What is Six Flags New Orleans?

In the year 2000, Ogden Entertainment opened the Jazzland theme park in New Orleans East. Due to poor planning, the park struggled and Ogden leased the park to the Six Flags corporation in 2002. Jazzland was rebranded Six Flags New Orleans and reopened in 2003. Sadly, the same issues faced the newly rechristened park.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the city and flooded Six Flags New Orleans. In the aftermath, Six Flags chose not to continue their contract. The Batman ride was removed and shipped to another park. The property sat largely unused for 18 years, save for sparing movie productions such as Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters.

Six Flags New Orleans is recognized as the second most desirable Urban Exploration location. The abandoned town of the Chernobyl nuclear facility is the only place that surpasses it.

Twenty years from the reopening in 2003, the city of New Orleans leased the property to an investment group called Bayou Phoenix. Through a series of events, Jason Lanier was brought in to be the Chief Archival Photographer for the park; the first and only photographer sanctioned to be there since 2005.

Is it safe to break into Six Flags New Orleans?

No. While some people have done so, make no mistake, SFNO is dangerous. It is teeming with wildlife, including alligators, snakes and wild hogs.

What is your association with Six Flags New Orleans?

I was chosen by the Chief Archival Photographer for Six Flags New Orleans, Jason Lanier, to be his Assistant on the Jazzland Project. From April of 2023 to April of 2025, we documented the entirety of the abandoned theme park and it’s demolition with Korver Demolition. Despite officially being called Six Flags New Orleans, we affectionately refer to it as the Jazzland Project.

Who is Jason Lanier?

Jason Lanier is a world-renowned Photographer and Documentarian. He rose to prominence while building his channel on YouTube, in part because of his embracing and championing of Mirrorless Cameras in the mid-2010s. He is also widely known for his Urban Exploration work. This famously includes being arrested at Six Flags New Orleans. The arrest made him infamous and the association with the park led to him being hired as the Chief Archival Photographer for Six Flags New Orleans.

Will Jazzland be rebuilt?

There is a small but vocal population of Jazzland fans around the world who wish the park to be rebuilt as it was before the Six Flags rebranding. Unfortunately neither Bayou Phoenix nor NORA/ the city of New Orleans has any plans to rebuild the park. Thankfully, through the efforts of Jason Lanier, a handful of park attractions were saved, such as the Zydeco Zinger rising swing set attraction and the Big Easy Ferris Wheel. Both are considered “weenies”as Walt Disney described icons of the park. Unfortunately, despite his truly herculean efforts (as well as those of his assistant), Jason could not convince the powers that be to save everything. The history of this place lives on only due to Jason and a handful of people, particularly myself.

What is going on with the park now?

The demolition is more or less completed; close to 70 percent of the park. Neither Jason nor myself are associated with Bayou Phoenix’s plans to repurpose the property. We are currently in the process of deciding how to move forward with the work created for the Jazzland Project.

How can I help?

If you know an agent, podcast or gallery owner who want to help bring the Jazzland Project to the world at large, contact myself or Jason. We are both very active on Instagram.