Mega Zeph

Last updated
Mega Zeph
Mega Zeph entrance - Six Flags New Orleans.jpg
The entrance of the Mega Zeph roller coaster.
Six Flags New Orleans
Location Six Flags New Orleans
Park section Mardi Gras
Coordinates 30°03′11″N89°56′15″W / 30.053147°N 89.937486°W / 30.053147; -89.937486
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 20, 2000 (2000-05-20)
Closing dateAugust 21, 2005 (2005-08-21)
General statistics
Type Wood
Manufacturer Custom Coasters International
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height110 ft (34 m)
Length4,000 ft (1,200 m)
Speed57 mph (92 km/h)
Inversions 0
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Mega Zeph at RCDB

Mega Zeph was a wooden roller coaster located at the now demolished Six Flags New Orleans theme park, in the Eastern New Orleans area of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally opening on May 20, 2000, as Jazzland's signature ride. Following the devastation to the amusement park in August 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, the roller coaster ceased operation following the park's closure but remained standing until its demolition in 2025.

Contents

History

One of the Mega Zeph trains going down a hill. Mega Zeph - Six Flags New Orleans.jpg
One of the Mega Zeph trains going down a hill.

Mega Zeph takes its name from the original Zephyr or Big Zephyr coaster that operated in the now-defunct Pontchartrain Beach amusement park. [1] The coaster celebrated its topping out ceremony on September 10, 1999, with the installation of the underpinnings of the coaster's highest hump. [1] At the time of its completion, Mega Zeph served as both Jazzland's signature attraction as well as its most visible due to its location adjacent to the Interstate 10/Interstate 510 interchange. [2] The coaster's opening would coincide with the grand opening of Jazzland on May 20, 2000. [3]

After Hurricane Katrina

Shuttered since August 2005 due to severe flooding in the park as a result of Hurricane Katrina, the park has remained closed. [4] In 2007, Six Flags was in the process of removing some of its rides. The first ride to leave was Batman: The Ride, which was removed and taken to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, where it was refurbished and reopened as Goliath on April 18, 2008. Bayou Blaster and Sonic Slam were removed and taken to Great Escape in Queensbury, New York, where it was refurbished and reopened as Sasquatch on May 10, 2009. The final ride to leave Six Flags New Orleans was the Road Runner Express, which was removed in 2009 and taken to Six Flags Magic Mountain, where it was refurbished and reopened on May 28, 2011 under the same name. Until its demolition in 2025, the Mega Zeph remained unused since the park's closure in August 2005. A large section on the Mega Zeph track completely fell to the ground due to the decaying of the wood. The majority of the wood from Mega Zeph decayed and the steel track had severely rusted. Also, the only train was sent to Six Flags St. Louis. They are now in storage under Batman: The Ride. [5]

Mega Zeph was featured in the 20th Century Fox film Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters along with several other rides including Ozarka Splash, released August 16, 2013. Mega Zeph was lined with lights along the coaster and resurrected just enough to have a car zoom in and out of frame during the shooting of the film. In the film, Six Flags New Orleans portrayed the park Circeland on the island of Polyphemus, that was built by the goddess Circe, only to be destroyed by the cyclops Polyphemus. [6]

The National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives was able to preserve the neon sign from the ride's entrance at its facility in Plainview, TX.

On January 18, 2025, a section of the coaster caught fire, though the fire posed no threat to safety. [7] [8] On February 2, 2025, the coaster was torn down. [9] [10]

Ride layout

View from Paris Road Highway 6FlagsNOLACoaster1.jpg
View from Paris Road Highway

After passengers left the station, passengers climbed a 110-foot (34 m) lift hill culminating in its first drop. [2] The train then made a quick descent towards a high speed turnaround near the lake's edge. [2] The physical construction of the ride is unique in that it consisted of steel construction with a wooden track. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 Staff Reporters (September 11, 1999). "Reaching the top". The Times-Picayune. p. B1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ross, Lisa (September 19, 1999). "Mega Zeph can travel at 65 mph". The Times-Picayune. p. C1.
  3. ↑ Staff Reporters (May 23, 2000). "Jazzland calls debut weekend a success". The Times-Picayune. p. C1.
  4. ↑ Thomas, Greg (March 16, 2006). "Storm damage sinks Six Flags for 2006 season". The Times-Picayune. p. Money 1.
  5. ↑ Donze, Frank; Jaquetta White (August 19, 2009). "Nagin unveils latest plan for Six Flags site". The Times-Picayune. p. A1.
  6. ↑ Scott, Mike (July 22, 2012). "Abandoned Six Flags New Orleans site comes alive for 'Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters' shoot". NOLA.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Fire reported at former Six Flags in New Orleans East". WGNO. January 19, 2025. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ Collins, Rich (January 19, 2025). "The 'Mega Zeph' caught fire at the former Six Flags in New Orleans East. Here's what caused it". NOLA.com. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  9. ↑ Carroll, Metia (February 1, 2025). "Mega Zeph roller coaster demolished at New Orleans Six Flags". WDSU. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  10. ↑ Sanchez, Raymond (January 29, 2025). "Demolition underway at New Orleans Six Flags amusement park abandoned after Hurricane Katrina". FOX Weather. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
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