NOLA Picks New Developer To Revamp Six Flags/Jazzland Site
Good news if you were hoping for Six Flags/Jazzland New Orleans would come back, you'd be in luck. For quite some time, several developers were hoping to win a bid to get a chance to revitalize the old park back to its former glory. After a very lengthy process former Saints QB Drew Brees group Kiernan West and Bayou Phoenix were the only two left standing. According to reports, the Brees group dropped out and agreed to redevelop another New Orleans East property. So, the city is getting a win, win in keeping both developers on board. Three weeks ago on October 11, NOLA Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced the city chose the proposal by Bayou Phoenix to redevelop the site.
First, lets take a look back at what Six Flags/Jazzland looked like before being heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina and abandoned. Jazzland opened May 20, 2000. It closed shortly after serious damage and flooding on August 2005.
The good times will roll again at the former Six Flags/Jazzland, thanks to Bayou Phoenix, led by local businessman Troy Henry and local developers Henry Consulting, TKTMJ, and Hillwood. The groups proposal for the site includes a sports complex, year-round indoor waterpark, mega travel center, STEM center, hotel, possibly a shopping center and another amusement park. The Brees development group consists of Kiernan West, his foundation SHIELD 1 Saints linebacker Demario Davis, and Buffalo Bills cornerback Joshua Norman. They withdrew from the Six Flags site to pursue an alternative location to develop a new STEAM education and urban farming centers.
Phase one of Bayou Phoenix plan will include the STEM NOLA center for families and the development of the warehouse and distribution center. Phase two and phase three would incorporate the water park, e-sports arena and sports complex, hotel and possibly an amusement park and golf course.
Bayou Phoenix is estimated to create 700 jobs with an average salary of $64,000. As soon as the contracts are all signed, officials will announce what the timeline will be.