style woodie with steel framing. Meaning it doesn't have near the give of similar coasters like the CONEY ISLAND/TEXAS/GEORGIA CYCLONE or the GREAT AMERICAN SCREAM MACHINE at SFOG. The lack of banking on the turns meant we were thrown violently around the cars, and camel humps slammed us into our seats. Especially bad was the dragon tail near the final stretch, where it felt like the train itself may have come off the track slightly, causing everyone to smash back onto the rails.

The park was incredibly humid, and a morning rain shower caused puddles everywhere that refused to evaporate. The ops employees were extremely slow, they were not friendly, and they didn't seem very enthusiastic, though I can harldy blam them for the last part. Not to mention that the "lake" just behind BATMAN allegedly contains raw sewage.

With the heat, the crowds, the negative atmosphere, and the pummeling we received from the ZEPH, we left without riding anything else or viewing any shows.

I was able to get in for free thanks to one of the employees. I almost went up to the gate and demanded the three hours of my life they wasted back.

AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Steve Carter
Posted June 19, 2003 at 3:19 PM
Nice TR, to bad you ddin't have fun.

From shannon lehrmann
Posted July 4, 2003 at 10:04 PM
I can do nothing but agree with you about Six Flags New Orleans. I live in New )rleans, and have season passes to Six Flags that I have used only once and will probably never use again. The staff is just plain RUDE.

From Derek Potter
Posted July 7, 2003 at 1:01 PM
What a shame, another classic family park now in ruins because of Six Flags.

From Kenny Hitt
Posted July 12, 2003 at 9:49 PM
In an update to this story, a woman was killed in an accident in this park this week. She was strapping her grandson into Joker's Jukebox, a spinning ride, when the attraction was activated. It struck her twice, crushing her pelvis and causing her death.

A sad tale, but based on what I saw, inevitible.

From Anonymous
Posted July 13, 2003 at 12:43 AM
Horrible park the day i went nothing worked and the lines were 10 miles long. I rode like 3 rides all day. Mega Zeph and Zydeco Scream and the Jester kept breaking all day long. Just when you thought you were going to get to board them the rides would break. Batman is a good ride but its just like the one at SFOT. Ill stick with SFOT for my Six Flags fun its a far superior park.

From Anonymous
Posted July 22, 2003 at 7:06 AM
My Family went on a Monday and had no lines at all. We had an enjoyable time. Batman was good but I would never go back on the Jester. Our necks hurt for 3 days after. Workers at the park were nice and helpful. I would go back.

From Anonymous
Posted August 16, 2003 at 5:37 AM
I live fairly close to Six Flags New Orleans. We have season passes which we have used in Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, and San Antonio this year. Although New Orleans is my least favorite, Six Flags has greatly improved the park in New Orleans since purchasing the park from Jazzland. The drastic improvements made in such a short time (this is their first operating season) leaves me anxious to see what they can do with this park in the future.

From Thomas Ridgedell
Posted September 5, 2003 at 7:20 PM
I think the park is going to get better, give six flags a chance, i think better things are yet to come

From Steve Carter
Posted October 19, 2003 at 4:10 PM
Anybody who wne to the park for the first time AFTER Six Flags bought it whould of died before they bought it. Since they bout they have added more rides, a new themed section and funky shade converings over area with few trees.

From Brittanie Sightler
Posted April 10, 2005 at 11:46 AM
This was one of the worst trips to a theme park in my life! They really didn't have any rides and the ones that they did have, totally sucked! They had one good ride and that was the Mega Zeph which I will have to say is probably the best woodie that I have ever ridden. But you can't have all bad rides and exspect one good one to make up for it. And the worst part of the park was the HORRIBLE service! Those people looked liked they would rather be covered in honey and shoved into a bee farm than to be working there. I realize that it may not be that much fun, but you can act a hell of alot better than that! This place has a LONG was to go before it gets to SFOG level.

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