New Orleans’ Forgotten Six Flags Begins Its Transformation

Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans East, demolition is finally underway at the abandoned Six Flags theme park, a stark reminder of the storm's lasting impact.

Smoot Construction, a New Orleans-based company, has begun tearing down the park's crumbling structures, developer Troy Henry announced. Henry leads Bayou Phoenix, the group behind ambitious redevelopment plans for the site. Updates on the project are expected during an event on Nov. 12.

Bayou Phoenix envisions a massive mixed-use development featuring a youth sports complex, hotels, a film studio, and a waterpark. The project, one of the city’s largest public-private partnerships, requires not only demolition but also environmental reviews by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess wetland conditions.

The theme park, once a bustling attraction, was submerged under seven feet of floodwaters during Katrina in August 2005. It never reopened, and earlier efforts to redevelop the site repeatedly faltered. Proposals from Nickelodeon, Big League Dreams, and others fell through over the years, leaving the property abandoned and overrun by nature.

Under Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration, Bayou Phoenix secured the redevelopment contract in 2021, edging out a competing bid backed by NFL stars Drew Brees and Demario Davis. However, the $1 billion project has faced skepticism and tensions with city officials over control of the plans.

If successful, the redevelopment would mark a significant economic boost for New Orleans East and a major accomplishment for Cantrell, whose administration has been marred by controversy. For local residents, the project represents renewed hope after years of false starts and unfulfilled promises.