SFNO/Southern Star Saga Discussion Thread

[palmerleeberryA zonkey is a cross between a zebra and a donkey.]

I'm glad that this park is being used for something; however, I hope the film crew "get it right" when it comes to filming scenes within an amusement park (anyone remember "Zombieland" and its climax inside an amusement park? The filmakers there got everything wrong - such as rides don't automatically run themselves when the power is turned on; you need ride attendants to operate them!). I'll be looking forward to the latest installment of Percy Jackson when it hit theaters.

Now as for life after the movie shot is wrapped up, this area formerly known as Six Flags New Orlean is being planned to be turned into a mall. I'm hoping that this mall could be something like Old Town near Orlando, Florida - a mall that has shops and amusement rides. I know some rides will have to be scrapped due to their state of detoriation, but I'm hopping that some rides can be rebuilt (I'm thinking about The Swamp Fox roller coaster in Family Kingdom, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) while others can be salvaged, restored, and brought back to new life. And if all else fails, bring in some new rides! And not just shops can be added to the mall site, but maybe even some entertainment complexes (I'm thinking about Broadway at the Beach, also in Myrtle Beach). If I'm not mistaken, there should be a lake right in the middle of the park that would be perfect for boat rides across and around the lake. But whatever is on the drawing board, it should be something that would even attract a rider and amusement park flyer like myself.

In conclusion, let's hope the plans will finally stick this time; I'm getting sick of getting great expectations only to be disappointed because the plans fell through.

"Hey, if you're sick, then I have a solution: lay your head upon me and I'll make you better again!

[stingrock23"Excuse me, miss, may I pound my large rooster into your donkey?"]

Oh wow, very cool location for a film shoot!

I can only imagine how excited some people must have gotten when they saw everything lit up!

Drove past it 2 weeks ago and saw the lights. Knew something was up, and heard the spot was going to be used for films. Glad someone found a way to film something there

[DBruI will provide you with maximum pleasure.]

I hope the film crew "get it right" when it comes to filming scenes within an amusement park (anyone remember "Zombieland" and its climax inside an amusement park? The filmakers there got everything wrong - such as rides don't automatically run themselves when the power is turned on; you need ride attendants to operate them!)

How dare Hollywood filmmakers inaccurately portray amusement park operations in their movie about a nerd and a Twinkie-addicted redneck surviving a zombie apocalypse!

Its come to the point where they just need to level the "park". Its been far too long now. They wasted no time clearing the land Astroworld was on. Its time to clean it up and move on. Its such a huge reminder for the people of Louisiana as to what they lost in 2005.

[ArizonaGuyJason X versus the Robot Space Donkey!]

^^
The land that SFAW sat on was far more valuable than what the land that Sfno is sitting on. (At least that's what Six Flags thought about the SFAW site but they ended but getting way less for it but it's still in a more desirable place than where Sfno sits.)
The city of New Orleans has way better ways to spend money for their city than to just level the park and then sit and wait for a developer to come along. Once something solid comes through it'll happen. In the mean time, they're getting money for the film shoots.

[chadsterThe Pony Express can't find my teepee]

Funny this thread got revived, I just spoke with a client this week that lives near the French Quarter and talk of the hurricane came up. The former mayor wasted no time getting that area back up and running, after all it's their bread and butter (and we later found out about the mayor and his dealings) nevertheless, it seems pretty much everything south of the Quarter has been forgotten. In their opinion, people have given up, don't care, and moved on. If that is indeed the mindset of the wards/city and the people, then not much is going to be profitable down that direction. People come to drink, party, and leave. They won't want to travel that far for shopping and with housing developments not really spawning in that general direction to the point it could sustain a center of the level that was proposed, its not worth it. As mentioned, rent it out to studios, they seem to love it.

Its come to the point where they just need to level the "park". Its been far too long now. They wasted no time clearing the land Astroworld was on. Its time to clean it up and move on. Its such a huge reminder for the people of Louisiana as to what they lost in 2005.

People don't seem to realize just how expensive it is to demolish something like one ride, let alone an entire park. It would cost millions to remove everything from the park and clear the land. ArizonaGuy is absolutely right. As much of an eyesore as it is, what is the point of spending a huge chuck of money until a developer is interested in doing something with that land?

You're right Robb. I guess I really did'nt think about that.

[palmerleeberryA zonkey is a cross between a zebra and a donkey.]

Such a shame that "The Saints won't be marching in" to help restore this defuct park back to it's former glory. But if the film studios could use this area for TV and movies, then I'm sure this area would be a wonder candidate (plus help New Orleans get some needed $$$ ). I wonder what kind of TV show could be made that has its settings inside an abandoned amusment park? Hey, don't laugh people; this kind of thing could be done ( just like what 20 Century Fox did when after filming the movie M*A*S*H was completed and they had these outdoor sets just sitting, so they decided to create the TV series called "M*A*S*H" and the rest is TV history). And of course, whenever a movie calls for a scene to be filmed in an amusement park ( just like the next Percy Jackson movie), then that would do just fine.

"I'm not perfect; I just love to ride!!!"

[The AlexLady Rhinoceroses Ate Homosexual Coffee in New Orleans]

It'd be nice to have a home park again. I still have my 2005 season pass in a memory box with a few other pre-Katrina items. In case you didn't know, we do refer to our lives as "Pre Katrina" or "post-Katrina" down here. It was a huge shift in our lives.

As for the park, I believe SFI never received the insurance money it was owed anyway. If that's the case, I don't blame them for fighting their way out of the 50+ year lease they had negotiated with New Orleans. It's crooked that they technically stole rides and equipment from the city for use in other parks, but the city wasn't exactly interested in stopping them with more important projects on their hands. There honestly isn't a "good" spot for a park here.

Way too expensive to demolish or even refurbish this place.
And so, the park will sit.
Until it collapses on itself, probably.