OUT with the old and in with the new, as a theme park abandoned for nearly two decades is being demolished. The 227-acre New Orleans ' Six Flags theme park , left barren for 19 years since Hurricane Katrina, will become an entertainment development with indoor and outdoor sports, retail outlets, hotels, and a water park. Developers at Bayou Phoenix took control of the former park last October, with an ambitious plan for the park's rebrand ranging from $500 million to nearly $1 billion.
Troy Henry, the founder of Bayou Phoenix, announced plans to turn the desecrated Six Flags remains into a complex with two hotels, on-site water parks, a movie studio, ampitheater, and even an 8.5-acre lake for swimming. Bayou Phoenix signed a 50-year lease with the land owners, the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA).
Henry revealed to WWL-TV that his developers have wrapped up a facility condition assessment of the area, clearing the path for demolition. Read More on Travel "That assessment helps us to determine the conditions of the grounds and pilings and infrastructure so that we can make a final placement on what venues can go where on the property," Henry said. Contractors are expected to clear the former theme park's rides and attractions next month.
According to Henry, the demolition process will last five months. Henry noted that his team hopes to finish the demolition before New Orleans hosts the Super Bowl in February 2025. Most read in Travel Bayou Phoenix is seeking about $100 million in taxpayer funding for the site's infrastructure.
Henry noted that the other pieces of project will be self-financed. Bayou Phoenix plans to start the construction of the new E. Ross movie studio in the first quarter of next year.
Next up will be the new ball fields and indoor sports centers. "They’ll do a facility, we think will be about 12-16 fields, baseball, football, that kind of thing, soccer,” Henry said to WWL-TV. “Then the indoor will have nine basketball courts [and] 16 volleyball courts.
” Henry is currently working on securing hoteliers and youth sports complex operators for the sports center. Once those parts of the project come together, Henry's plan is to build the retailers, restaurants, waterpark, and 8.5-acre lake next.
While New Orleans residents remain skeptical of Henry's vision, Henry remains confident and steadfast. "Hide in the bushes and watch us do it," Henry said to Axios . Read More on The US Sun 'Their skepticism doesn't bother me one bit.
In fact, I welcome it. It just motivates our team more. We're very confident in this project.
" The goal, Henry added, is to have construction wrapped up by 2027..
