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Jazzland Theme Park
Family fun in New Orleans
by Tara E.
Smith
Despite those childhood fears, I was heartbroken when
Pontchartrain Beach closed down years ago. And an empty hole seemed to be left
in the entire New Orleans community. Sure, there’s always Disney World in
Florida or Astro World in Texas. However, having an amusement park in your own
backyard allows families to make day trips to the park much more often. When I learned that Jazzland Theme Park would be opening in
New Orleans, I felt that childhood surge of excitement once again. And now, my
four-year-old daughter could experience the thrill of an amusement park in her
own backyard. My daughter and I both have
season tickets (a birthday gift) and have gone several times during the last
couple of months. We visited Jazzland last Sunday and plan to return several
more times in the next few weeks since the park will close for its first season
Oct. 29,2000. They plan to reopen in the early March or April of 2001.
As you pass through the gates (season ticket holders do not
have to wait in line), you get that Disney World euphoria. The main entranceway
titled Jazz Plaza, which is aligned with Festival Hall, the Emporium, customer
service facilities, and a variety of shopping and eating venues, has a charming
setting reminiscent of old New Orleans. And in ways, the entranceway reminded
me of Main Street in Walt Disney World. I almost expected to see Mickey or Minnie Mouse jump out of one of the
quaint buildings. As though reading my mind, I overheard one lady say, “It’s
like Disney World but only ten times smaller.” However, I had to remind myself that we are in Jazzland.
Instead of Minnie or Mickey Mouse roaming around the park, one might expect to
see the Swamp Critters. And in the allegedly “City that Care Forgot,” I must
admit I was impressed with the immaculate conditions of the park. Not once have
I seen a piece of trash on the ground. That’s probably thanks to the numerous
employees complete with brooms and dustpans sweeping around the facility. Jazzland Theme Park is divided into four major areas Cajun
Country, Pontchartrain Beach, Mardi Gras and Kids’ Carnival. Cajun Country,
complete with boiled crawfish, native crafts, and Cajun dancing, houses our most favorite ride in the entire park – the Cajun
Pirate’s Show. My daughter’s first words when we enter the park are “I want to
go on the pirate ride.” The indoor air-conditioned simulated ride is similar to one
of the rides one would find in Disney World or Universal Studios. First,
visitors, in groups of about 30, walk into an area with a portrait of Jean
Lafitte and other pirate memorabilia decorating the walls. Then, they listen to
the historical lecture about Lafitte. Next, visitors walk into another room,
sit and watch a short video in which Jean Lafitte explains about an adventure
at sea. And last, guests recline in simulated pirate ship and take off for a
sea voyage with Lafitte. One feels as
though they are actually on a ship, complete with cannonballs flying through
the air. Other rides in Cajun Country include Lafitte’s Pirate Ship, a swing ride
aboard a ship; Cypress Plunge, a log ride; Gator Bait Airboats, and the Muskrat
Scrambler, a coaster. In the Mardi Gras area, another one of my daughter’s
favorite rides is Jocco’s Mardi Gras Madness, which is an interactive haunted
house. The Mardi Gras Menagerie, a detailed carousel with a menagerie of 30
jumping animals, is also a favorite among youngsters. In addition, the Mardi
Gras section houses the Voodoo Volcano, a thrill ride; Spillway Splash-Out, a
water ride on a 20-passenger boat; Skycoaster, a controlled sky dive that
hoists guests for a free-fall swing; King Chaos; Krazy Krewe; Mad Rex and
Zydeco Zinger. And of course, Pontchartrain Beach fans will like the Mega Zeph,
which is a wood-tracked roller coaster designed like the former Zephyr.
And last, but not least, my little one’s favorite section of
the park is Kids’ Carnival. This section houses all the rides for youngsters.
Beadsville Ariport, a miniature plane ride, Zinger Swinger, Jolly Jitney, a
crazy bus that turns like a Ferris wheel; Kajun Krawler, a truck/car track
ride; the Little Easy, child-sized Ferris wheel, Rex’s Rail Runner, a
junior-sized family roller coaster; and La Fun, a children’s playground. Jazzland Theme Park also offers live performances, street
entertainers, theme characters, ski shows, and nightly Mardi Gras parades
(complete with floats), stilt walkers, jugglers, mimes, and variety acts. There are myriads of souvenir
shops. Since we had eaten lunch prior to our visit, we settled on a
soft drink and a candy apple, which totaled a little more than five dollars.
However, we have eaten “Jazz dogs and hamburgers,” which can become a very
costly lunch once you add the French fries and beverages. Other restaurants at the facility include
Cajun Dance Hall, which serves Cajun and Creole dishes such as, catfish,
seafood gumbo, and red beans and rice. The hall also has live Cajun
entertainment and dancing. And then there’s
Rita’s Jazzland Creole Café that offers regional dishes such as jambalaya,
crawfish etouffee and Shrimp Creole prepared by Rita herself. And for desert,
Penny P’s Praline & Fudge offers fresh baked cookies, brownies, caramel
apples, creamy fudge and of course those famous New Orleans pralines. In addition, there are numerous other dining
experiences, including Barbe’s Ice Cream Shop, Teaux-Beaux’s Chicken &
Biscuits, and refreshment carts. According to Betsie Gambel, director of public relations,
long-ranged plans for a water park next to Jazzland have been discussed. Gambel
said each year they hope to add new attractions “so that the people feel
energized by the park.” Tickets for Jazzland are $31 for adults and $26 for
children under 48 inches. Children
under two get into the park for free. Gambel said most everyone who leaves the park has given it rave reviews. The only complaint has been the lack of shade. And I agree. That’s why my daughter and I always avoided going to the park during the peak hours of the day because I feared she might become overheated. In fact, Jazzland added 15 to 25-foot shade trees throughout
the park. And another 22 shade structures of different sizes and shapes have
been scattered throughout the park. The
Coca-Cola Cool Zone and the Cypress Plunge in Cajun Country offers a misting to
cool visitors. And more than 100 umbrellas have been added to the outdoor
tables. As we left Jazzland last week, I told my daughter we would
visit again real soon…And I hope Jazzland will remain a fixture in New Orleans
for a very long time. For more
information on Jazzland, visit their website at www.jazzlandthemepark.com or
call (504) 253-8100. |
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TM
When I was a young child, I remember the excitement I felt
when my parents would take the family for a day at the former Pontchartrain
Beach amusement park in New Orleans. The rides seemed to stretch endlessly
across the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Of course, like a typical four or
five-year-old, I loved the merry-go-round, the Ferris wheel, and even the sky
ride. However, not a soul, not even my parents could have persuaded me to ride
the huge wooden roller coaster called the “Zephyr” or go ride through one of
the haunted houses. I actually remember
crying because my brother, who was three years older than me, was going to ride
the “Zephyr” with my father. I thought something terrible might happen to them.
Entering Jazzland last week was truly a magical experience,
since a beautiful rainbow formed across the sky as we walked through the
crowded parking lot. My little one began singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
The Wizard of Oz is her favorite
movie. The periodical rain showers didn’t seem to bother visitors, judging from
the amount of cars in the lot. In fact, most seemed to welcome the rain since
it was a typical hot September day in New Orleans.
Jazzland has a whole section titled Pontchartrain Beach
which has rides such as the Zydeco Stream, a looped roller coaster,
Pontchartrain Flyer, The Big Easy Ferris wheel, the Sonic Slam and Bayou
Blaster, a free-fall ride.