Mega Zeph
Encyclopedia
Mega Zeph is a roller coaster
found at Six Flags New Orleans
, in the Eastern New Orleans
area of New Orleans, Louisiana
, USA. Originally opening on May 20, 2000, as Jazzland's signature ride, the coaster has been abandoned and left in a state of decay as a result of the park's closure following 2005's Hurricane Katrina
.
amusement park. The coaster celebrated its topping out
ceremony on September 10, 1999, with the installation of the underpinnings of the coaster's highest hump. At the time of its completion, Mega Zeph served as both Jazzland's signature attraction as well as it most visible due to its location adjacent to the Interstate 10
/Interstate 510
interchange. The coaster's opening would coincide with the grand opening of Jazzland on May 20, 2000.
Shuttered since August 2005 due to severe flooding in the park as a result of Hurricane Katrina
, The park has remained Standing But Not Operating
(SBNO). Decisions haven't been made as to what to do with the rides. Each ride is decaying, damaged, and unusable. More information will be released at a later date. As of 2009, the Mega Zeph has remained unused since August 2005, but may potentially reopen as part of a redevelopment of the park announced in August 2009 by New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin
. Rumors still float around regarding the history of the park. A large section on the Mega Zeph track has completely fallen to the ground due to the decaying of the wood. The majority of the wood from Mega Zeph has decayed and the steel track has severely rusted. Also, the only train has been sent to Six Flags St. Louis
. They are most likely using the train as parts for The Boss's
trains.
culminating in its first drop. The train then makes a quick descent towards a high speed turnaround near the lake's edge. The physical construction of the ride is unique in that it consists of steel construction with a wooden track.
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
found at Six Flags New Orleans
Six Flags New Orleans
Six Flags New Orleans was an amusement park in New Orleans, Louisiana, which has been closed after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.The park was located in Eastern New Orleans, in the Ninth Ward of the city off Interstate 510...
, in the Eastern New Orleans
Eastern New Orleans
Eastern New Orleans is a large section of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Developed extensively from the 1960s onwards, it was originally marketed as "suburban-style living within the city limits", and has much in common with the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans...
area of New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, USA. Originally opening on May 20, 2000, as Jazzland's signature ride, the coaster has been abandoned and left in a state of decay as a result of the park's closure following 2005's Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
History
Mega Zeph takes its name from the original Zephyr or Big Zephyr coaster that operated in the now-defunct Pontchartrain BeachPontchartrain Beach
Pontchartrain Beach was an amusement park located in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It was founded by Harry J. Batt Sr. and later mananged by his son, Harry J. Batt Jr. It opened in 1928, across Bayou St. John from an existing amusement resort at Old Spanish Fort...
amusement park. The coaster celebrated its topping out
Topping out
In building construction, topping out is a ceremony held when the last beam is placed at the top of a building. The term may also refer to the overall completion of the building's structure, or an intermediate point, such as when the roof is dried in...
ceremony on September 10, 1999, with the installation of the underpinnings of the coaster's highest hump. At the time of its completion, Mega Zeph served as both Jazzland's signature attraction as well as it most visible due to its location adjacent to the Interstate 10
Interstate 10 in Louisiana
Interstate 10, a major transcontinental Interstate Highway in the Southern U.S., runs across the southern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It passes through Lake Charles, Lafayette and Baton Rouge before dipping south of Lake Pontchartrain to serve the New Orleans area and then passing through...
/Interstate 510
Interstate 510
Interstate 510 is a short spur route of Interstate 10 within in eastern New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It runs south from Interstate 10, intersects with U.S. Highway 90, and ends at the Almonaster Boulevard interchange, near the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility...
interchange. The coaster's opening would coincide with the grand opening of Jazzland on May 20, 2000.
Shuttered since August 2005 due to severe flooding in the park as a result of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, The park has remained Standing But Not Operating
Standing But Not Operating
Standing but not operating is a term used for an amusement park, amusement ride or roller coaster, which means it is standing, but it is not operated for various reasons. Reasons might include irreparable damage or simply a lack of funding to operate the amusement park or ride...
(SBNO). Decisions haven't been made as to what to do with the rides. Each ride is decaying, damaged, and unusable. More information will be released at a later date. As of 2009, the Mega Zeph has remained unused since August 2005, but may potentially reopen as part of a redevelopment of the park announced in August 2009 by New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin
Ray Nagin
Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr. is a former mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Nagin gained international note in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the New Orleans area....
. Rumors still float around regarding the history of the park. A large section on the Mega Zeph track has completely fallen to the ground due to the decaying of the wood. The majority of the wood from Mega Zeph has decayed and the steel track has severely rusted. Also, the only train has been sent to Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis , is an amusement park owned by Six Flags, Inc. It is located in Eureka, Missouri, USA . Opened in 1971 as the third theme park of the Six Flags chain, this was the last park that was built under the Six Flags name...
. They are most likely using the train as parts for The Boss's
The Boss (roller coaster)
The Boss is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri. Ranked among the top 5 wooden coasters in America, it features a lift of , a first drop of , four drops of 150',112',103',and 72', and a 570 degree helix....
trains.
Ride Layout
After passengers leave the station, passengers climb a 110 feet (33.5 m) lift hillLift hill
A lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward-sloping section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point or peak in the roller coaster ride...
culminating in its first drop. The train then makes a quick descent towards a high speed turnaround near the lake's edge. The physical construction of the ride is unique in that it consists of steel construction with a wooden track.