1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:53,872 How y'all feeling, everybody? 4 00:02:53,907 --> 00:02:54,973 Sunny side of the street. 5 00:03:02,682 --> 00:03:05,884 Walk me through the full history of Jazzland Six Flags. 6 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,454 Sure. Probably in the early '90s, 7 00:03:09,489 --> 00:03:12,490 Tom Winingder, who is a longstanding developer 8 00:03:12,525 --> 00:03:13,992 here in New Orleans, his wife's family, 9 00:03:14,027 --> 00:03:15,727 the Colemans, they're very well-known 10 00:03:15,762 --> 00:03:17,829 in real estate circles in New Orleans. 11 00:03:17,864 --> 00:03:21,499 Tom, the husband of Dian Coleman Winingder, 12 00:03:21,534 --> 00:03:24,402 had a vision that one day he would like to have built 13 00:03:24,437 --> 00:03:25,570 a theme park, 14 00:03:25,605 --> 00:03:28,773 'cause we did not have a theme park in New Orleans. 15 00:03:28,808 --> 00:03:30,775 I could recall being out in my front yard cutting the grass, 16 00:03:30,810 --> 00:03:33,478 and some guys came through the trees with masks on 17 00:03:33,513 --> 00:03:35,247 and big machetes, cutting down the trees, 18 00:03:35,282 --> 00:03:36,748 and I asked them what were they doing, 19 00:03:36,783 --> 00:03:37,949 and they said they were doing a survey, 20 00:03:37,984 --> 00:03:39,651 and I was like, "A survey for what?" 21 00:03:39,686 --> 00:03:42,454 And they said, "A survey for a theme park." 22 00:03:42,489 --> 00:03:44,956 The park at the time was gonna be Jazzland. 23 00:03:52,465 --> 00:03:54,532 The city of New Orleans had long been without 24 00:03:54,567 --> 00:03:56,635 any family entertainment. 25 00:03:56,670 --> 00:03:59,037 Jazzland was dreamt up to solve that. 26 00:03:59,072 --> 00:04:01,006 A park designed to offer an outstanding 27 00:04:01,041 --> 00:04:04,976 family experience appealing to both young and old alike 28 00:04:05,011 --> 00:04:08,713 in an attractive, clean, safe environment. 29 00:04:08,748 --> 00:04:11,950 The park itself would celebrate the heritage, the culture, 30 00:04:11,985 --> 00:04:14,019 and the people of the city. 31 00:04:14,054 --> 00:04:15,654 The location was perfect, 32 00:04:15,689 --> 00:04:18,290 situated centrally in New Orleans East, 33 00:04:18,325 --> 00:04:19,858 just a short drive from the city, 34 00:04:19,893 --> 00:04:21,960 and placed just off the highway. 35 00:04:21,995 --> 00:04:24,829 The land, too, was ideal, with good drainage, 36 00:04:24,864 --> 00:04:26,564 even during storms. 37 00:04:26,599 --> 00:04:28,833 In fact, the Army Corps of Engineers 38 00:04:28,868 --> 00:04:30,702 found it to be a dry piece of land. 39 00:04:30,737 --> 00:04:33,538 By 1991, the developers had submitted the proposal 40 00:04:33,573 --> 00:04:34,539 to the city, 41 00:04:34,574 --> 00:04:36,975 and for over seven years worked to get it built. 42 00:04:37,010 --> 00:04:39,577 With promising over one million visitors 43 00:04:39,612 --> 00:04:40,912 in their first year, 44 00:04:40,947 --> 00:04:43,882 along with over $200 million being added 45 00:04:43,917 --> 00:04:45,817 to the local economies, 46 00:04:45,852 --> 00:04:48,720 even the governor was on board and offered the developers 47 00:04:48,755 --> 00:04:51,089 $10 million in state funds. 48 00:04:51,124 --> 00:04:53,725 Jazzland Resort was planned to be like nothing 49 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,560 the city had ever seen, 50 00:04:55,595 --> 00:04:57,629 with a planned hotel, a water park, 51 00:04:57,664 --> 00:04:59,964 a campground, and even a golf course. 52 00:04:59,999 --> 00:05:01,566 It made sense, too. 53 00:05:01,601 --> 00:05:04,736 This new resort would be located at least 350 miles 54 00:05:04,771 --> 00:05:06,871 from any other major theme park. 55 00:05:06,906 --> 00:05:10,875 The park would be named after the city's most iconic export, 56 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:12,510 jazz. 57 00:05:43,009 --> 00:05:46,077 I'm a resident of New Orleans East. 58 00:05:46,112 --> 00:05:48,880 You know, the neighbors were overwhelmingly positive 59 00:05:48,915 --> 00:05:50,582 and excited about the prospect 60 00:05:50,617 --> 00:05:53,752 of something this vibrant 61 00:05:53,787 --> 00:05:57,722 and exciting and attractive to the region 62 00:05:57,757 --> 00:05:59,758 would be right in our backyards. 63 00:05:59,793 --> 00:06:03,061 He partnered with a company in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 64 00:06:03,096 --> 00:06:05,930 as he was going through the development process. 65 00:06:05,965 --> 00:06:07,599 Burroughs and Chapin. 66 00:06:07,634 --> 00:06:10,802 And they had interest in this company. 67 00:06:10,837 --> 00:06:12,937 He also partnered with Ogden Entertainment, 68 00:06:12,972 --> 00:06:15,940 who also had an interest in New Orleans. 69 00:06:15,975 --> 00:06:19,677 Well, I went to work for Broadmoor, 1998, 70 00:06:19,712 --> 00:06:22,580 and that was to go and do that job 71 00:06:22,615 --> 00:06:24,182 at Jazzland. 72 00:06:24,217 --> 00:06:26,184 You know, obviously it was a virgin site, 73 00:06:26,219 --> 00:06:27,986 some 150-something acres. 74 00:06:28,021 --> 00:06:30,021 This was the first time we ever built a theme park, 75 00:06:30,056 --> 00:06:33,091 or a park that had rides on it that people would 76 00:06:33,126 --> 00:06:35,860 actually get on and participate in. 77 00:06:35,895 --> 00:06:37,162 So, that was unique. 78 00:06:37,197 --> 00:06:38,997 The biggest challenge, once we got on site, 79 00:06:39,032 --> 00:06:41,833 was that the ground conditions 80 00:06:41,868 --> 00:06:44,769 were so poor that equipment that we brought on site 81 00:06:44,804 --> 00:06:47,105 would break through the crust at the top 82 00:06:47,140 --> 00:06:49,140 and sink down three to four to six feet, 83 00:06:49,175 --> 00:06:50,875 in some locations. 84 00:06:50,910 --> 00:06:53,111 We have one picture of a backhoe 85 00:06:53,146 --> 00:06:54,779 that, you know, broke through 86 00:06:54,814 --> 00:06:57,115 doing the early clearing of the land, 87 00:06:57,150 --> 00:06:59,717 and basically the only thing you saw sticking out 88 00:06:59,752 --> 00:07:01,820 -was the bucket. -In 1998, 89 00:07:01,855 --> 00:07:03,655 construction finally began. 90 00:07:03,690 --> 00:07:06,057 Phase one of the project for the theme park itself 91 00:07:06,092 --> 00:07:08,193 was finished in just two years. 92 00:07:08,228 --> 00:07:10,128 Jazzland officially opened 93 00:07:10,163 --> 00:07:12,697 on May 20th, 2000, 94 00:07:12,732 --> 00:07:17,135 at the cost of over $130 million. 95 00:07:17,170 --> 00:07:20,038 The park's original operator, Ogden Entertainment, 96 00:07:20,073 --> 00:07:21,940 ended up dropping out of the project, 97 00:07:21,975 --> 00:07:24,742 and a new company by the name of Alfa Smartparks 98 00:07:24,777 --> 00:07:27,011 had taken over. 99 00:07:27,046 --> 00:07:30,982 Ready? Five, four, three, two, one! 100 00:07:37,223 --> 00:07:39,023 Come on, everybody, sing it. 101 00:08:06,753 --> 00:08:08,786 Let's go ahead and get this ribbon cut 102 00:08:08,821 --> 00:08:11,189 so people can start having fun, get some pictures. 103 00:08:11,224 --> 00:08:13,791 Countdown, five, four, three, two, one, ready? 104 00:08:13,826 --> 00:08:16,261 -Yeah. -Five, four, three, 105 00:08:16,296 --> 00:08:19,264 two, one, woo! 106 00:08:19,299 --> 00:08:23,735 All right, ladies and gentlemen, Jazzland is officially open! 107 00:08:23,770 --> 00:08:25,303 Let's have some fun! 108 00:08:46,593 --> 00:08:48,293 -Did you like it? -I loved it. 109 00:08:48,328 --> 00:08:50,094 Was it a good ride? Tell me yes. 110 00:08:50,129 --> 00:08:52,163 -It was terrific. -Oh, it's better than the beach 111 00:08:52,198 --> 00:08:53,998 -ever was. -It was better than sex. 112 00:09:03,943 --> 00:09:05,276 Spend the day at Jazzland theme park, 113 00:09:05,311 --> 00:09:06,978 where the fun is at full blast! 114 00:09:07,013 --> 00:09:08,746 I gotta do that again! 115 00:09:08,781 --> 00:09:11,182 Jazzland in New Orleans on I-10 at the I-510 exit 116 00:09:11,217 --> 00:09:13,084 is filled with thrills for the whole family. 117 00:09:13,119 --> 00:09:15,253 -Serious rides. -30 incredible rides 118 00:09:15,288 --> 00:09:17,922 -and spectacular entertainment! -This is great. 119 00:09:17,957 --> 00:09:20,124 Come for the thrills, stay for the fun at Jazzland, 120 00:09:20,159 --> 00:09:22,193 open daily at 10:00 A.M. 121 00:09:25,898 --> 00:09:28,032 You know, my first memories was I remember the excitement 122 00:09:28,067 --> 00:09:29,801 of the park opening, 123 00:09:29,836 --> 00:09:34,906 and how much people were anticipating its opening. 124 00:09:34,941 --> 00:09:37,809 You know, it was just something so new 125 00:09:37,844 --> 00:09:41,145 and different from any other asset in New Orleans 126 00:09:41,180 --> 00:09:43,214 that we've had--ever had, 127 00:09:43,249 --> 00:09:47,018 since, um, probably it was 30 years prior to that, 128 00:09:47,053 --> 00:09:49,253 Pontchartrain Beach was an amusement park. 129 00:09:49,288 --> 00:09:51,789 And then, there were kids that didn't have to travel 130 00:09:51,824 --> 00:09:54,892 to Biloxi or to Houston, or other areas, 131 00:09:54,927 --> 00:09:56,394 and they could literally be a member 132 00:09:56,429 --> 00:09:58,229 and go as many times as they'd like 133 00:09:58,264 --> 00:10:01,199 with season passes and things of that sort. 134 00:10:01,234 --> 00:10:03,901 So, there was just a lot of excitement about, 135 00:10:03,936 --> 00:10:06,838 you know, how much you wanted to partake of it. 136 00:10:06,873 --> 00:10:09,841 You had that option, and it was so convenient. 137 00:10:09,876 --> 00:10:12,043 And, um, I think that people were, 138 00:10:12,078 --> 00:10:14,012 you know, they were excited about it. 139 00:10:14,047 --> 00:10:15,947 And you know, it was not perfect, 140 00:10:15,982 --> 00:10:20,118 but it was very, very much a huge positive 141 00:10:20,153 --> 00:10:22,253 for the entire community. 142 00:10:22,288 --> 00:10:24,322 Whenever visitors would come in and visit, 143 00:10:24,357 --> 00:10:26,057 you know, we'd always take 'em one day at least, 144 00:10:26,092 --> 00:10:28,159 -you go to Jazzland. -You know, I will tell you, 145 00:10:28,194 --> 00:10:30,928 I live near the area, 146 00:10:30,963 --> 00:10:33,331 so I had a longstanding knowledge 147 00:10:33,366 --> 00:10:35,233 of, well, this park, probably going back 148 00:10:35,268 --> 00:10:39,170 seven years before it was even built. 149 00:10:39,205 --> 00:10:41,205 I can remember before I worked there 150 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,241 in that first season before I became an employee, 151 00:10:43,276 --> 00:10:45,410 I did have a season pass, and it was very nice 152 00:10:45,445 --> 00:10:47,679 to go there just for a few hours on the evenings 153 00:10:47,714 --> 00:10:49,447 as the sun was beginning to descend, 154 00:10:49,482 --> 00:10:51,049 you know, to catch a ride or maybe get 155 00:10:51,084 --> 00:10:52,917 a light meal out there. 156 00:10:52,952 --> 00:10:56,220 It was a great escape from the normal hustle and bustle 157 00:10:56,255 --> 00:10:59,223 of the work that I was doing in corporate advertising 158 00:10:59,258 --> 00:11:01,092 at that time. 159 00:11:11,003 --> 00:11:13,337 Um, I do not know if-- 160 00:11:13,372 --> 00:11:15,973 I don't remember if it was the first year. 161 00:11:16,008 --> 00:11:19,077 My son and I went out there, just the two of us, 162 00:11:19,112 --> 00:11:23,114 before we started bringing our groups of employees. 163 00:11:23,149 --> 00:11:25,149 Um... 164 00:11:25,184 --> 00:11:28,119 it was kind of a love at first sight. 165 00:11:28,154 --> 00:11:30,221 Jazzland was already being publicized 166 00:11:30,256 --> 00:11:32,957 as America's newest major theme park, 167 00:11:32,992 --> 00:11:35,226 and in many respects, it was. 168 00:11:35,261 --> 00:11:37,228 The park had several themed sections, 169 00:11:37,263 --> 00:11:39,430 all originating from a central main street 170 00:11:39,465 --> 00:11:41,933 made to look like the famous French Quarter. 171 00:11:41,968 --> 00:11:44,068 Circling around a main lake in the middle 172 00:11:44,103 --> 00:11:46,370 would be Cajun Country, Mardi Gras, 173 00:11:46,405 --> 00:11:48,740 Kids Carnival, and most popular 174 00:11:48,775 --> 00:11:51,008 a land themed off a vintage amusement park 175 00:11:51,043 --> 00:11:53,411 in New Orleans, Pontchartrain Beach. 176 00:11:53,446 --> 00:11:56,981 These lands were comprised of many different flat rides, 177 00:11:57,016 --> 00:11:59,050 flume rides, a simulator, 178 00:11:59,085 --> 00:12:02,386 two launch towers, an eye-catching sky coaster, 179 00:12:02,421 --> 00:12:05,356 and four roller coasters. 180 00:12:05,391 --> 00:12:09,160 The main attraction, though, was undoubtedly the Mega Zeph, 181 00:12:09,195 --> 00:12:11,929 a wooden coaster built on a steel frame, 182 00:12:11,964 --> 00:12:14,065 one which was inspired by the Zephyr 183 00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:18,302 from New Orleans's very own Pontchartrain Beach. 184 00:12:18,337 --> 00:12:21,205 Of course, the Mega Zeph was the signature wooden coaster 185 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,307 that we had at the facility. 186 00:12:23,342 --> 00:12:25,543 I believe, if memory serves, it was 110 feet tall 187 00:12:25,578 --> 00:12:28,546 at the peak of the ride, and it was just-- 188 00:12:28,581 --> 00:12:30,414 it was a great experience. 189 00:12:30,449 --> 00:12:32,784 I think everybody reacted very positively. 190 00:12:32,819 --> 00:12:34,552 First of all, they couldn't believe 191 00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:37,188 that we had an amusement park out there. 192 00:12:37,223 --> 00:12:40,358 I think families were thrilled with it, 193 00:12:40,393 --> 00:12:43,161 and, as I said, the size of the park was great. 194 00:12:43,196 --> 00:12:45,429 Kids could play, you could walk around, 195 00:12:45,464 --> 00:12:47,465 you--it wasn't a big Disney 196 00:12:47,500 --> 00:12:50,368 that you were worn out at the end of the day. 197 00:12:50,403 --> 00:12:53,204 It was, um--I think it was very well-received 198 00:12:53,239 --> 00:12:55,173 by the community, 199 00:12:55,208 --> 00:12:57,275 and especially by families. 200 00:12:57,310 --> 00:13:00,545 If a guest did not necessarily go looking for the stories 201 00:13:00,580 --> 00:13:03,981 in the newspaper or on television or radio, 202 00:13:04,016 --> 00:13:06,184 that the park was in bankruptcy, 203 00:13:06,219 --> 00:13:09,587 they probably would not have necessarily known that we were. 204 00:13:09,622 --> 00:13:12,223 After the second year, 205 00:13:12,258 --> 00:13:15,293 and really beginning in the 2002 season, 206 00:13:15,328 --> 00:13:17,495 Jazzland did indeed have some financial troubles 207 00:13:17,530 --> 00:13:20,031 and it declared bankruptcy 208 00:13:20,066 --> 00:13:21,566 at the end of that season. 209 00:13:21,601 --> 00:13:23,835 In the industry, they call year two "sophomore slump," 210 00:13:23,870 --> 00:13:28,105 and I definitely feel we had a hit in attendance. 211 00:13:28,140 --> 00:13:29,440 Certainly it was felt. 212 00:13:29,475 --> 00:13:32,076 Jazzland received more than a million visitors 213 00:13:32,111 --> 00:13:34,145 during its first season open. 214 00:13:34,180 --> 00:13:36,047 By their second season, however, 215 00:13:36,082 --> 00:13:38,349 attendance had dropped over 40 percent 216 00:13:38,384 --> 00:13:40,518 to just 600,000 people. 217 00:13:40,553 --> 00:13:42,587 This dip in attendance had taken place 218 00:13:42,622 --> 00:13:44,355 while all other regional theme parks 219 00:13:44,390 --> 00:13:46,224 seemed to have grown. 220 00:13:46,259 --> 00:13:48,559 Subsequently, the park didn't have the attendance numbers 221 00:13:48,594 --> 00:13:50,294 to offset their expenses 222 00:13:50,329 --> 00:13:52,530 and pay off the construction debt. 223 00:13:52,565 --> 00:13:57,201 Jazzland claimed they had less than just $50 million in assets 224 00:13:57,236 --> 00:14:01,339 and between $50 million to $100 million in debt. 225 00:14:01,374 --> 00:14:03,241 We promised folks in year number two 226 00:14:03,276 --> 00:14:06,878 that we were gonna build this great new coaster. 227 00:14:06,913 --> 00:14:08,212 Guess what happened? 228 00:14:08,247 --> 00:14:09,547 We didn't build it. 229 00:14:09,582 --> 00:14:12,116 The first challenge was 230 00:14:12,151 --> 00:14:15,119 centered around the fact that the New Orleans park 231 00:14:15,154 --> 00:14:17,488 was the largest park in the system. 232 00:14:17,523 --> 00:14:19,891 Alfa Smartparks was a brand-new company. 233 00:14:19,926 --> 00:14:24,161 The parent company was in Athens, Greece. 234 00:14:24,196 --> 00:14:25,663 They were a shipping company, 235 00:14:25,698 --> 00:14:27,565 and everyone else, you know, that was affiliated 236 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,401 in the company, again, the other "kids" in the company 237 00:14:30,436 --> 00:14:32,336 were either family entertainment centers 238 00:14:32,371 --> 00:14:34,538 or water parks, that was it. 239 00:14:34,573 --> 00:14:38,175 So, we were required to produce 240 00:14:38,210 --> 00:14:41,145 the largest share of revenue for the company. 241 00:14:41,180 --> 00:14:43,447 In year number two, we did not produce 242 00:14:43,482 --> 00:14:47,118 a large share, or certainly not the share that was requested, 243 00:14:47,153 --> 00:14:49,687 or required per our 2001 budget, 244 00:14:49,722 --> 00:14:53,224 and things, of course, began to unravel. 245 00:14:53,259 --> 00:14:54,625 Alfa Smartparks had been going through 246 00:14:54,660 --> 00:14:56,494 their own financial difficulties, 247 00:14:56,529 --> 00:14:58,596 and had been looking to put the Jazzland park 248 00:14:58,631 --> 00:15:00,631 and their land lease up for sale. 249 00:15:00,666 --> 00:15:04,135 After only two years, Alfa Smartparks 250 00:15:04,170 --> 00:15:07,171 had abandoned their brand-new theme park. 251 00:15:07,206 --> 00:15:10,141 Larry was a former president of Six Flags, 252 00:15:10,176 --> 00:15:13,444 and Larry was an "interim executive" with us, 253 00:15:13,479 --> 00:15:16,414 and, you know, through Larry we opened some doors 254 00:15:16,449 --> 00:15:18,482 back into the Six Flags family, 255 00:15:18,517 --> 00:15:21,352 and there was interest in this park. 256 00:15:21,387 --> 00:15:23,187 I think they saw that this park 257 00:15:23,222 --> 00:15:25,389 was literally only three years old 258 00:15:25,424 --> 00:15:27,391 as a physical facility-- it was a brand-new park, 259 00:15:27,426 --> 00:15:29,193 and it was in great physical condition, 260 00:15:29,228 --> 00:15:30,528 all the rides were new. 261 00:15:30,563 --> 00:15:33,364 They had a great team in place, and there was interest 262 00:15:33,399 --> 00:15:35,533 by Six Flags. 263 00:15:35,568 --> 00:15:37,335 We were excited. 264 00:15:37,370 --> 00:15:40,204 The excitement started before the park 265 00:15:40,239 --> 00:15:43,307 was even really officially going to be renamed 266 00:15:43,342 --> 00:15:45,376 Six Flags New Orleans. 267 00:15:45,411 --> 00:15:49,180 In the 2002 season, containers started showing up 268 00:15:49,215 --> 00:15:51,382 of roller coaster tracks, so everyone had 269 00:15:51,417 --> 00:15:54,151 the high expectations that Six Flags 270 00:15:54,186 --> 00:15:57,989 is seriously going to invest money into this park, 271 00:15:58,024 --> 00:16:00,658 and it's gonna mean good things. 272 00:16:00,693 --> 00:16:03,995 You know, it means that we finally have an investor 273 00:16:04,030 --> 00:16:06,664 that really is serious 274 00:16:06,699 --> 00:16:09,533 and wants to invest in the park 275 00:16:09,568 --> 00:16:11,268 and grow the park. 276 00:16:11,303 --> 00:16:14,305 We rebranded, we remarketed. 277 00:16:14,340 --> 00:16:17,341 We built an entire theme section based around DC Comics. 278 00:16:17,376 --> 00:16:18,743 We redid our kids' section, 279 00:16:18,778 --> 00:16:21,379 it was a Looney Tunes-theme section. 280 00:16:21,414 --> 00:16:23,781 Of course, we opened that spring 281 00:16:23,816 --> 00:16:26,017 in March of that year, 2003, 282 00:16:26,052 --> 00:16:28,185 to great fanfare, and we actually had 283 00:16:28,220 --> 00:16:31,288 a really wonderful 2003 season. 284 00:16:31,323 --> 00:16:33,424 As you can see, we have a lot to look forward to 285 00:16:33,459 --> 00:16:35,292 at Six Flags New Orleans. 286 00:16:35,327 --> 00:16:38,262 Again, welcome to Six Flags New Orleans. 287 00:16:38,297 --> 00:16:40,197 The park is now open! 288 00:16:46,305 --> 00:16:48,806 Six Flags invites you to experience 289 00:16:48,841 --> 00:16:51,709 our newest world-class theme park: 290 00:16:51,744 --> 00:16:55,046 Six Flags New Orleans, 291 00:16:55,081 --> 00:16:57,648 where 14 new attractions include 292 00:16:57,683 --> 00:17:00,451 2 incredible coasters, 293 00:17:00,486 --> 00:17:02,453 Batman the Ride, 294 00:17:02,488 --> 00:17:04,588 and The Jester. 295 00:17:13,466 --> 00:17:16,700 In August of 2002, Six Flags had officially completed 296 00:17:16,735 --> 00:17:18,736 their acquisition of Jazzland, 297 00:17:18,771 --> 00:17:21,472 rebranding it into Six Flags New Orleans 298 00:17:21,507 --> 00:17:23,240 for the 2003 season. 299 00:17:23,275 --> 00:17:24,708 The company had committed, 300 00:17:24,743 --> 00:17:27,678 spending over $20 million on their new park, 301 00:17:27,713 --> 00:17:30,614 and resolving the standing debt from the last owner. 302 00:17:30,649 --> 00:17:31,849 In addition to minor improvements, 303 00:17:31,884 --> 00:17:33,551 like shade structures, 304 00:17:33,586 --> 00:17:35,453 Six Flags had spent serious money 305 00:17:35,488 --> 00:17:37,488 on theming the individual lands, 306 00:17:37,523 --> 00:17:40,391 adding new attractions, including two new coasters, 307 00:17:40,426 --> 00:17:43,461 and bringing in intellectual property characters. 308 00:17:43,496 --> 00:17:45,429 My family, we had great experiences there. 309 00:17:45,464 --> 00:17:47,598 I mean, I remember the roller coasters, 310 00:17:47,633 --> 00:17:49,600 and they had a lot of good shows there. 311 00:17:49,635 --> 00:17:53,437 The park integrated the community with it, 312 00:17:53,472 --> 00:17:55,739 high schools or elementary schools, 313 00:17:55,774 --> 00:17:57,875 and people were doing different types of things, 314 00:17:57,910 --> 00:18:01,645 that Grandma had to go see grandson perform 315 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,449 or what have you, at Jazzland, or at Six Flags. 316 00:18:05,484 --> 00:18:07,384 My daughters were in a dance team 317 00:18:07,419 --> 00:18:08,786 that performed at the park, 318 00:18:08,821 --> 00:18:11,555 and then I think the last thing is jobs that it created. 319 00:18:11,590 --> 00:18:13,591 A lot of kids had jobs there. 320 00:18:13,626 --> 00:18:15,359 You know, they would work there for the summer, 321 00:18:15,394 --> 00:18:16,794 or work there for a certain duration 322 00:18:16,829 --> 00:18:18,796 where, you know, they could be part of it, 323 00:18:18,831 --> 00:18:21,532 and kids who worked there were big shots, you know. 324 00:18:23,669 --> 00:18:25,903 Oh, I loved it. 325 00:18:25,938 --> 00:18:28,873 That was my favorite job I've ever had. 326 00:18:28,908 --> 00:18:32,409 I felt like I could connect with everybody who's coming on. 327 00:18:32,444 --> 00:18:34,311 I had something to say, I could make 328 00:18:34,346 --> 00:18:36,814 some sort of comment about their day, 329 00:18:36,849 --> 00:18:38,849 or ask them a question. 330 00:18:38,884 --> 00:18:41,819 We did have a, um, 331 00:18:41,854 --> 00:18:44,822 a little Six Flags chant that we did in the mornings 332 00:18:44,857 --> 00:18:48,926 as operations people that-- to get people pumped up, 333 00:18:48,961 --> 00:18:51,562 um, which I may still know. 334 00:18:53,465 --> 00:18:55,933 I would say I was there almost every other week, 335 00:18:55,968 --> 00:18:59,403 I mean, as often I could. 336 00:18:59,438 --> 00:19:03,440 We all crammed in to the very tiny arcade, 337 00:19:03,475 --> 00:19:04,942 because I think they had a dance game 338 00:19:04,977 --> 00:19:06,710 out there at the time, 339 00:19:06,745 --> 00:19:09,947 and everybody wanted to get in there. 340 00:19:09,982 --> 00:19:14,451 The main arcade was more like a penny arcade. 341 00:19:14,486 --> 00:19:16,720 Throw bottles, win prizes, 342 00:19:16,755 --> 00:19:18,556 win stuffed animals. 343 00:19:18,591 --> 00:19:22,459 So, one time, everybody had to get these big gorillas, 344 00:19:22,494 --> 00:19:23,727 so they all played. 345 00:19:23,762 --> 00:19:25,596 We must've-- instead of riding the rides, 346 00:19:25,631 --> 00:19:28,732 we were playing the crazy games to win these big snakes 347 00:19:28,767 --> 00:19:31,635 and big gorillas, big, colorful gorillas. 348 00:19:31,670 --> 00:19:33,871 I posted a picture not too long ago 349 00:19:33,906 --> 00:19:37,474 of some of the kids with the gorillas on Facebook, 350 00:19:37,509 --> 00:19:39,610 and they all went crazy. "I remember that, 351 00:19:39,645 --> 00:19:41,212 I remember that, that was one of the best-- 352 00:19:41,247 --> 00:19:43,547 Oh, man, then we had so much fun." 353 00:19:43,582 --> 00:19:45,983 They loved it, they just had so much fun. 354 00:19:46,018 --> 00:19:49,954 I hope that one day I can be an old man and retire, 355 00:19:49,989 --> 00:19:52,790 and work at a theme park, and be exactly like 356 00:19:52,825 --> 00:19:56,527 Mr. Six, like, running the roller coasters. 357 00:19:56,562 --> 00:19:58,696 That is really my ultimate dream. 358 00:19:58,731 --> 00:20:01,865 You'd go, and I mean, there would be so many people 359 00:20:01,900 --> 00:20:04,902 on--during certain events and certain weekends. 360 00:20:04,937 --> 00:20:08,439 I mean, I'm told upwards of 30,000 people, 361 00:20:08,474 --> 00:20:11,775 which, for a park that size, is pretty impressive. 362 00:20:11,810 --> 00:20:13,911 People who knew the park absolutely loved it. 363 00:20:13,946 --> 00:20:16,580 I mean, if you had the experience of going, 364 00:20:16,615 --> 00:20:18,649 you know, especially if you went from the beginning, 365 00:20:18,684 --> 00:20:20,484 people liked that park. 366 00:20:20,519 --> 00:20:22,019 There was one time that 367 00:20:22,054 --> 00:20:25,456 I was working at the Skycoaster, 368 00:20:25,491 --> 00:20:28,959 and there was a paraplegic woman 369 00:20:28,994 --> 00:20:32,663 who wanted to ride in a wheelchair, 370 00:20:32,698 --> 00:20:34,465 and, um, 371 00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:37,568 the decision was left to me 372 00:20:37,603 --> 00:20:40,638 on if this person should ride or not. 373 00:20:40,673 --> 00:20:42,006 And I'm like, "Okay, I'm making the decision, 374 00:20:42,041 --> 00:20:44,675 she's riding." 375 00:20:44,710 --> 00:20:48,712 And it took a really long time to get her situated 376 00:20:48,747 --> 00:20:50,014 and ready to ride, 377 00:20:50,049 --> 00:20:55,552 and by this time, there is a really large line 378 00:20:55,587 --> 00:20:58,756 just snaking through the whole attraction, 379 00:20:58,791 --> 00:21:01,859 and everyone is seeing what's going on. 380 00:21:01,894 --> 00:21:04,695 And so, we hoist her up. 381 00:21:04,730 --> 00:21:07,631 We, uh, raise her up to the top, 382 00:21:07,666 --> 00:21:10,868 and she pulls her ripcord. 383 00:21:10,903 --> 00:21:13,504 The ride's successful and everyone's applauding 384 00:21:13,539 --> 00:21:14,972 and cheering. 385 00:21:15,007 --> 00:21:17,041 And it made me so happy that-- 386 00:21:17,076 --> 00:21:20,577 um, that I could 387 00:21:20,612 --> 00:21:23,614 give that to somebody. 388 00:21:23,649 --> 00:21:25,816 That I could give somebody 389 00:21:25,851 --> 00:21:28,786 that excitement and fun 390 00:21:28,821 --> 00:21:32,690 that was probably unexpected 391 00:21:32,725 --> 00:21:35,326 to her when she started her day. 392 00:21:35,361 --> 00:21:37,761 We're not here to save the world, 393 00:21:37,796 --> 00:21:40,864 but we are here to help people get through 394 00:21:40,899 --> 00:21:43,334 what might be a difficult time in their lives, 395 00:21:43,369 --> 00:21:44,802 or a mundane lifestyle. 396 00:21:44,837 --> 00:21:46,737 We are that respite for them 397 00:21:46,772 --> 00:21:50,007 where they can go and get an escape for a few hours, 398 00:21:50,042 --> 00:21:51,575 take their minds off of their burdens, 399 00:21:51,610 --> 00:21:53,010 take their minds off their problems, 400 00:21:53,045 --> 00:21:54,878 and have a good time for a few hours. 401 00:21:54,913 --> 00:21:57,514 The water ride was always the last one, 402 00:21:57,549 --> 00:22:00,718 and they had to go dry off before they could get in my car, 403 00:22:00,753 --> 00:22:02,720 'cause I wouldn't let 'em ride home with me 404 00:22:02,755 --> 00:22:05,689 -unless they were dry. -It was actually announced 405 00:22:05,724 --> 00:22:09,026 that summer that at the end of the 2005 season 406 00:22:09,061 --> 00:22:12,896 that we were going to build the much-requested 407 00:22:12,931 --> 00:22:15,032 and certainly the much-desired water park. 408 00:22:15,067 --> 00:22:16,667 The plans were drawn. 409 00:22:16,702 --> 00:22:18,135 We knew where it was going. 410 00:22:18,170 --> 00:22:21,772 We knew that during the break in 2005, 411 00:22:21,807 --> 00:22:24,375 we were going to be constructing the water park. 412 00:22:24,410 --> 00:22:26,777 I remember on my way out of the park, 413 00:22:26,812 --> 00:22:30,581 like, my very last time I was ever there, 414 00:22:30,616 --> 00:22:33,784 and, um, I made a joke. 415 00:22:33,819 --> 00:22:37,054 Said that, "I'll be back soon, 416 00:22:37,089 --> 00:22:39,656 unless the hurricane comes and destroys everything." 417 00:22:45,731 --> 00:22:48,665 This morning I spoke with FEMA Undersecretary Mike Brown 418 00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:51,635 and emergency management teams not only at the federal level 419 00:22:51,670 --> 00:22:54,838 but at the state level 420 00:22:54,873 --> 00:22:58,409 about the, uh, Hurricane Katrina. 421 00:22:58,444 --> 00:23:00,677 We will do everything in our power 422 00:23:00,712 --> 00:23:01,945 to help the people and the communities 423 00:23:01,980 --> 00:23:05,115 affected by this storm. 424 00:23:05,150 --> 00:23:06,950 Hurricane Katrina is now designated 425 00:23:06,985 --> 00:23:09,653 a Category 5 hurricane. 426 00:23:09,688 --> 00:23:11,822 I think we all kinda had this notion that 427 00:23:11,857 --> 00:23:14,191 this hurricane that was brewing in the Gulf 428 00:23:14,226 --> 00:23:17,628 was, um--was not gonna be that bad, 429 00:23:17,663 --> 00:23:18,829 or it might skirt past us. 430 00:23:18,864 --> 00:23:19,963 You know, it was business as usual 431 00:23:19,998 --> 00:23:21,965 for the week leading up to the park. 432 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,067 You look at it on the news and it's coming. 433 00:23:24,102 --> 00:23:26,603 They say, "Oh, well, it's going to Florida." 434 00:23:26,638 --> 00:23:29,640 And they said, "Well, it's really going to the Panhandle." 435 00:23:29,675 --> 00:23:32,443 "Oh no, now it's going to Alabama." 436 00:23:32,478 --> 00:23:33,944 "Now it's going to Mississippi." 437 00:23:33,979 --> 00:23:36,847 And then, all of a sudden, overnight, 438 00:23:36,882 --> 00:23:39,016 I think it was that Sunday morning, 439 00:23:39,051 --> 00:23:41,752 the path had significantly shifted, 440 00:23:41,787 --> 00:23:43,687 and the storm was a Category 5, 441 00:23:43,722 --> 00:23:46,190 and it was a feeling of, like, 442 00:23:46,225 --> 00:23:49,627 pure terror, like, "Oh, my gosh, we gotta go now." 443 00:23:51,697 --> 00:23:53,063 No, none of us had any idea then, 444 00:23:53,098 --> 00:23:54,898 not just the park, but, you know, the entire city 445 00:23:54,933 --> 00:23:57,234 of New Orleans, and the entire Gulf Coast 446 00:23:57,269 --> 00:24:00,471 of, you know, New Orleans, Louisiana, Mississippi, 447 00:24:00,506 --> 00:24:02,172 Alabama, to a certain extent, 448 00:24:02,207 --> 00:24:06,677 would've ever have experienced what we ultimately experienced. 449 00:24:06,712 --> 00:24:08,979 When I left on that Friday, that was the very last time 450 00:24:09,014 --> 00:24:11,949 that I came back to an operating park. 451 00:25:00,198 --> 00:25:01,932 The vast majority of New Orleans, Louisiana, 452 00:25:01,967 --> 00:25:03,534 is under water. 453 00:25:05,571 --> 00:25:08,005 Tens of thousands of homes and businesses 454 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:09,840 are beyond repair. 455 00:25:11,977 --> 00:25:13,210 A lot of the Mississippi Gulf Coast 456 00:25:13,245 --> 00:25:16,079 has been completely destroyed. 457 00:25:16,114 --> 00:25:19,816 We are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters 458 00:25:19,851 --> 00:25:21,318 in our nation's history. 459 00:25:26,124 --> 00:25:29,026 On August 29th, 2005, 460 00:25:29,061 --> 00:25:31,028 Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans 461 00:25:31,063 --> 00:25:33,263 as a Category 3 storm, 462 00:25:33,298 --> 00:25:35,132 sparking the unimaginable. 463 00:25:37,135 --> 00:25:39,269 At around 5:00 A.M., the wall system 464 00:25:39,304 --> 00:25:41,738 built to keep surging storm water out, 465 00:25:41,773 --> 00:25:43,840 called levees, broke, 466 00:25:43,875 --> 00:25:46,076 causing rising water from the lake and the canals 467 00:25:46,111 --> 00:25:48,879 to flood around 80 percent of the city. 468 00:25:48,914 --> 00:25:51,148 New Orleans was beyond devastated. 469 00:27:02,387 --> 00:27:06,256 It was--I mean, it was a lot, 'cause I was not only seeing 470 00:27:06,291 --> 00:27:08,125 images of the park flooding, 471 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,194 but the neighborhood that I live in, 472 00:27:11,229 --> 00:27:13,330 and, um, the--everywhere, 473 00:27:13,365 --> 00:27:16,366 like, my entire life being flooded. 474 00:27:16,401 --> 00:27:18,335 You know, I, uh--I evacuated 475 00:27:18,370 --> 00:27:21,672 to some family--family property 476 00:27:21,707 --> 00:27:24,841 in, uh, kinda more central Louisiana, 477 00:27:24,876 --> 00:27:28,345 and I was really surprised at how bad, you know, 478 00:27:28,380 --> 00:27:30,347 after, you know, the initial storm had passed, 479 00:27:30,382 --> 00:27:32,149 and then, of course, there was the levee breach 480 00:27:32,184 --> 00:27:35,686 was the--really the nail in the coffin for New Orleans. 481 00:27:35,721 --> 00:27:39,022 I was really surprised at how bad things had gotten. 482 00:27:39,057 --> 00:27:42,125 I knew that we had been dealt a really bad hit, 483 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,094 and you know, certainly looking at 484 00:27:44,129 --> 00:27:47,197 what was on local networks, national networks, 485 00:27:47,232 --> 00:27:49,199 radio stations, and so forth, 486 00:27:49,234 --> 00:27:52,069 and I think the more that I was watching that, 487 00:27:52,104 --> 00:27:53,470 you know, the more disheartened, the more depressed 488 00:27:53,505 --> 00:27:55,138 I was getting. 489 00:27:55,173 --> 00:27:58,175 My home, for example, had six feet of water 490 00:27:58,210 --> 00:28:01,111 inside the house, and when you have six feet of water 491 00:28:01,146 --> 00:28:06,083 that was the soupiest, murkiest water possible, 492 00:28:06,118 --> 00:28:08,385 with every chemical you could imagine in it, 493 00:28:08,420 --> 00:28:12,155 sitting in a home for, you know, four to six weeks, 494 00:28:12,190 --> 00:28:14,024 what it did is it devastated the homes, 495 00:28:14,059 --> 00:28:15,959 because you had wind damage, 496 00:28:15,994 --> 00:28:18,995 and then you had flood damage, 497 00:28:19,030 --> 00:28:22,899 and as a result of that, the mold was tremendous, 498 00:28:22,934 --> 00:28:24,901 because after the storm went past, 499 00:28:24,936 --> 00:28:27,904 the heat was very high, so you have all of these homes 500 00:28:27,939 --> 00:28:30,507 that now are--no ventilation, they're all tightly built, 501 00:28:30,542 --> 00:28:32,375 and now the mold is all over the place. 502 00:28:32,410 --> 00:28:36,012 So, Hurricane Katrina just devastated Eastern New Orleans. 503 00:28:36,047 --> 00:28:37,748 Just imagine a home. 504 00:28:37,783 --> 00:28:40,350 It was a mess, the smell. 505 00:28:40,385 --> 00:28:43,220 The other thing that was onerous about it all 506 00:28:43,255 --> 00:28:45,388 was you could smell death in the air. 507 00:28:55,133 --> 00:28:57,434 We have to go down Jacob, I need to see my house. 508 00:29:19,424 --> 00:29:21,391 Hard to believe I lived in it. 509 00:29:24,296 --> 00:29:26,062 Oh, God. 510 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:30,100 This is the inside of the garage, 511 00:29:30,135 --> 00:29:32,102 Eric's flag is still hanging up. 512 00:30:11,409 --> 00:30:13,376 Oh, my God. 513 00:30:26,324 --> 00:30:28,592 Look at all that stuff. 514 00:30:38,637 --> 00:30:41,171 Fell right in the middle of their yard. 515 00:30:46,144 --> 00:30:48,211 See the holes in the roof we had to punch out to get out? 516 00:30:48,246 --> 00:30:50,380 Can you imagine being in the house and floating? 517 00:31:15,607 --> 00:31:18,541 Well, the park had a levee running around it, 518 00:31:18,576 --> 00:31:21,177 but it was basically a small levee 519 00:31:21,212 --> 00:31:23,313 just to keep the water from the park 520 00:31:23,348 --> 00:31:25,515 going into the surrounding areas, 521 00:31:25,550 --> 00:31:27,651 and that's why we had our own pump station installed 522 00:31:27,686 --> 00:31:30,453 on the park, so we were maintaining that water 523 00:31:30,488 --> 00:31:33,323 from going to other places, going to other properties, 524 00:31:33,358 --> 00:31:36,559 like I said, but, you know, to envision what happened, 525 00:31:36,594 --> 00:31:38,395 no, I don't think anybody envisioned that 526 00:31:38,430 --> 00:31:41,331 that would happen to not only Jazzland, 527 00:31:41,366 --> 00:31:42,499 but the city of New Orleans. 528 00:31:42,534 --> 00:31:45,402 Just the magnitude of that loss, 529 00:31:45,437 --> 00:31:48,238 and that--the damage that was done. 530 00:33:05,316 --> 00:33:08,218 In every single building here, 531 00:33:08,253 --> 00:33:11,654 you can see where the water was standing 532 00:33:11,689 --> 00:33:14,491 in all of these buildings. 533 00:33:14,526 --> 00:33:19,429 All right, so we're walking into the simulator bays now 534 00:33:19,464 --> 00:33:22,432 to the SpongeBob ride, 535 00:33:22,467 --> 00:33:25,301 and while some of it has been gutted, 536 00:33:25,336 --> 00:33:28,772 here is one of the final... 537 00:33:33,845 --> 00:33:35,645 ...simulator bays. 538 00:33:38,083 --> 00:33:40,650 This way. 539 00:33:45,490 --> 00:33:47,257 Oh my God. 540 00:33:58,803 --> 00:34:02,639 This bay still has the screen in it. 541 00:34:02,674 --> 00:34:04,407 Whatever is left of it, at least. 542 00:34:04,442 --> 00:34:06,576 Well, yeah. 543 00:34:06,611 --> 00:34:08,545 Wow. 544 00:34:18,456 --> 00:34:22,392 So, this over here is the park administration building. 545 00:34:28,900 --> 00:34:31,501 Oh my God. 546 00:34:36,374 --> 00:34:38,275 -Oh my God, look at this. -Yeah. 547 00:34:44,516 --> 00:34:46,282 Jazzland. 548 00:34:46,317 --> 00:34:47,784 Oh, jeez. 549 00:34:47,819 --> 00:34:49,819 You know what this was? 550 00:34:49,854 --> 00:34:52,789 This was the park's audio system. 551 00:34:52,824 --> 00:34:55,558 -The thing playing music. -Yeah, ambient music 552 00:34:55,593 --> 00:34:58,828 probably would've been played through here. 553 00:34:58,863 --> 00:35:01,564 -Holy Christ. -The equalizer tracks, 554 00:35:01,599 --> 00:35:02,732 it looks like it had three of them. 555 00:35:02,767 --> 00:35:04,734 Look at where the water was. 556 00:35:04,769 --> 00:35:07,370 -The water line is right here. -Yeah, each little line 557 00:35:07,405 --> 00:35:10,406 that you see going down is where the water sat as it receded. 558 00:35:10,441 --> 00:35:13,143 -It's amazing. -That is unbelievable. 559 00:35:13,178 --> 00:35:16,412 -"We're going live." -"We're going live in '05!" 560 00:35:16,447 --> 00:35:19,849 Everything is stuck in time here. 561 00:35:19,884 --> 00:35:22,585 "Suggestions sell...earn those." 562 00:35:22,620 --> 00:35:24,754 Holy--look at this. 563 00:35:27,425 --> 00:35:29,425 Oh my gosh. 564 00:35:34,732 --> 00:35:36,566 Wow. 565 00:35:40,605 --> 00:35:41,905 Look at this. 566 00:35:53,751 --> 00:35:55,852 This was the manager's office here. 567 00:35:55,887 --> 00:35:58,755 This point, this is, um... 568 00:36:00,758 --> 00:36:03,660 This whole office looks like it was in a shipwreck, 569 00:36:03,695 --> 00:36:06,629 like they just pulled it out of the ocean. 570 00:36:06,664 --> 00:36:08,665 -Oh, wow. -Yeah, look at this. 571 00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:11,534 This is where they would monitor each area. 572 00:36:11,569 --> 00:36:13,603 Yep. 573 00:36:13,638 --> 00:36:17,207 Look at this, still has the price tag on it. 574 00:36:17,242 --> 00:36:20,476 The month Katrina hit, 575 00:36:20,511 --> 00:36:22,212 2005, 576 00:36:22,247 --> 00:36:24,781 and this office stopped. 577 00:36:24,816 --> 00:36:26,883 Six Flags New Orleans, 578 00:36:26,918 --> 00:36:30,753 Fright Fest 2005. 579 00:36:30,788 --> 00:36:32,755 Of course, it never happened. 580 00:36:32,790 --> 00:36:36,226 Then, the schedules, August 22nd, 2005, 581 00:36:36,261 --> 00:36:39,929 to August 28th, 2005. 582 00:36:39,964 --> 00:36:41,931 Wow. 583 00:36:43,968 --> 00:36:46,436 Despite the park's Southern climate, 584 00:36:46,471 --> 00:36:49,906 Six Flags New Orleans was on a seasonal operating schedule. 585 00:36:49,941 --> 00:36:54,577 The park's last day open was August 21st, 2005. 586 00:36:54,612 --> 00:36:58,248 Scheduled to open the weekend of the 27th and 28th, 587 00:36:58,283 --> 00:37:00,016 the park closed due to storm preparation, 588 00:37:00,051 --> 00:37:03,653 and the plan to open was moved to the following weekend. 589 00:37:03,688 --> 00:37:05,688 The park never opened again. 590 00:37:11,763 --> 00:37:13,730 Watch out for nails. 591 00:37:43,828 --> 00:37:45,862 Again, look at the water line in here. 592 00:37:52,503 --> 00:37:54,737 Man, I'm... 593 00:37:54,772 --> 00:37:56,539 What's in here? 594 00:37:56,574 --> 00:37:57,974 -Whoa. -Clothing area. 595 00:37:58,009 --> 00:37:59,976 -Wow. -Whoa. 596 00:38:00,011 --> 00:38:02,679 -This is where all the-- -Yeah, you're right, 597 00:38:02,714 --> 00:38:05,581 this is costuming. 598 00:38:05,616 --> 00:38:07,583 Some of them are still in the bags. 599 00:38:07,618 --> 00:38:10,086 -That's so incredible. -Yeah, look at that. 600 00:38:10,121 --> 00:38:11,721 That, too. 601 00:38:14,559 --> 00:38:15,858 Look at that, "Men's pants," these are all 602 00:38:15,893 --> 00:38:18,861 still in their packaging. 603 00:38:18,896 --> 00:38:21,798 -Just ready for someone to-- -Dry cleaned and ready to go. 604 00:38:21,833 --> 00:38:24,767 Yeah, unbelievable. 605 00:38:24,802 --> 00:38:26,102 Holy crap. 606 00:38:28,072 --> 00:38:29,772 This is, like, the-- this is the warehouse 607 00:38:29,807 --> 00:38:31,841 -where they'd take shipments-- -Yeah, yep, 608 00:38:31,876 --> 00:38:35,111 this is where they stored everything. 609 00:38:35,146 --> 00:38:36,779 Oh my God. 610 00:38:38,883 --> 00:38:41,918 It's something else. 611 00:38:41,953 --> 00:38:44,087 Look at--look. 612 00:38:44,122 --> 00:38:48,658 The park was gearing up for a Halloween celebration 613 00:38:48,693 --> 00:38:50,660 at the end of August. 614 00:38:50,695 --> 00:38:52,929 Well, they were gearing up at the end of August. 615 00:38:52,964 --> 00:38:57,600 So, I think that's why they have Halloween cups in here. 616 00:38:57,635 --> 00:38:58,901 -Hey, check out these-- -Oh, yeah, 617 00:38:58,936 --> 00:39:01,137 Halloween decorations. 618 00:39:01,172 --> 00:39:03,039 Wow. 619 00:39:03,074 --> 00:39:05,742 Oh my God, man. 620 00:39:05,777 --> 00:39:08,078 This is unreal. 621 00:39:17,021 --> 00:39:19,789 I remember going into the park. 622 00:39:19,824 --> 00:39:23,893 Interestingly, it was a really nice weather day. 623 00:39:23,928 --> 00:39:26,696 Came back, actually went into my office. 624 00:39:26,731 --> 00:39:29,899 There were a handful of files that I wanted to recover. 625 00:39:29,934 --> 00:39:32,835 Unfortunately, they were unrecoverable. 626 00:39:32,870 --> 00:39:34,604 There was some memorabilia that I had 627 00:39:34,639 --> 00:39:36,072 that I wanted to recover. 628 00:39:36,107 --> 00:39:39,008 Unfortunately, that too was unrecoverable. 629 00:39:39,043 --> 00:39:41,878 The office was total trash, you know, of course, furniture, 630 00:39:41,913 --> 00:39:45,114 like any other Katrina casualty. 631 00:39:45,149 --> 00:39:46,949 The furniture was upside down, 632 00:39:46,984 --> 00:39:49,619 inside out, water lines on the walls, 633 00:39:49,654 --> 00:39:52,955 you know, mold and mildew and so forth. 634 00:39:52,990 --> 00:39:56,092 Physically, if you walked the park itself outside, 635 00:39:56,127 --> 00:39:57,860 it really didn't look that bad, 636 00:39:57,895 --> 00:39:59,695 because we were an outside facility to begin with. 637 00:39:59,730 --> 00:40:00,830 If you just took from the midway down, 638 00:40:00,865 --> 00:40:01,831 oh, the park looks fine. 639 00:40:01,866 --> 00:40:03,833 It's when you went into the actual facilities 640 00:40:03,868 --> 00:40:07,637 that you saw the level and the extent of the damage. 641 00:40:09,474 --> 00:40:12,875 I will say that Six Flags Corporate, as a company, 642 00:40:12,910 --> 00:40:16,012 was extremely generous to the employees 643 00:40:16,047 --> 00:40:18,014 of the New Orleans park 644 00:40:18,049 --> 00:40:19,849 following Hurricane Katrina. 645 00:40:19,884 --> 00:40:23,753 We actually remained on staff and remained on payroll. 646 00:40:23,788 --> 00:40:25,655 We got paid every two weeks 647 00:40:25,690 --> 00:40:27,990 from the time of the hurricane 648 00:40:28,025 --> 00:40:31,795 until the end of April the following year. 649 00:40:33,764 --> 00:40:36,999 We had a company-wide conference. 650 00:40:37,034 --> 00:40:39,469 It was all the parks in the entire Six Flags system 651 00:40:39,504 --> 00:40:40,670 in San Antonio that year, 652 00:40:40,705 --> 00:40:45,174 that would've been in either late 2005 or early 2006, 653 00:40:45,209 --> 00:40:49,846 and Six Flags had gone through a--Six Flags Corporate 654 00:40:49,881 --> 00:40:51,481 had gone through a management change. 655 00:40:51,516 --> 00:40:53,983 Gary Story was the president and CEO 656 00:40:54,018 --> 00:40:56,219 when we became Six Flags. 657 00:40:56,254 --> 00:40:58,488 We had a change in leadership, 658 00:40:58,523 --> 00:41:02,191 and at that conference in San Antonio, 659 00:41:02,226 --> 00:41:04,660 it was me and another counterpart, 660 00:41:04,695 --> 00:41:05,694 we introduced ourselves to him, 661 00:41:05,730 --> 00:41:07,897 we said, "We're from the New Orleans park," 662 00:41:07,932 --> 00:41:10,967 and I said, "We hope that we have a park to come back to." 663 00:41:11,002 --> 00:41:13,870 And he gave me this look, and he didn't say anything, 664 00:41:13,905 --> 00:41:15,071 and he just kind of nodded his head, 665 00:41:15,106 --> 00:41:17,773 and I knew at that moment, I said, "We're not going back." 666 00:41:17,808 --> 00:41:20,676 I said, "They're not gonna rebuild this park." 667 00:41:33,558 --> 00:41:36,225 I don't know that they thought too much 668 00:41:36,260 --> 00:41:39,529 about any of their parks in that particular era. 669 00:41:39,564 --> 00:41:41,230 The maintenance, 670 00:41:41,265 --> 00:41:45,001 or lack thereof at several properties, 671 00:41:45,036 --> 00:41:49,138 AstroWorld was disgustingly dirty. 672 00:41:49,173 --> 00:41:51,140 New Orleans, they kept it cleaner, 673 00:41:51,175 --> 00:41:53,809 but it wasn't really high on their priority 674 00:41:53,844 --> 00:41:55,278 to do any upgrades. 675 00:41:55,313 --> 00:41:57,980 They weren't doing upgrades at any of their parks 676 00:41:58,015 --> 00:42:00,082 in that particular time, which is part of the reason 677 00:42:00,117 --> 00:42:01,317 that led to the hostile takeover 678 00:42:01,352 --> 00:42:02,985 in December of 2005, 679 00:42:03,020 --> 00:42:06,155 it was they were really just trying 680 00:42:06,190 --> 00:42:07,990 to keep the bills paid. 681 00:42:08,025 --> 00:42:11,160 In 2004, Six Flags began selling off assets 682 00:42:11,195 --> 00:42:14,230 to try and help pay off their growing debt. 683 00:42:14,265 --> 00:42:16,232 That year, the company as a whole 684 00:42:16,267 --> 00:42:19,569 lost over $400 million, 685 00:42:19,604 --> 00:42:21,203 and after Hurricane Katrina, 686 00:42:21,238 --> 00:42:24,206 they determined the damage done to their New Orleans park 687 00:42:24,241 --> 00:42:26,976 was over $32 million. 688 00:42:27,011 --> 00:42:29,812 The company then embarked on a long and tedious battle 689 00:42:29,847 --> 00:42:33,082 with their insurance company over the exact payouts. 690 00:42:33,117 --> 00:42:36,085 In the meantime, the Six Flags New Orleans parking lot 691 00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:40,089 had been used as a FEMA trailer camp. 692 00:42:40,124 --> 00:42:42,191 There was definitely too many things going on 693 00:42:42,226 --> 00:42:44,961 for them to worry about New Orleans. 694 00:42:44,996 --> 00:42:46,262 New Orleans was not the only property 695 00:42:46,297 --> 00:42:48,197 they abandoned at that particular time. 696 00:42:48,232 --> 00:42:51,834 Kentucky Kingdom was likewise never reopened. 697 00:42:51,869 --> 00:42:53,836 It shut down about the same time. 698 00:42:53,871 --> 00:42:56,839 AstroWorld, obviously, was shut down at the same time, 699 00:42:56,874 --> 00:42:58,207 and it had nothing to do with the hurricane, 700 00:42:58,242 --> 00:42:59,942 it was simply a business decision 701 00:42:59,977 --> 00:43:02,278 that they needed money. 702 00:43:02,313 --> 00:43:05,915 So they closed down the parks that were drains 703 00:43:05,950 --> 00:43:10,152 or where they felt like they could get a quick cash grab 704 00:43:10,187 --> 00:43:12,221 and solve other issues. 705 00:43:12,256 --> 00:43:16,225 With New Orleans, when Dan Snyder took over, 706 00:43:16,260 --> 00:43:19,895 he had way too many issues with the rest of the chain 707 00:43:19,930 --> 00:43:21,230 to try to worry about 708 00:43:21,265 --> 00:43:22,431 what was happening in New Orleans, 709 00:43:22,466 --> 00:43:27,870 and since it was a smaller park and a smaller profit center, 710 00:43:27,905 --> 00:43:31,240 it wasn't a cash cow for him to really worry about. 711 00:43:31,275 --> 00:43:34,010 It was, I'll tell you, it was a little hurtful, 712 00:43:34,045 --> 00:43:35,845 but I think, in the back of my mind, 713 00:43:35,880 --> 00:43:41,150 we all kind of knew that it was probably a 70-30, 714 00:43:41,185 --> 00:43:43,886 maybe an 80-20% chance 715 00:43:43,921 --> 00:43:47,223 that we were going to get this park back. 716 00:43:47,258 --> 00:43:49,925 By 2007, Six Flags quietly began 717 00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:53,095 removing attractions from the park for relocation, 718 00:43:53,130 --> 00:43:55,131 never publicly saying what they had planned 719 00:43:55,166 --> 00:43:56,666 to do with the park. 720 00:43:56,701 --> 00:43:59,135 In 2009, the company finally negotiated 721 00:43:59,170 --> 00:44:01,303 out of their land lease with the city, 722 00:44:01,338 --> 00:44:04,874 paying out just $3 million and giving the land back 723 00:44:04,909 --> 00:44:07,943 to the City of New Orleans. 724 00:44:07,978 --> 00:44:10,413 There's a certain point where you can't be optimistic, 725 00:44:10,448 --> 00:44:12,314 where you see Six Flags coming in 726 00:44:12,349 --> 00:44:16,218 and taking rides out, 727 00:44:16,253 --> 00:44:18,154 it's not a good sign. 728 00:44:18,189 --> 00:44:21,257 And they took the assets that they brought into the park, 729 00:44:21,292 --> 00:44:23,159 any of the assets that they wanted, 730 00:44:23,194 --> 00:44:26,062 and then those that they had no interest in, 731 00:44:26,097 --> 00:44:29,198 they left them at the facility, they left them at the site. 732 00:44:43,481 --> 00:44:47,216 Today, the only visitors to the park are vandals, 733 00:44:47,251 --> 00:44:49,485 thieves, and urban explorers 734 00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:53,923 curious and eager to capture what's left behind. 735 00:44:53,958 --> 00:44:57,259 I remember seeing it really, really early, 736 00:44:57,294 --> 00:44:59,395 like right after the water receded, 737 00:44:59,430 --> 00:45:01,263 and my heart just broke. 738 00:45:01,298 --> 00:45:05,101 I mean, it looked-- it just looked sad. 739 00:45:05,136 --> 00:45:06,335 It looked empty, 740 00:45:06,370 --> 00:45:09,305 it looked like it had been hit by a hurricane. 741 00:45:09,340 --> 00:45:11,140 It looked lonely, 742 00:45:11,175 --> 00:45:14,009 and I remember, because I was in 8th grade, 743 00:45:14,044 --> 00:45:16,312 it wasn't that long ago that I was here 744 00:45:16,347 --> 00:45:19,014 when everything was lively and, you know, going on. 745 00:45:19,049 --> 00:45:21,450 And so it hurt my heart to see it, 746 00:45:21,485 --> 00:45:22,684 that's the saddest thing. 747 00:45:22,720 --> 00:45:27,056 It hadn't really hit me yet that this was a city-wide thing, 748 00:45:27,091 --> 00:45:30,025 but this was just like the biggest monument, I think, 749 00:45:30,060 --> 00:45:33,429 that I had personally been to 750 00:45:33,464 --> 00:45:35,498 that was at one time so colorful 751 00:45:35,533 --> 00:45:39,935 and now was all watermarked and dirty and broken. 752 00:45:39,970 --> 00:45:42,171 It's definitely eye-opening to see 753 00:45:42,206 --> 00:45:44,006 how easily Mother Nature 754 00:45:44,041 --> 00:45:46,275 can take back things so quickly, quietly. 755 00:46:02,493 --> 00:46:06,529 Hurricane Katrina left Six Flags New Orleans destroyed. 756 00:46:06,564 --> 00:46:08,197 It has been 15 years, 757 00:46:08,232 --> 00:46:11,066 and the park sits there frozen in time. 758 00:46:11,101 --> 00:46:13,068 Would rebuilding a theme park in New Orleans 759 00:46:13,103 --> 00:46:16,005 fill the hole in the community and prosper? 760 00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:18,274 Jazzland failed in just a few years, 761 00:46:18,309 --> 00:46:21,177 but Six Flags New Orleans was a success. 762 00:46:21,212 --> 00:46:24,146 With $23.2 million in revenue, 763 00:46:24,181 --> 00:46:27,349 the park profited $13.6 million. 764 00:46:27,384 --> 00:46:31,520 However, in 2009, Six Flags declared bankruptcy. 765 00:46:31,555 --> 00:46:33,489 Ultimately, the decision was made 766 00:46:33,524 --> 00:46:36,091 to abandon their New Orleans park, 767 00:46:36,126 --> 00:46:40,296 leaving a permanent scar in the community. 768 00:46:40,331 --> 00:46:44,333 While Mayor Nagin wanted Six Flags to come back, 769 00:46:44,368 --> 00:46:46,268 it just really wasn't in the cards. 770 00:46:46,303 --> 00:46:49,405 I think the crowds had gone down, 771 00:46:49,440 --> 00:46:53,242 I don't think they drew as many people out there 772 00:46:53,277 --> 00:46:55,544 for whatever reason, I don't know. 773 00:46:55,579 --> 00:46:57,279 We all worked so hard 774 00:46:57,314 --> 00:47:00,382 to make the park an amazing experience 775 00:47:00,417 --> 00:47:04,286 and to try to bring as many folks as we could. 776 00:47:04,321 --> 00:47:08,390 And we did--we did great volume in sales of season passes 777 00:47:08,425 --> 00:47:11,560 and group tickets for weekends, of course, 778 00:47:11,595 --> 00:47:14,129 but we always struggled with weekday attendance. 779 00:47:14,164 --> 00:47:15,531 You know, it's hard. 780 00:47:15,566 --> 00:47:18,033 We're a smaller market, so to get folks to drive in 781 00:47:18,068 --> 00:47:20,269 from Mississippi or Alabama during the weekday, 782 00:47:20,304 --> 00:47:21,403 that's a weekend trip, 783 00:47:21,438 --> 00:47:24,173 so we relied on the New Orleans market 784 00:47:24,208 --> 00:47:27,142 to support us, and for better or worse, 785 00:47:27,177 --> 00:47:28,377 unfortunately or fortunately, 786 00:47:28,412 --> 00:47:30,279 depending on how you look at it, 787 00:47:30,314 --> 00:47:32,081 I don't know if we ever felt the love 788 00:47:32,116 --> 00:47:36,085 that we really should have felt from people in New Orleans. 789 00:47:36,120 --> 00:47:37,620 Another thing that I think was a detriment to us 790 00:47:37,655 --> 00:47:39,555 was the fact that it's hot here, 791 00:47:39,590 --> 00:47:41,090 you know, I mean, there's no denying 792 00:47:41,125 --> 00:47:43,325 that New Orleans is a hot city. 793 00:47:43,360 --> 00:47:48,130 And not having a water park as a supplemental element 794 00:47:48,165 --> 00:47:50,065 certainly did hurt us. 795 00:47:50,100 --> 00:47:52,134 You know, again, we were actually planning 796 00:47:52,169 --> 00:47:55,671 to put the water park in for the-- 797 00:47:55,706 --> 00:47:57,673 would have been the 2006 season, 798 00:47:57,708 --> 00:47:59,475 but Hurricane Katrina 799 00:47:59,510 --> 00:48:01,577 certainly had other plans for us. 800 00:48:01,612 --> 00:48:05,581 For a Six Flags type park, the numbers were low. 801 00:48:05,616 --> 00:48:07,583 Six Flags parks typically get 802 00:48:07,618 --> 00:48:10,185 at least two million people a year. 803 00:48:10,220 --> 00:48:12,454 The New Orleans market is a smaller market, 804 00:48:12,489 --> 00:48:15,491 so the numbers were less than a million. 805 00:48:15,526 --> 00:48:20,529 But if you look at locally owned regional parks, 806 00:48:20,564 --> 00:48:23,098 family type parks. 807 00:48:23,133 --> 00:48:25,668 Those attendance numbers are in the 800,000 808 00:48:25,703 --> 00:48:28,404 to one million range. 809 00:48:28,439 --> 00:48:30,239 Those are numbers 810 00:48:30,274 --> 00:48:34,176 that sustained those family parks very well 811 00:48:34,211 --> 00:48:37,479 with profit margins as high as 50 percent. 812 00:48:37,514 --> 00:48:39,615 Six Flags even in New Orleans 813 00:48:39,650 --> 00:48:42,685 had profit margins of over 50 percent. 814 00:48:42,720 --> 00:48:45,521 It's a smaller market, 815 00:48:45,556 --> 00:48:47,489 but it's still a profitable market, 816 00:48:47,524 --> 00:48:50,492 and we're not expecting it to be anything above and beyond 817 00:48:50,527 --> 00:48:52,394 what was necessarily there before. 818 00:48:52,429 --> 00:48:57,499 If we just do what they did, we will be doing quite well. 819 00:48:57,534 --> 00:49:00,135 I actually, like the city would have cared, 820 00:49:00,170 --> 00:49:01,470 I actually sent an email to City Hall 821 00:49:01,505 --> 00:49:03,672 and I said, "Six Flags is gonna bail." 822 00:49:03,707 --> 00:49:05,307 Like they're gonna pay attention, 823 00:49:05,342 --> 00:49:06,575 but I just knew it, 824 00:49:06,610 --> 00:49:10,279 there was no way that they would stay. 825 00:49:10,314 --> 00:49:12,481 They were in it to, like I said, 826 00:49:12,516 --> 00:49:14,516 get that low-cost investment 827 00:49:14,551 --> 00:49:19,455 where they can put in $10 million, $25 million here 828 00:49:19,490 --> 00:49:22,391 for new attractions or expansions. 829 00:49:22,426 --> 00:49:25,327 They weren't gonna rebuild a park from scratch. 830 00:49:25,362 --> 00:49:29,231 At that time, Nickelodeon was looking at the park 831 00:49:29,266 --> 00:49:32,634 to rebuild it as a Nickelodeon theme park 832 00:49:32,669 --> 00:49:34,536 that we tried-- 833 00:49:34,571 --> 00:49:36,739 I was working with them at the time as well. 834 00:49:36,774 --> 00:49:40,642 We tried for about six months altogether 835 00:49:40,677 --> 00:49:45,581 before that effort really just hit 836 00:49:45,616 --> 00:49:49,284 one dead end after another. 837 00:49:49,319 --> 00:49:51,520 Mayor Nagin's term was ended, 838 00:49:51,555 --> 00:49:54,323 and Mayor Landrieu came into office, 839 00:49:54,358 --> 00:49:59,194 so things kind of started all over fresh with him in 2010. 840 00:49:59,229 --> 00:50:01,230 We proposed to rebuild it as Jazzland. 841 00:50:03,600 --> 00:50:06,335 This is our plans for the whole area. 842 00:50:06,370 --> 00:50:09,571 This about a 15-year buildout. 843 00:50:09,606 --> 00:50:13,575 Where the park is, along with associated lands 844 00:50:13,610 --> 00:50:19,815 to really turn it into a large, destination-quality resort. 845 00:50:19,850 --> 00:50:23,318 Long term, 15 years, we'd love to see two theme parks 846 00:50:23,353 --> 00:50:26,588 as well as the water park and mixed use, 847 00:50:26,623 --> 00:50:29,224 something kind of like a Downtown Disney, 848 00:50:29,259 --> 00:50:31,260 something that gives both the locals 849 00:50:31,295 --> 00:50:32,694 as well as tourists 850 00:50:32,729 --> 00:50:35,464 shopping and entertainment options and dining. 851 00:50:35,499 --> 00:50:37,599 The theme park itself, right now, we're estimating 852 00:50:37,634 --> 00:50:40,369 about $65 million to rebuild it, 853 00:50:40,404 --> 00:50:42,471 compared to a brand-new theme park. 854 00:50:42,506 --> 00:50:44,440 A brand-new theme park would be $200 million. 855 00:50:44,475 --> 00:50:46,442 So it's still a huge cost savings, 856 00:50:46,477 --> 00:50:49,478 and it's what makes the project feasible. 857 00:50:49,513 --> 00:50:53,749 You cannot build a new theme park in this market 858 00:50:53,784 --> 00:50:57,619 because you cannot justify those costs. 859 00:50:57,654 --> 00:50:59,388 We've looked at every building, 860 00:50:59,423 --> 00:51:02,758 every item, every ride, everything, 861 00:51:02,793 --> 00:51:04,493 and have individual cost estimates 862 00:51:04,528 --> 00:51:06,562 for each individual thing. 863 00:51:06,597 --> 00:51:09,498 The concrete is what's primary, 864 00:51:09,533 --> 00:51:13,669 is what makes it the most efficient use to rebuild. 865 00:51:13,704 --> 00:51:16,605 The concrete and foundations were built very well. 866 00:51:16,640 --> 00:51:19,641 They're on top of piers that have supported them, 867 00:51:19,676 --> 00:51:22,878 there's no cracks, they are structurally sound, 868 00:51:22,913 --> 00:51:24,880 and they can support the new equipment 869 00:51:24,915 --> 00:51:26,648 that would be brought in. 870 00:51:26,683 --> 00:51:30,319 So things like Mega Zeph, which has steel infrastructure, 871 00:51:30,354 --> 00:51:34,289 that can be rebuilt for $4.5 million to $5 million 872 00:51:34,324 --> 00:51:36,325 versus building new that would have been 873 00:51:36,360 --> 00:51:38,293 about $15 million. 874 00:51:38,328 --> 00:51:41,697 Right now, I have my sights on the Six Flags site, 875 00:51:41,732 --> 00:51:44,833 which we are now running numbers for demolition, 876 00:51:44,868 --> 00:51:46,368 really as I speak. 877 00:51:52,843 --> 00:51:55,811 -Honestly? -Did you not know? 878 00:51:55,846 --> 00:51:57,779 -No, you want me to be serious? -Be absolutely honest. 879 00:51:57,814 --> 00:52:01,550 Yeah, they've been saying that for 10, 15 years. 880 00:52:01,585 --> 00:52:04,887 They stopped talking about it, you know, late 2006, 881 00:52:04,922 --> 00:52:06,421 nobody really said anything, 882 00:52:06,456 --> 00:52:07,689 and then you'd see like a news article 883 00:52:07,724 --> 00:52:08,623 in the Times-Picayune and they go, 884 00:52:08,659 --> 00:52:10,726 "Oh, well, somebody's buying the park. 885 00:52:10,761 --> 00:52:11,727 Let's see if they rebuild it, 886 00:52:11,762 --> 00:52:14,463 or let's see if they build a subdivision, 887 00:52:14,498 --> 00:52:17,366 or see if they build like a shopping mall," 888 00:52:17,401 --> 00:52:18,434 and then it was nothing. 889 00:52:19,870 --> 00:52:22,437 I really doubt an amusement park 890 00:52:22,472 --> 00:52:26,708 could ever be in that site's future. 891 00:52:26,743 --> 00:52:31,547 They know that it's an issue with trespassing. 892 00:52:31,582 --> 00:52:33,682 They feel that getting rid of it 893 00:52:33,717 --> 00:52:39,454 would be the easiest solution to keep the trespassers out. 894 00:52:39,489 --> 00:52:43,192 Unfortunately, that doesn't do anything for the neighbors. 895 00:52:43,227 --> 00:52:45,527 It's still a blighted, abandoned property 896 00:52:45,562 --> 00:52:46,728 that would be sitting there. 897 00:52:46,763 --> 00:52:51,466 It is surrounded by vacant land that hasn't been developed 898 00:52:51,501 --> 00:52:52,600 for the last 20 years, 899 00:52:52,636 --> 00:52:55,704 there's no reason to suspect that a demolished park 900 00:52:55,739 --> 00:52:59,441 would all of a sudden be attractive and be developed. 901 00:52:59,476 --> 00:53:00,308 If you have the funding, 902 00:53:00,344 --> 00:53:03,712 if you believe that you can do this, 903 00:53:03,747 --> 00:53:05,414 bring the park back up, 904 00:53:05,449 --> 00:53:07,849 why would the city not want to do that? 905 00:53:07,884 --> 00:53:10,219 Why would the city not want to go with you? 906 00:53:10,254 --> 00:53:12,788 You're trying to get me into trouble. 907 00:53:12,823 --> 00:53:15,557 We know that the previous administration 908 00:53:15,592 --> 00:53:18,493 didn't necessarily support development 909 00:53:18,528 --> 00:53:19,761 in New Orleans East. 910 00:53:19,796 --> 00:53:22,831 The current administration seems more open 911 00:53:22,866 --> 00:53:24,900 and wanting to do things for New Orleans East, 912 00:53:24,935 --> 00:53:27,869 but there is a perception issue. 913 00:53:27,904 --> 00:53:30,639 The people of New Orleans East are not given credit 914 00:53:30,674 --> 00:53:34,576 for the quality of life that they really do have. 915 00:53:34,611 --> 00:53:36,778 It's a nice neighborhood, there are great people 916 00:53:36,813 --> 00:53:37,979 that live in New Orleans East. 917 00:53:38,014 --> 00:53:40,649 That was some of the things that the developers sold us, 918 00:53:40,684 --> 00:53:42,684 saying it's gonna be just like you living 919 00:53:42,719 --> 00:53:43,919 a block away from Disney World, 920 00:53:43,954 --> 00:53:46,521 and your property value will soar, 921 00:53:46,556 --> 00:53:49,658 but since Katrina, 2005, it's been sitting dormant, 922 00:53:49,693 --> 00:53:51,660 empty, and ruined since that time, 923 00:53:51,695 --> 00:53:54,429 so how is that gonna make a positive effect 924 00:53:54,464 --> 00:53:57,499 on your home, on the value of your home 925 00:53:57,534 --> 00:53:59,534 when you've got an eyesore like this? 926 00:54:08,712 --> 00:54:11,480 I would think that if this was in Downtown New Orleans, 927 00:54:11,515 --> 00:54:12,681 it wouldn't take this long for the city 928 00:54:12,716 --> 00:54:14,583 to actually do something with it. 929 00:54:14,618 --> 00:54:16,451 By being out here in this neighborhood, 930 00:54:16,486 --> 00:54:18,787 or whatever, I guess they just take their time. 931 00:54:18,822 --> 00:54:21,056 We're talking 2005 and now we're in 2020. 932 00:54:21,091 --> 00:54:22,791 Take a walk up on my deck 933 00:54:22,826 --> 00:54:24,626 and you take a look over the back, 934 00:54:24,661 --> 00:54:26,295 and what I remember seeing years ago 935 00:54:26,330 --> 00:54:27,963 was a bunch of forest, beautiful, 936 00:54:27,998 --> 00:54:30,299 and now you come up here and, of course, 937 00:54:30,334 --> 00:54:32,834 the first 100, 200 feet you see the trees, 938 00:54:32,869 --> 00:54:34,636 but then you see a parking lot that's empty 939 00:54:34,671 --> 00:54:36,605 with rusted-out lights, 940 00:54:36,640 --> 00:54:37,573 and then you see the roller coaster 941 00:54:37,608 --> 00:54:39,308 off in the distance that's sitting dormant, 942 00:54:39,343 --> 00:54:41,677 just sitting there and whatever. 943 00:54:41,712 --> 00:54:44,713 We just hoped that the city would do something with it. 944 00:54:44,748 --> 00:54:48,950 My home was valued more in 2005 945 00:54:48,985 --> 00:54:51,586 than it is currently valued today. 946 00:54:51,621 --> 00:54:53,522 Whereas the rest of New Orleans, 947 00:54:53,557 --> 00:54:55,657 outside of Eastern New Orleans, 948 00:54:55,692 --> 00:54:58,827 the values have surpassed the pre-Katrina values. 949 00:54:58,862 --> 00:55:01,063 So from--if you're a resident and you're sitting there 950 00:55:01,098 --> 00:55:03,598 and you're kinda waiting for things to come up, 951 00:55:03,633 --> 00:55:05,801 and one of the crowning elements of blight 952 00:55:05,836 --> 00:55:08,103 that is depressing the values of properties 953 00:55:08,138 --> 00:55:09,871 is this Jazzland site. 954 00:55:09,906 --> 00:55:13,008 So it's been frustrating for our residents 955 00:55:13,043 --> 00:55:14,743 for a long time. 956 00:55:14,778 --> 00:55:18,647 And the problem is there's not a plan yet 957 00:55:18,682 --> 00:55:20,515 to do something about it, 958 00:55:20,550 --> 00:55:22,751 so residents have just been sitting there 959 00:55:22,786 --> 00:55:25,754 with major investments and, for many people, 960 00:55:25,789 --> 00:55:27,356 the biggest investment they'll make in their lives 961 00:55:27,391 --> 00:55:28,857 is in their homes, 962 00:55:28,892 --> 00:55:30,892 and they're seeing those values, 963 00:55:30,927 --> 00:55:32,761 in many cases, they're upside down. 964 00:55:32,796 --> 00:55:35,831 He will be the moral compass of this city. 965 00:55:35,866 --> 00:55:37,566 We need a champion 966 00:55:37,601 --> 00:55:40,569 who will guide a master plan to completion. 967 00:55:40,604 --> 00:55:43,071 We need a champion who will bring serenity 968 00:55:43,106 --> 00:55:45,640 and safety back to our streets. 969 00:55:45,675 --> 00:55:47,976 We need a champion who will pave our roads 970 00:55:48,011 --> 00:55:50,545 while paving the way for a new generation. 971 00:55:50,580 --> 00:55:52,948 We need a champion for change. 972 00:55:52,983 --> 00:55:56,752 We need the next mayor of the City of New Orleans, 973 00:55:56,787 --> 00:55:58,587 Troy Henry! 974 00:56:01,691 --> 00:56:02,991 It was one of the principle drivers 975 00:56:03,026 --> 00:56:05,927 for me deciding to run for office, 976 00:56:05,962 --> 00:56:07,929 and for mayor specifically, 977 00:56:07,964 --> 00:56:10,866 was because, I mean, the executive branch 978 00:56:10,901 --> 00:56:12,801 is supposed to execute. 979 00:56:12,836 --> 00:56:16,671 And we had had too many politicians 980 00:56:16,706 --> 00:56:19,074 and not enough managerial experts 981 00:56:19,109 --> 00:56:20,575 that could really understand 982 00:56:20,610 --> 00:56:22,944 how to manage a complex enterprise. 983 00:56:22,979 --> 00:56:25,881 I just have a vision for the city that is different, 984 00:56:25,916 --> 00:56:29,151 and having lived in California and Pittsburgh 985 00:56:29,186 --> 00:56:32,187 and Boston and D.C. and Atlanta and Houston, 986 00:56:32,222 --> 00:56:35,657 so I've seen a lot and seen how those cities have grown 987 00:56:35,692 --> 00:56:37,859 and sort of blown past New Orleans, 988 00:56:37,894 --> 00:56:39,694 and I wanted New Orleans to have that chance 989 00:56:39,729 --> 00:56:43,765 to realize that same sort of meteoric growth. 990 00:56:43,800 --> 00:56:46,768 And perhaps maybe the residents of New Orleans 991 00:56:46,803 --> 00:56:50,105 aren't interested in being a more cosmopolitan growth, 992 00:56:50,140 --> 00:56:52,107 and maybe they want us to kind of stay more the same. 993 00:56:52,142 --> 00:56:55,777 But the risk of doing that is what has happened now 994 00:56:55,812 --> 00:56:58,613 is we're sort of a one-trick pony 995 00:56:58,648 --> 00:57:01,049 principally revolving around tourism. 996 00:57:01,084 --> 00:57:05,854 New Orleans East was really forgotten 997 00:57:05,889 --> 00:57:07,989 for a number of years after Katrina. 998 00:57:08,024 --> 00:57:11,226 Everything that they've done, they've had to do themselves. 999 00:57:11,261 --> 00:57:14,229 They were last on the list for the city. 1000 00:57:14,264 --> 00:57:16,131 But up until the New Orleans East Hospital 1001 00:57:16,166 --> 00:57:18,733 finally reopened, if you got sick, 1002 00:57:18,768 --> 00:57:20,135 if you had a heart attack, 1003 00:57:20,170 --> 00:57:23,939 you had to drive 20 minutes to get to someplace 1004 00:57:23,974 --> 00:57:25,874 so that you could be taken care of, 1005 00:57:25,909 --> 00:57:27,943 because there wasn't anyplace in New Orleans East. 1006 00:57:27,978 --> 00:57:29,744 Just like the previous administration, 1007 00:57:29,779 --> 00:57:30,812 I think they're struggling. 1008 00:57:30,847 --> 00:57:32,948 They want to do something for New Orleans East, 1009 00:57:32,983 --> 00:57:36,117 but the city doesn't know exactly what to do. 1010 00:57:36,152 --> 00:57:39,154 So they've hired consultants to do studies 1011 00:57:39,189 --> 00:57:40,789 and all kinds of stuff, 1012 00:57:40,824 --> 00:57:42,924 but what they really don't have is a deal. 1013 00:57:42,959 --> 00:57:44,058 They don't have a development plan. 1014 00:57:44,094 --> 00:57:46,728 So they've gotten these folks to come up and say, 1015 00:57:46,763 --> 00:57:48,897 "If you do this, this will make it more attractive. 1016 00:57:48,932 --> 00:57:51,032 If you do this, this will make it more attractive." 1017 00:57:51,067 --> 00:57:53,802 The long and short of it is, a person who's got money 1018 00:57:53,837 --> 00:57:56,671 and who's got a deal is gonna do a deal. 1019 00:57:56,706 --> 00:57:58,139 All of this, "This is gonna make it better, 1020 00:57:58,174 --> 00:57:59,407 and that's gonna make it better," 1021 00:57:59,442 --> 00:58:02,978 that's just moving the chairs around the deck of the Titanic. 1022 00:58:03,013 --> 00:58:06,047 The city had been working on a report 1023 00:58:06,082 --> 00:58:07,682 about the best use. 1024 00:58:07,717 --> 00:58:09,217 It was a best use study for the site. 1025 00:58:09,252 --> 00:58:13,688 They came up with best use being something 1026 00:58:13,723 --> 00:58:15,824 with a lot of green and nature. 1027 00:58:15,859 --> 00:58:17,959 In the very same sentence, they said, 1028 00:58:17,994 --> 00:58:19,961 "It needs to be big and bold, 1029 00:58:19,996 --> 00:58:21,897 something that's gonna bring the tourists in, 1030 00:58:21,932 --> 00:58:24,933 like birdwatching." 1031 00:58:24,968 --> 00:58:26,902 There was complete silence in the room. 1032 00:58:28,238 --> 00:58:32,073 Obviously, the residents were not happy at all. 1033 00:58:32,108 --> 00:58:33,975 They want the park to come back. 1034 00:58:34,010 --> 00:58:35,310 From everything that they've told us 1035 00:58:35,345 --> 00:58:36,544 and from everything we've read online 1036 00:58:36,580 --> 00:58:40,248 and when we've spoken with them and met with various people, 1037 00:58:40,283 --> 00:58:41,750 that's what they want. 1038 00:58:41,785 --> 00:58:42,951 After that meeting, they said 1039 00:58:42,986 --> 00:58:44,920 that they were gonna come out with an RFQ, 1040 00:58:44,955 --> 00:58:47,756 so I think the timing works to their benefit 1041 00:58:47,791 --> 00:58:51,226 as far as, "We're doing something, 1042 00:58:51,261 --> 00:58:53,929 we're going to award this to a developer, 1043 00:58:53,964 --> 00:58:55,330 we're taking steps, 1044 00:58:55,365 --> 00:58:57,832 so please give us your votes this November." 1045 00:58:57,867 --> 00:59:00,135 The city is fishing, and they're desperate, 1046 00:59:00,170 --> 00:59:04,839 because it is, you know, election time in October. 1047 00:59:04,874 --> 00:59:08,076 But I'm also hopeful that, for the first time, 1048 00:59:08,111 --> 00:59:11,079 they've probably got a-- we believe our offer 1049 00:59:11,114 --> 00:59:13,582 is gonna be a truly credible offer. 1050 00:59:13,617 --> 00:59:15,317 I wanted to bring back 1051 00:59:15,352 --> 00:59:17,319 a sports and entertainment complex 1052 00:59:17,354 --> 00:59:19,120 to the Jazzland facility. 1053 00:59:19,155 --> 00:59:21,823 We're one of the bidders on this project now, 1054 00:59:21,858 --> 00:59:23,925 so our proposal is to reconstitute it 1055 00:59:23,960 --> 00:59:25,260 as an amusement park, 1056 00:59:25,295 --> 00:59:28,363 adding a water park and a sports complex to it. 1057 00:59:28,398 --> 00:59:29,864 Our vision is to make this 1058 00:59:29,899 --> 00:59:32,834 a bigger sports and entertainment concept, 1059 00:59:32,869 --> 00:59:35,070 so that's what we'll be proposing to the city. 1060 00:59:35,105 --> 00:59:36,938 I don't know if they'll accept our proposal 1061 00:59:36,973 --> 00:59:38,873 as the right vision. 1062 00:59:38,908 --> 00:59:40,241 Our second alternate proposal 1063 00:59:40,276 --> 00:59:43,778 is we've also had some discussions with Amazon 1064 00:59:43,813 --> 00:59:46,047 as a distribution center for that site. 1065 00:59:46,082 --> 00:59:47,882 We're not sure which one of those two visions 1066 00:59:47,917 --> 00:59:49,250 will end up... 1067 00:59:49,285 --> 00:59:50,852 If we're selected, we're gonna kind of 1068 00:59:50,887 --> 00:59:53,054 evaluate both of those principally, 1069 00:59:53,089 --> 00:59:57,225 and whichever one makes the most sense, 1070 00:59:57,260 --> 00:59:59,327 if we're selected, we're gonna execute on that. 1071 00:59:59,362 --> 01:00:01,896 Yes, all those things would be lovely in that area. 1072 01:00:01,931 --> 01:00:05,900 We're getting an Amazon here in Baton Rouge, a huge one, 1073 01:00:05,935 --> 01:00:07,802 and it does employ a lot of people, 1074 01:00:07,837 --> 01:00:09,204 but there's just better locations 1075 01:00:09,239 --> 01:00:10,405 for those things. 1076 01:00:10,440 --> 01:00:11,373 You could even go down the street 1077 01:00:11,408 --> 01:00:13,141 to the old plaza location 1078 01:00:13,176 --> 01:00:15,310 that the city kind of has its fingers on, 1079 01:00:15,345 --> 01:00:17,846 because of loans and taxes and stuff. 1080 01:00:17,881 --> 01:00:20,148 That would be far better for those purposes 1081 01:00:20,183 --> 01:00:21,816 than the park property. 1082 01:00:21,851 --> 01:00:24,152 We're expecting to be under construction 1083 01:00:24,187 --> 01:00:26,388 sometime in 2022, 1084 01:00:26,423 --> 01:00:29,090 which means we open in 2024. 1085 01:00:29,125 --> 01:00:30,925 They definitely need 1086 01:00:30,960 --> 01:00:34,062 entertainment venues to come back. 1087 01:00:34,097 --> 01:00:36,064 The hotels are struggling right now. 1088 01:00:36,099 --> 01:00:38,433 Many of the downtown hotels don't even have 1089 01:00:38,468 --> 01:00:40,268 5 percent occupancy, 1090 01:00:40,303 --> 01:00:42,303 and they need something that's going to help boost 1091 01:00:42,338 --> 01:00:45,106 and bring families and tourists back, 1092 01:00:45,141 --> 01:00:49,444 so we're hoping maybe that plays out to our benefit, 1093 01:00:49,479 --> 01:00:50,879 but we'll see. 1094 01:00:50,914 --> 01:00:52,080 In the short term, I mean, 1095 01:00:52,115 --> 01:00:55,250 obviously, these companies are struggling, 1096 01:00:55,285 --> 01:00:58,853 but the ones that are going to be able to weather the storm 1097 01:00:58,888 --> 01:01:01,222 have to view a growth strategy. 1098 01:01:01,257 --> 01:01:04,359 So as we emerge out of this pandemic 1099 01:01:04,394 --> 01:01:08,096 and the depressing earnings that they've realized, 1100 01:01:08,131 --> 01:01:10,365 it now gives them the ability to sort of rebound 1101 01:01:10,400 --> 01:01:13,134 in a bigger way than it even did pre-pandemic, 1102 01:01:13,169 --> 01:01:16,004 because now they've got more assets 1103 01:01:16,039 --> 01:01:18,073 that are now available in the marketplace. 1104 01:01:18,108 --> 01:01:22,110 So we think that they're all hurting right now, 1105 01:01:22,145 --> 01:01:25,947 but we think, come time where we're now 1106 01:01:25,982 --> 01:01:27,248 redeveloping that site, 1107 01:01:27,283 --> 01:01:29,050 they're all looking at the future. 1108 01:01:29,085 --> 01:01:31,386 We've always wanted the public 1109 01:01:31,421 --> 01:01:34,155 and the community to be involved. 1110 01:01:34,190 --> 01:01:38,159 A little less than two years ago, we said, 1111 01:01:38,194 --> 01:01:40,962 "Well, why wait until we're open? 1112 01:01:40,997 --> 01:01:44,132 Why wait until we have the property? 1113 01:01:44,167 --> 01:01:46,000 Why not just do it now?" 1114 01:01:46,035 --> 01:01:48,403 We've created what we call the Rhythm Section, 1115 01:01:48,438 --> 01:01:52,173 which is our New Orleans East specific 1116 01:01:52,208 --> 01:01:54,943 community advisory board. 1117 01:01:54,978 --> 01:01:57,245 It's composed of people that actually do live 1118 01:01:57,280 --> 01:02:00,482 within just a very short distance of the park, 1119 01:02:00,517 --> 01:02:03,284 and they are with us every step of the way. 1120 01:02:03,319 --> 01:02:05,120 We get their feedback and comments 1121 01:02:05,155 --> 01:02:06,154 on everything we do, 1122 01:02:06,190 --> 01:02:09,124 they get an advanced copy of the RFQ response 1123 01:02:09,159 --> 01:02:12,193 so that they can give us their feedback 1124 01:02:12,228 --> 01:02:14,362 as to what they want. 1125 01:02:14,397 --> 01:02:18,166 This response is very much going to be theirs, 1126 01:02:18,201 --> 01:02:19,434 because the park is theirs. 1127 01:02:19,469 --> 01:02:23,438 But I think the idea of rehabilitating 1128 01:02:23,473 --> 01:02:26,941 and reinvigorating an amusement complex 1129 01:02:26,976 --> 01:02:29,444 that now has a water park to it, 1130 01:02:29,479 --> 01:02:31,346 that now has an amusement park to it, 1131 01:02:31,381 --> 01:02:34,115 that now has a sports complex to it, 1132 01:02:34,150 --> 01:02:36,518 and making it into a family-friendly destination 1133 01:02:36,553 --> 01:02:39,220 tied in with the cruise lines 1134 01:02:39,255 --> 01:02:42,557 is something that's very unique and is a unique opportunity 1135 01:02:42,592 --> 01:02:44,325 for us to take advantage of. 1136 01:02:44,360 --> 01:02:46,795 Fulfillment center is great, 1137 01:02:46,830 --> 01:02:48,329 but to me, that would be 1B. 1138 01:02:48,364 --> 01:02:50,965 If I had my druthers, and if we can make-- 1139 01:02:51,000 --> 01:02:53,334 get the commitments that we need to happen happen, 1140 01:02:53,369 --> 01:02:55,336 you know, I think the sports and entertainment complex 1141 01:02:55,371 --> 01:02:56,971 would be pretty exciting. 1142 01:02:57,006 --> 01:02:57,905 And I think it would bring 1143 01:02:57,941 --> 01:03:01,075 the rest of the residents in the region 1144 01:03:01,110 --> 01:03:03,344 back to New Orleans East with a positive light, 1145 01:03:03,379 --> 01:03:06,147 because recently the things they've heard most about 1146 01:03:06,182 --> 01:03:08,449 have been crime-oriented things that have happened 1147 01:03:08,484 --> 01:03:10,218 in Eastern New Orleans. 1148 01:03:10,253 --> 01:03:11,452 I think this would be something 1149 01:03:11,487 --> 01:03:13,822 that would make regional noise, 1150 01:03:13,857 --> 01:03:16,057 it would make-- it would really be 1151 01:03:16,092 --> 01:03:17,992 a reinvigorating and revitalization 1152 01:03:18,027 --> 01:03:20,361 that is long, long, long overdue. 1153 01:03:20,396 --> 01:03:25,266 Even if we get the concessionaire agreement, 1154 01:03:25,301 --> 01:03:28,303 that, come this fall and they get reelected, 1155 01:03:28,338 --> 01:03:33,141 what's to stop them from saying, "Okay, we tried, never mind"? 1156 01:03:33,176 --> 01:03:35,376 It's definitely a thought that goes through our heads, 1157 01:03:35,411 --> 01:03:37,579 because we've been through this process 1158 01:03:37,614 --> 01:03:39,347 a time or two, 1159 01:03:39,382 --> 01:03:42,317 and there's not a lot of faith. 1160 01:03:51,160 --> 01:03:53,261 Okay, good morning, everyone. 1161 01:03:53,296 --> 01:03:55,530 The Purchasing Bureau does hereby certify 1162 01:03:55,565 --> 01:03:59,434 they are unable to perform RFQ #961 1163 01:03:59,469 --> 01:04:02,437 Six Flags/Jazzland site redevelopment 1164 01:04:02,472 --> 01:04:07,275 on this day, Tuesday, March 16th, 2021, at 12 P.M. 1165 01:06:43,499 --> 01:06:45,700 Let me just ask you then, sort of broadly, 1166 01:06:45,735 --> 01:06:48,236 what's your overall reaction today? 1167 01:06:48,271 --> 01:06:51,372 We are definitely very disappointed. 1168 01:06:51,407 --> 01:06:55,276 Disappointed, frustrated, 1169 01:06:55,311 --> 01:06:59,414 irate, to some extent. 1170 01:06:59,449 --> 01:07:04,218 We definitely do not feel like the scoring was done 1171 01:07:04,253 --> 01:07:06,454 in a fair and equitable manner. 1172 01:07:06,489 --> 01:07:10,458 This was a day that we had said 1173 01:07:10,493 --> 01:07:12,693 this would probably be it for us, 1174 01:07:12,728 --> 01:07:15,363 and it still might be it for us. 1175 01:07:15,398 --> 01:07:17,265 We'll all move on and do our other things 1176 01:07:17,300 --> 01:07:20,601 that we've been doing anyway. 1177 01:07:20,636 --> 01:07:22,804 'Cause it has been a long nine years, 1178 01:07:22,839 --> 01:07:29,243 and to have the community and the public 1179 01:07:29,278 --> 01:07:32,080 completely omitted from the process 1180 01:07:32,115 --> 01:07:33,648 just doesn't give us a lot of faith 1181 01:07:33,683 --> 01:07:36,684 in anything moving forward. 1182 01:07:36,719 --> 01:07:39,520 When you've got such a prominent intersection 1183 01:07:39,555 --> 01:07:42,723 that is now such a prominent eyesore, 1184 01:07:42,758 --> 01:07:45,526 it's kind of demotivating for people. 1185 01:07:45,561 --> 01:07:48,863 Every day, a vast majority of numbers in people 1186 01:07:48,898 --> 01:07:51,399 in New Orleans East drive right by it, 1187 01:07:51,434 --> 01:07:52,633 and they just look at it, and they just-- 1188 01:07:52,668 --> 01:07:54,836 it's a remembrance of the past, 1189 01:07:54,871 --> 01:07:56,637 and it's blight. 1190 01:07:56,672 --> 01:07:58,339 Unfortunately, I think a lot of people 1191 01:07:58,374 --> 01:08:00,508 have given up on it, 1192 01:08:00,543 --> 01:08:03,377 because when Six Flags decided 1193 01:08:03,412 --> 01:08:06,781 just to take insurance money or whatever they did, 1194 01:08:06,816 --> 01:08:10,384 I really think they were glad Katrina came along, 1195 01:08:10,419 --> 01:08:11,519 I think they wanted out. 1196 01:08:11,554 --> 01:08:13,421 I think they wanted to close the park, 1197 01:08:13,456 --> 01:08:16,624 they had already closed AstroWorld. 1198 01:08:16,659 --> 01:08:19,794 I think this might have been a way out for them, 1199 01:08:19,829 --> 01:08:23,698 I don't know. 1200 01:08:23,733 --> 01:08:27,568 Honestly, most people had given up a long time ago 1201 01:08:27,603 --> 01:08:29,804 on the park ever coming back. 1202 01:08:41,584 --> 01:08:45,419 This is where you would come to purchase tickets, 1203 01:08:45,454 --> 01:08:47,789 groups sales, will call. 1204 01:08:49,825 --> 01:08:52,360 Season ticket holders, I think, 1205 01:08:52,395 --> 01:08:55,897 entered at the other end, if I remember, 1206 01:08:55,932 --> 01:08:58,166 and if you were buying just a ticket for the day, 1207 01:08:58,201 --> 01:09:00,701 you would come up here, and one of these, 1208 01:09:00,736 --> 01:09:02,703 purchase your ticket. 1209 01:09:07,977 --> 01:09:11,579 This was the main street. 1210 01:09:11,614 --> 01:09:14,882 All the gift shops were along here 1211 01:09:14,917 --> 01:09:16,450 and were air conditioned, 1212 01:09:16,485 --> 01:09:18,586 which was very nice in the summer. 1213 01:09:23,926 --> 01:09:25,793 This is heartbreaking to see. 1214 01:09:27,597 --> 01:09:31,599 As the graffiti says, this could have been beautiful, 1215 01:09:31,634 --> 01:09:33,768 and it was very beautiful. 1216 01:09:38,574 --> 01:09:40,875 I'm very sad now. 1217 01:09:40,910 --> 01:09:43,878 We would come several times a year. 1218 01:09:43,913 --> 01:09:48,383 Had many, many good times out here. 1219 01:09:51,520 --> 01:09:52,921 So here we are at Mega Zeph. 1220 01:09:56,826 --> 01:10:02,797 Obviously, the riders waited in here 1221 01:10:02,832 --> 01:10:05,600 for Mega Zeph to come around this way 1222 01:10:05,635 --> 01:10:06,968 and pull up here. 1223 01:10:08,771 --> 01:10:12,506 It is obviously very overgrown 1224 01:10:12,541 --> 01:10:16,211 and...pitiful. 1225 01:10:18,547 --> 01:10:21,482 Jocco used to live up on top of the building. 1226 01:10:21,517 --> 01:10:24,819 He was this big jester guy 1227 01:10:24,854 --> 01:10:28,923 who would laugh at you and squirt water on you. 1228 01:10:28,958 --> 01:10:32,627 This is where you lined up, the queue line here. 1229 01:10:34,764 --> 01:10:37,632 It was a little neater back then. 1230 01:10:37,667 --> 01:10:39,700 We called it the laser tag ride, 1231 01:10:39,735 --> 01:10:41,535 since I own a laser tag, 1232 01:10:41,570 --> 01:10:44,939 and all my kids would think of it 1233 01:10:44,974 --> 01:10:46,440 as a laser tag ride, 1234 01:10:46,475 --> 01:10:48,643 because you were actually shooting targets 1235 01:10:48,678 --> 01:10:52,947 with the guns that were on the cars. 1236 01:11:15,871 --> 01:11:20,041 This is what was Jocco's ride. 1237 01:11:20,076 --> 01:11:21,575 This is one of the cars 1238 01:11:21,610 --> 01:11:23,010 that has been completely stripped, 1239 01:11:23,045 --> 01:11:24,912 the guns are gone. 1240 01:11:24,947 --> 01:11:27,982 You earned points by tagging-- 1241 01:11:28,017 --> 01:11:29,583 talking laser tag talk-- 1242 01:11:29,618 --> 01:11:31,986 by hitting the targets, you would earn points. 1243 01:11:32,021 --> 01:11:33,587 You got a score on the car. 1244 01:11:33,622 --> 01:11:36,758 You can see where the screens were. 1245 01:11:38,894 --> 01:11:42,596 And it wound all through here 1246 01:11:42,631 --> 01:11:45,866 with different targets to hit. 1247 01:11:45,901 --> 01:11:49,036 It was very colorful, minus the graffiti. 1248 01:11:49,071 --> 01:11:51,806 Big fleur-de-lis on the front, all Mardi Gras colors, 1249 01:11:51,841 --> 01:11:54,608 everything was Mardi Gras colored. 1250 01:11:54,643 --> 01:11:58,012 There was a gun to shoot targets here 1251 01:11:58,047 --> 01:12:01,816 and a screen for score. 1252 01:12:01,851 --> 01:12:03,017 This one is still here. 1253 01:12:03,052 --> 01:12:05,753 Mardi Gras-- Jocco's Mardi Gras Madness. 1254 01:12:06,155 --> 01:12:07,922 Hmm. 1255 01:12:07,957 --> 01:12:09,890 Everything's gone. 1256 01:13:37,980 --> 01:13:39,680 Here they come. 1257 01:13:43,252 --> 01:13:47,688 Are you happy at Jazzland on your first day? 1258 01:13:47,723 --> 01:13:49,457 -Yeah, you? -Yeah! 1259 01:13:53,762 --> 01:13:55,663 It's devastating, I mean, 1260 01:13:55,698 --> 01:13:58,866 to think that the city let that park get like that 1261 01:13:58,901 --> 01:14:03,170 over all these years, it makes me very angry, 1262 01:14:03,205 --> 01:14:04,738 and it's very sad, 1263 01:14:04,773 --> 01:14:06,874 because of all the memories I have. 1264 01:14:06,909 --> 01:14:08,976 Just remembering all the fun. 1265 01:14:10,779 --> 01:14:12,213 If I would be in the car with someone else 1266 01:14:12,248 --> 01:14:13,781 and we were driving past it, 1267 01:14:13,816 --> 01:14:15,983 I would be cranking my head around, 1268 01:14:16,018 --> 01:14:19,820 and, like, looking at what rides are going, and... 1269 01:14:22,057 --> 01:14:24,992 That was really fun, just to drive past it. 1270 01:14:25,027 --> 01:14:31,031 But now it's--it's just there. 1271 01:15:22,351 --> 01:15:23,951 I find it very funny still 1272 01:15:23,986 --> 01:15:25,986 that when I drive to my family's home 1273 01:15:26,021 --> 01:15:29,223 and that sign still says on there, "Closed for Storm." 1274 01:15:31,226 --> 01:15:34,094 Just kinda like frozen in time, 1275 01:15:34,129 --> 01:15:37,998 a suspended animation element from that park's past.