A Six Flags in New Orleans has been abandoned for 15 years, and the photos are haunting

Gabbi ShawAug 19, 2020, 21:08 IST

The abandoned Six Flags.Kristina Rogers/Shutterstock

During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Six Flags New Orleans was completely flooded.
Since then, the park has stood abandoned.
There have been attempts to revitalize the land, but it's currently at a standstill. It has also been used for movies.

On August 25, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States. After the storm, it was estimated that 80% of New Orleans was under water.

One of the eeriest and long-standing reminders of Katrina is the abandoned Six Flags in New Orleans East, which has become a popular attraction for urban explorers.

Keep scrolling to see what the park looks like over a decade after the storm.

The Six Flags was left submerged in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

The flooded park. David J. Phillip/AP

The park, which spans 140 acres, has been abandoned since the hurricane.

The sign. Gerald Herbert/AP

Originally called Jazzland, the park opened in 2000, but was acquired by Six Flags in 2003 and renamed Six Flags New Orleans (SFNO).

Shattered glass is the norm. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

SFNO takes inspiration from its location, including areas based on the famous architecture of the French Quarter.

Graffiti. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

After the storm, the park was left standing in 4 to 7 feet of water, and it had extensive wind and flood damage.

A ride. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

The severity of the damage caused the park to close indefinitely.

The locked gates. Gerald Herbert/AP

In 2006, Six Flags declared the park a "total loss" and reportedly tried to get out of its 75-year lease.

There's trash everywhere. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

The park had already been one of the least profitable parks in the Six Flags family.

New Orleans East is around 14 miles away from Bourbon Street. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

There have been numerous attempts to re-open or revamp the park.

This coaster was painted the traditional colors of Mardi Gras. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

Later in 2009, Nickelodeon announced its own plan to turn the park into a Nickelodeon-themed attraction.

The Looney Tunes air on Nickelodeon. Bill Haber/AP

By 2011, the city of New Orleans had approved plans to construct a shopping center called Jazzland Outlet Mall in its place.

It's Mardi Gras season. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

Another proposed idea in 2011 was reopening the park under its original name, Jazzland.

2012 ended up being a bust for the park. Stanislavskyi/Shutterstock

The Industrial Development Board turned over decision-making power to the mayor in May 2017.

Stop. Gerald Herbert/AP

When another company made their interest in the land known, pitching the "Dreamlanding Festival Park," Mayor Landrieu didn't approve.

The park is essentially bayou-adjacent. Kristina Rogers/Shutterstock

In 2019, new mayor LaToya Cantrell announced she is "running numbers for demolition" on the park, but there have been no updates since.

An aerial shot. AP

So 15 years after Hurricane Katrina, the park still stands as a marker of the devastation that the storm caused.

This area has held up surprisingly well. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

But the land hasn't been completely ignored. Many movies have been shot at the park, like "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters," which transformed it into Circeland.

The sign welcoming Percy and his friends to the fictional Circeland. 20th Century Fox

Blockbusters that have taken advantage of the decidedly creepy atmosphere are "Jurassic World" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes."

Post-Katrina tax credits made it cheap for movies and TV shows to film in Louisiana. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

The last film shot at Six Flags New Orleans was "Deepwater Horizon" in 2015.

The parking lot. Stanislavskyi/Shutterstock

TV shows have also used the site. Freeform's "Cloak & Dagger" had an episode focused on the park in 2018.

"Cloak & Dagger." Walt Disney Television

A trailer for a documentary, "Closed For Storm," dropped on YouTube in May 2020. It's about the rise and fall of the park.

Inside the park. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

But besides filming, the park has stood empty, making it a popular attraction for urban explorers.

People have even climbed the rides. Stanislavskyi/Shutterstock

Much of the park is still intact. Visitors have said it looks like the site of a "Leftovers"-esque disappearance, as if all of the park's visitors magically vanished.

The plan was to re-open the week after the storm. KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

Visitors should know there are dangers at SFNO, including alligators that live in the park's waterways.

Slowly but surely, the swamp is absorbing the park's structures. Romy Oomen/Shutterstock

Hopefully New Orleans will decide what to do with the land soon to discourage people from putting themselves in dangerous situations — trespassing is illegal and the attractions are decayed.

"Roach City." KEG-KEG/Shutterstock

Hopefully New Orleans will decide what to do with the land soon to discourage people from putting themselves in dangerous situations — trespassing is illegal and the attractions are decayed.

But for now, the park stands as a testament to the long-lasting and apocalyptic impact of Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans, and the entire Gulf Coast.

Do not enter. Gerald Herbert/AP

Picnicking is all the rage among people craving socially-distant company — and these 7 accessories will help you host the most luxurious al fresco feast

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

A Six Flags in New Orleans has been abandoned for 15 years, and the photos are haunting

The Six Flags was left submerged in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

The park, which spans 140 acres, has been abandoned since the hurricane.

Originally called Jazzland, the park opened in 2000, but was acquired by Six Flags in 2003 and renamed Six Flags New Orleans (SFNO).

SFNO takes inspiration from its location, including areas based on the famous architecture of the French Quarter.

After the storm, the park was left standing in 4 to 7 feet of water, and it had extensive wind and flood damage.

The severity of the damage caused the park to close indefinitely.

In 2006, Six Flags declared the park a "total loss" and reportedly tried to get out of its 75-year lease.

The park had already been one of the least profitable parks in the Six Flags family.

There have been numerous attempts to re-open or revamp the park.

Later in 2009, Nickelodeon announced its own plan to turn the park into a Nickelodeon-themed attraction.

By 2011, the city of New Orleans had approved plans to construct a shopping center called Jazzland Outlet Mall in its place.

Another proposed idea in 2011 was reopening the park under its original name, Jazzland.

The Industrial Development Board turned over decision-making power to the mayor in May 2017.

When another company made their interest in the land known, pitching the "Dreamlanding Festival Park," Mayor Landrieu didn't approve.

In 2019, new mayor LaToya Cantrell announced she is "running numbers for demolition" on the park, but there have been no updates since.

So 15 years after Hurricane Katrina, the park still stands as a marker of the devastation that the storm caused.

But the land hasn't been completely ignored. Many movies have been shot at the park, like "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters," which transformed it into Circeland.

Blockbusters that have taken advantage of the decidedly creepy atmosphere are "Jurassic World" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes."

The last film shot at Six Flags New Orleans was "Deepwater Horizon" in 2015.

TV shows have also used the site. Freeform's "Cloak & Dagger" had an episode focused on the park in 2018.

A trailer for a documentary, "Closed For Storm," dropped on YouTube in May 2020. It's about the rise and fall of the park.

But besides filming, the park has stood empty, making it a popular attraction for urban explorers.

Much of the park is still intact. Visitors have said it looks like the site of a "Leftovers"-esque disappearance, as if all of the park's visitors magically vanished.

Visitors should know there are dangers at SFNO, including alligators that live in the park's waterways.

Hopefully New Orleans will decide what to do with the land soon to discourage people from putting themselves in dangerous situations — trespassing is illegal and the attractions are decayed.

But for now, the park stands as a testament to the long-lasting and apocalyptic impact of Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans, and the entire Gulf Coast.