Six Flags/Jazzland

Who owns the Six Flags/Jazzland site?

The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority took title to the property from the Industrial Development Board in 2023.

What is the history of the Six Flags/Jazzland site?

A brief history of the site is as follows:

  • 2000
    • The $130M Jazzland opened on 140 acres in New Orleans East.
  • 2002
    • Six Flags, Inc. made a deal to buy Jazzland out of U.S. Bankruptcy Court for $69M and added several rides to the park.
  • 2005
    • Six Flags closed for Hurricane Katrina and never reopened after 4-7 feet of floodwater sat on park grounds for a month due to a pump failure.
    • Several development deals under consideration for the site were unsuccessful.
  • 2009
    • City of New Orleans terminated its 75-year lease with Six Flags, Inc. and the Industrial Development Board (IDB) agreed to take title to the property while the City pursued development opportunities.
  • 2011
    • IDB released an RFP to develop the property. A proposal for an outlet mall was withdrawn by the developer after the Outlets at the Riverwalk were announced downtown.
    • Several film production companies began using the property for movie production, bringing some maintenance and security revenue to the property.
  • 2014
    • Working with the City, IDB released another RFP for the property. No proposals with solid financial backing emerged.
  • 2017
    • Following an appraisal of the property commissioned by the IDB, several proposals were made to purchase the property outright, but action was deferred at the request of the Mayor.
    • IDB handed over redevelopment responsibility to Landrieu administration through a one-year Cooperative Endeavor Agreement to determine a way forward.
  • 2018
    • City and the IDB agreed to extend the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement giving responsibility for management of the re-development process to the City.
  • 2019
    • City and the IDB agreed to extend the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for one additional year.
  • 2020-2022
    • Mayor Cantrell and the Office of Economic Development released a public solicitation for development of the site and selected development team Bayou Phoenix.
  • 2023
    • The IDB transferred title of the property to the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA). 
    • NORA executed a development agreement and draft lease with Bayou Phoenix.

What are the development plans for Six Flags/Jazzland site?

The Bayou Phoenix team has a website detailing their vision for the development: https://bayouphoenix.com/.

Can I film a movie or otherwise utilize the Six Flags/Jazzland site for a commercial purpose?

The site is available for “conditional” short-term and long-term rental subject to certain requirements. A written narrative request should be submitted to NORA at whitney.williams@nola.gov. Permission to use the site for filming or other purposes will be documented by a formal agreement that will be provided by NORA. Unauthorized use or entry onto the site is strictly prohibited and violators could be prosecuted.

How do I find out about news related to Six Flags/Jazzland?

Refer to the Bayou Phoenix website: https://bayouphoenix.com/.