
An abandoned Six Flags roller coaster caught fire over the weekend during demolition efforts at the site of the former Six Flags New Orleans amusement park.
The incident occurred as workers dismantled Mega Zeph, a wooden roller coaster that operated briefly before Hurricane Katrina devastated the area in 2005. Sparks from the demolition sparked a blaze that consumed a 15-foot section of the roller coaster, sending flames 70 feet into the air.
Shot of roller coaster tracks fire at former Six Flags site in New Orleans East. 📷: @WWLTV photographer Sam Lowe
Shot of roller coaster tracks fire at former Six Flags site in New Orleans East. 📷: @WWLTV photographer Sam Lowe https://t.co/xwxIjeevI6 pic.twitter.com/mnP9CeNP56
— Lamar Bourgeois III (@lamarbourgeois) January 19, 2025
While residents and motorists reported seeing the fire, the local fire department confirmed that the blaze posed no risk to public safety.
The Tragic History of Six Flags New Orleans
Six Flags New Orleans, which originally opened as Jazzland in 2000, was acquired by Six Flags in 2002. The park was shut down following Hurricane Katrina, which left it submerged under six feet of water for over a month.
The park’s rides and attractions, including iconic ones like SpongeBob SquarePants The Ride and Batman: The Ride, were heavily damaged – if not totally destroyed – during the storm and were subsequently abandoned, becoming an eerie site for urban explorers. Six Flags New Orleans also became a backdrop for several films, such as Jurassic World (2015) and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013).
In October 2024, Smoot Construction teamed up with Bayou Phoenix to begin the demolition of the park. The project is part of a larger redevelopment plan that will transform the area into a hub for youth sports, a water park, two hotels, and a film studio.
Despite the ongoing demolition, it seems like the fire on the Mega Zeph did not cause significant damage to the surrounding area. According to Troy Henry, the leader of the redevelopment project, the fire may have burned unnoticed for some time before it was spotted at night (via Nola.com).

Although Six Flags New Orleans had only operated for a few years before being shut down, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who visited and in the ongoing efforts to revitalize the area. As demolition continues and new plans for the site take shape, it marks the end of an era for the once-popular park.
Did you ever visit Six Flags New Orleans?