This video, shot in 2001 at the now defunct Jazzland amusement park (also known as Six Flags New Orleans) shows a point-of-view ride on Mega Zeph, a peppy CCI wooden coaster.
+Matt Man Thanks Matt! I was very surprised that the park let us take cameras on every single ride we rode that day. I have POV's from several of the other rides as well.
It's such a shame the park closed, I pass by it every summer on my way from the airport to my grandparents' house. Mega Zeph looked really really awesome.
Ol' Misery Great news. The city of new Orleans is voting on brining it back a week from today. From what I hear it has a good chance so this park may be coming back. The company says that roller coasters like jester can me restored. Not sure about mega zeph but if not maybe they can RMC it.
That's good to hear! Not sure they would spend the money for a RMC conversion. I guess we will see how much they are wanting to spend. It would be kind of cool to see Gravity Group come in also and work some magic. Either way it would be a good move I think.
Hey my sister and I built an nesr inspiration of this in our park rct scenario ivory towers, which has a mix of Martin's Fantasy Island Comet too, Turned out to be a double out and back with two different Helixs! Which was a tribute to New Orleans Mega Zeph as we still named it Mega Zeph!
The track on Son of Beast was actually wider than this track. However, when the park decided to replace the trains with lighter trains, they used the same type of trains (Gerstlauer) that were used on Megazeph. They had to modify the chassis to enable them to run on Son of Beast's wider track.
I live in St. Louis and yesterday I noticed the carts of this ride in the back under our Batman: The ride. I remember reading about Six Flags New Orleans and I thought it was so amazing to have the carts from this ride in our park.
It really surprised me. I hadn't heard many reviews of the ride before I rode it. We ended up riding that thing dozens of times that day. It was the only time I visited the park.
This would've been an awesome ride have this park remained opened. Such a shame that this park was placed in a very bad location where there's nothing much that can be done to fix it, especially after a major hurricane hit it.
Fucking awesome ride that has been left abandoned for more than a decade and a half along with the rest of the theme park. As the years continue to go on I honestly believe that this ride is now 100% inoperable. People keep saying that they're going to try and bring the park back but if they're going to do that I really don't think any of those rides are salvageable, even in Jake Williams documentary they said that Mega Zeph could be saved but I highly doubt that.
If there is anyone that can bring that ride back to life, it's the original engineers that designed it. I personally know them and have no doubt they could do the job. They used to work for Custom Coasters International when this ride was built. After CCI closed, the engineers formed The Gravity Group, the leader of some of the most insane wooden coasters on the planet, in my opinion.
While I have never compared it to ElToro, I can see certain things that resemble it. MZ was a strange ride that not a lot of people talked about. It was fun.
@rootinator - That's a shame to hear that. I always thought Mega Zeph was one of the more underated coasters that CCI built. Villian up here in Ohio suffered the same kind of roughness you described. While I was never a big fan of Villian, at least there is some hope for Mega Zeph as Villian is gone.
Those upstop wheels sound like they are about to spit bearings everywhere, haha. But it looks like it was a lot of fun. Came here after watching some "urban explorers" walk through the abandoned park, including climbing to the top of this lift hill.
This is how much of a moron I am.. I had a big USA multi state coaster trip planned in 2005. I happened by chance to meet someone in NOLA (I had done parks in California and Texas before I got there, and I wasn't going to Nola for a park but for a couple nights partying), and I guess we fell for one another, and I cancelled the entire trip to stay with him. Six Flags NOLA was down the effin road and I just thought there was no rush to go.. then Katrina came and that was it. I was right there for months and missed out on this excellent looking coaster. Seriously the layout looks great! At least we did manage to get to Florida and I did some parks there. Busch and Universal basically. Still, missing this is one of my few coaster regrets.
I remember reading that the Gerstlauer trains tore up the track (like the PTC trains on Voyage) and that the budgets for maintaining the trackwork on MegaZeph was low. There was a lot of work done between 04 and 05 but the ride only had a few months to break in the new rails before Hurricane Katrina shut everything down. SF relocated the trains to Six Flags St. Louis as parts donors for The Boss. It was rumored they could have replaced the trains on American Eagle at one point, too.
Just to say there is a facebook group called Jazzland and there trying to reopen the park and has the funds but the city keeps holding back the thing and also I think the city doesnt want to help the park or rework the drainage
I hope the best for the park. I drove by the park a couple of months ago when I was in New Orleans for work. Hadn't been by the park since the day this video was taken.
yeah It's ashame the park closed I had a chance to do Hardrock/Freestyle and it was such a nice park shake rattle and roll was my first kids coaster. I was tall enough to ride the vekoma minetrain but scared of the fire at the end but the rides for hard rock were kinda bad maybe and all the enthusiats the news at the time said they should redo the kids area put in 20-40 rides and get a wooden rollercoaster. If they had RMC back then they could of put one in and there was a good spot to put in a S&S drop tower theme it to the big ben and put music on it
All great ideas. Despite Hard Rock Park being one of the biggest fails in the amusement industry, I enjoyed my day there. I was confused on the day I visited though as I was there on a Saturday in the summer and there was hardly anyone in the park, even with beautiful weather. That's not a great sign.
It was an amazing ride that I was glad to have ridden many times that day. It's one of those rides that I really miss. I only got to visit the park once but it was a great day.
@rootinator - I never got to ride the Vekoma looper at that park but I did manage to take a ride or two when it was in Texas. I honestly don't remember much about the ride other than it ran backwards.
@MestizoFilipino - It was probably the biggest surprise of this particular trip. The other surprise was the tropical storm that was supposed to hit this day missed us altogether.
@rollercoasterfan97 - Yea, it sucks as I know plenty of people who wanted to ride it but never got the chance. Perhaps someone will come in and try and fix it up or move what they can.
@13gamingclan - Actually, SOB is no longer closed due to that woman, it remains closed due to the park knowing it's a shoddy ride. The trains on SOB that replaced the old Premier trains came from another CCI coaster. The trains were very similar (Gertlauer) to those that are in this video. Ironically, if SOB ends of being removed from Kings Island, it will be the second coaster torn down using those exact trains.
I remember that last curve just before the up and down humps riding closest to the interstate jerking soo hard felt like my hip got shifted out of place every time
Wow! That is a nice LONG ride. Too bad it is just sitting there doing nothing along with the rest of the rides. Is there any word as to what is going to happen with the park? Is it going to be sold off, or is Six Flags just going to sit on it and let it rot away.
@pierzedntattooed - It is a shame. We hadn't heard many reviews for the ride by the time we rode it and was really surprised at how fun it was to ride. I am curious to see if it's in such bad shape that it can't be repaired ever.
@13gamingclan - A 'standard' Timberliner train would have to go through modifications to run on SOB. As nice as the Timberliners seem to be, I doubt even those would benefit the ride in a great way. At this point a lot of people believe this ride is a lost cause.
Hmmm. Good question. Perhaps something like Silver Comet in New York. Mega Zeph also had some moments that reminded me of Ghostrider. Mega Zeph really surprised us as we hadn't heard any reviews before riding.
Maybe there will be a day when this park reopens and this coaster is "fixed" to operate again. Yea, that most likely won't happen but it would be cool if it did.
There have been a few times where financial groups have come together, trying to re-open the park and get Mega Zeph up and running again. That would be cool if it were to happen but I think we are a long way from that becoming a reality.
That's interesting. The coaster that Mega Zeph's name was partially taken from (Zephyr) is a coaster that was featured on the album cover of a Dexter Freebish album. The name of the band is also is also reference to a coaster of the same name that used to operate at Six Flags Astro World.
@@SeanFlaharty my parents were around 11 to 13 when ponchartrain beach closed so they went there a lot as kids. If you go to one of the local recreational parks they have the crest of the lift hill of the zeyphr still as a monument
@@bradythomas234 That's awesome! The last time I was. in NOLA I was taken on a drive around the remaining Six Flags then to Ponchartrain Beach, but we didn't get out and walk around so I missed seeing the crest of the lift. I had a conversation with Kirk Windstein (of the NOLA band Crowbar) and he told me he remembers visiting it when he was younger but never made it to Jazzland/ Six Flags.
@@bradythomas234 No way! What a small world. I have been a huge fan of Crowbar since I saw them live, opening for Pantera in 1993. I know Tommy wasn't in the band back then but most of the times I have seen Crowbar, he has been playing with them. I have worn Crowbar shirts in my vlogs before, including the closing shot on my 2019 Japan series. I also had Kirk do the intro to one of my vlogs (MASSIVLOG 8) and went to two of their shows that year, which is covered in that vlog. Kirk and his wife told me the next time I am in NOLA, I have to let them know and we will have a beer at Pat's Pub, a place I covered in a previous vlog that is Kirk and wife love to go to. I have been there once but he was on tour so I missed him.
@@vectorcollector4893 I was never a big hater on the Gerstlauer trains like some others were. They weren't as sturdy "feeling" as the PTC trains but they served their purpose. When the Son of Beast coaster reopened with G-trains, I rode it twice and swore it off. Those trains just didn't feel all that great to be in while riding Son of Beast. Then again, they were better than the Premier ones the park removed.
@@SeanFlaharty I could never understand the hate Behind These trains they look like relatively smooth rides they may not be the best but I think they would be a decent train to put on a new wooden coaster also sorry if I'm annoying but do you know of any other wooden coasters that still use these trains and that are still operating?
That's a damn good POV considering its age and that it is hand-held. Thanks for sharing!
+Matt Man Thanks Matt! I was very surprised that the park let us take cameras on every single ride we rode that day. I have POV's from several of the other rides as well.
It's such a shame the park closed, I pass by it every summer on my way from the airport to my grandparents' house. Mega Zeph looked really really awesome.
I really enjoyed this park. I only visited it once but it left an impression on me.
How was Jester? Always wondered what a backwards facing Vekoma death machine felt like. =P
I only rode it at Six Flags Fiesta Texas one time.....and that pretty much says it all. :)
Ol' Misery Great news. The city of new Orleans is voting on brining it back a week from today. From what I hear it has a good chance so this park may be coming back. The company says that roller coasters like jester can me restored. Not sure about mega zeph but if not maybe they can RMC it.
That's good to hear! Not sure they would spend the money for a RMC conversion. I guess we will see how much they are wanting to spend. It would be kind of cool to see Gravity Group come in also and work some magic. Either way it would be a good move I think.
Rip Jazzland & Six Flags New Orleans! We will never forget you 😔😇😔
There are reports of a company attempting to reopen the park in the future. Let's hope of the best!
@@SeanFlaharty seven years later. 😔
@@Goofiest-o I gave up hope years ago, unfortunately.
Brings back memories I was there in 2003-04 when it was changed to six flags I went there for my YMCA summer camp days
I have heard similar reports. When I shot this video, Mega Zeph was very smooth. I had heard got rougher.
Guests can't get to the entrance of Wooden Roller Coaster 1! Construct a path to the entrance.
Hey my sister and I built an nesr inspiration of this in our park rct scenario ivory towers, which has a mix of Martin's Fantasy Island Comet too,
Turned out to be a double out and back with two different Helixs!
Which was a tribute to New Orleans Mega Zeph as we still named it Mega Zeph!
4 years before Hurricane Katrina extinguished the amusement from this park forever.
The track on Son of Beast was actually wider than this track. However, when the park decided to replace the trains with lighter trains, they used the same type of trains (Gerstlauer) that were used on Megazeph. They had to modify the chassis to enable them to run on Son of Beast's wider track.
I live in St. Louis and yesterday I noticed the carts of this ride in the back under our Batman: The ride. I remember reading about Six Flags New Orleans and I thought it was so amazing to have the carts from this ride in our park.
I love the fact that St Louis's Batman's queue doubles as the boneyard for the park. Lola and Stella from Kentucky Kingdom live there too.
I feel like this was one of the better CCI coasters. Such a shame it's no longer in operation.
It really surprised me. I hadn't heard many reviews of the ride before I rode it. We ended up riding that thing dozens of times that day. It was the only time I visited the park.
This would've been an awesome ride have this park remained opened. Such a shame that this park was placed in a very bad location where there's nothing much that can be done to fix it, especially after a major hurricane hit it.
I used to ride it almost every day when it was new. I forgot about the upstop wheel noise on those Gerstlauer trains.
Fucking awesome ride that has been left abandoned for more than a decade and a half along with the rest of the theme park. As the years continue to go on I honestly believe that this ride is now 100% inoperable. People keep saying that they're going to try and bring the park back but if they're going to do that I really don't think any of those rides are salvageable, even in Jake Williams documentary they said that Mega Zeph could be saved but I highly doubt that.
If there is anyone that can bring that ride back to life, it's the original engineers that designed it. I personally know them and have no doubt they could do the job. They used to work for Custom Coasters International when this ride was built. After CCI closed, the engineers formed The Gravity Group, the leader of some of the most insane wooden coasters on the planet, in my opinion.
great POV by the way and I can tell you really enjoyed it!
And now this awesome ride is sitting and decaying more and more every dat.
DAY!
Gives me major El Toro vibes. I think I would’ve really liked this coaster. Guess you could say yesterday’s mega zeph is today’s el toro
While I have never compared it to ElToro, I can see certain things that resemble it. MZ was a strange ride that not a lot of people talked about. It was fun.
@rootinator - That's a shame to hear that. I always thought Mega Zeph was one of the more underated coasters that CCI built. Villian up here in Ohio suffered the same kind of roughness you described. While I was never a big fan of Villian, at least there is some hope for Mega Zeph as Villian is gone.
Those upstop wheels sound like they are about to spit bearings everywhere, haha. But it looks like it was a lot of fun. Came here after watching some "urban explorers" walk through the abandoned park, including climbing to the top of this lift hill.
This is how much of a moron I am.. I had a big USA multi state coaster trip planned in 2005. I happened by chance to meet someone in NOLA (I had done parks in California and Texas before I got there, and I wasn't going to Nola for a park but for a couple nights partying), and I guess we fell for one another, and I cancelled the entire trip to stay with him. Six Flags NOLA was down the effin road and I just thought there was no rush to go.. then Katrina came and that was it. I was right there for months and missed out on this excellent looking coaster. Seriously the layout looks great! At least we did manage to get to Florida and I did some parks there. Busch and Universal basically. Still, missing this is one of my few coaster regrets.
Bro it's ok, there's no way you could have known. Chill. It's fine. It's just a roller coaster.
I remember reading that the Gerstlauer trains tore up the track (like the PTC trains on Voyage) and that the budgets for maintaining the trackwork on MegaZeph was low. There was a lot of work done between 04 and 05 but the ride only had a few months to break in the new rails before Hurricane Katrina shut everything down.
SF relocated the trains to Six Flags St. Louis as parts donors for The Boss. It was rumored they could have replaced the trains on American Eagle at one point, too.
@MrTomato26 - It really was a smooth ride during the time this video was taken. I have heard it didn't remain smooth.
That would be great! I may have to travel down there to visit the place again if it were to re-open.
Just to say there is a facebook group called Jazzland and there trying to reopen the park and has the funds but the city keeps holding back the thing and also I think the city doesnt want to help the park or rework the drainage
I hope the best for the park. I drove by the park a couple of months ago when I was in New Orleans for work. Hadn't been by the park since the day this video was taken.
yeah It's ashame the park closed I had a chance to do Hardrock/Freestyle and it was such a nice park shake rattle and roll was my first kids coaster. I was tall enough to ride the vekoma minetrain but scared of the fire at the end but the rides for hard rock were kinda bad maybe and all the enthusiats the news at the time said they should redo the kids area put in 20-40 rides and get a wooden rollercoaster. If they had RMC back then they could of put one in and there was a good spot to put in a S&S drop tower theme it to the big ben and put music on it
All great ideas. Despite Hard Rock Park being one of the biggest fails in the amusement industry, I enjoyed my day there. I was confused on the day I visited though as I was there on a Saturday in the summer and there was hardly anyone in the park, even with beautiful weather. That's not a great sign.
Gave me goosebumps tbh.
Mega Zeph looks like it was a really solid woodie. Too bad it will probably never operate again.
It was an amazing ride that I was glad to have ridden many times that day. It's one of those rides that I really miss. I only got to visit the park once but it was a great day.
@rootinator - I never got to ride the Vekoma looper at that park but I did manage to take a ride or two when it was in Texas. I honestly don't remember much about the ride other than it ran backwards.
@MestizoFilipino - It was probably the biggest surprise of this particular trip. The other surprise was the tropical storm that was supposed to hit this day missed us altogether.
It's so sad this place was shut down and abandoned due to Katrina.
Not sure. I have heard there is a group trying to reopen the park. Hopefully this coaster will give some more rides someday.
i saw the mega zeph trains under the batman platform at six flags st.louis!
The ride was one of the most aggressive to come from CCI. I am sure it's a real chore to take care of.
@rollercoasterfan97 - Yea, it sucks as I know plenty of people who wanted to ride it but never got the chance. Perhaps someone will come in and try and fix it up or move what they can.
@13gamingclan - Actually, SOB is no longer closed due to that woman, it remains closed due to the park knowing it's a shoddy ride.
The trains on SOB that replaced the old Premier trains came from another CCI coaster. The trains were very similar (Gertlauer) to those that are in this video. Ironically, if SOB ends of being removed from Kings Island, it will be the second coaster torn down using those exact trains.
@rootinator - Indeed! I never got to ride this coaster in a rough state so I don't know how bad it got.
I remember that last curve just before the up and down humps riding closest to the interstate jerking soo hard felt like my hip got shifted out of place every time
I have ridden the Boss many times. The last time I rode it wasn't all that great as the track wasn't in great shape. I am not sure how it rides now.
wow that is pretty dang smooth for a wodie
That ending helix reminds me of GhostRider's.
It is kind of similar. Lots of laterals.
Wow! That is a nice LONG ride. Too bad it is just sitting there doing nothing along with the rest of the rides. Is there any word as to what is going to happen with the park? Is it going to be sold off, or is Six Flags just going to sit on it and let it rot away.
Sure does look like a great ride.
@pierzedntattooed - It is a shame. We hadn't heard many reviews for the ride by the time we rode it and was really surprised at how fun it was to ride. I am curious to see if it's in such bad shape that it can't be repaired ever.
i am so exicted for this place to reopen as jazzland!!!!!!!!!
@13gamingclan - A 'standard' Timberliner train would have to go through modifications to run on SOB. As nice as the Timberliners seem to be, I doubt even those would benefit the ride in a great way. At this point a lot of people believe this ride is a lost cause.
@delhiskatingdays - Nope. I am not on Facebook.
that ride is bumpy af
the boss is my fave ride at six flags st louis!
Looked like so much fun. Shame this wasn't relocated or the park recovered.
There are plans to try and reopen the park in the future.
Is there any CCI coasters currently operating in America that you would compare this too? This looks like my kind of coaster!
Hmmm. Good question. Perhaps something like Silver Comet in New York. Mega Zeph also had some moments that reminded me of Ghostrider. Mega Zeph really surprised us as we hadn't heard any reviews before riding.
Had my memaw rose been still alive and Hurricane Katrina would've never happened, I totally would've rode that.
Maybe there will be a day when this park reopens and this coaster is "fixed" to operate again. Yea, that most likely won't happen but it would be cool if it did.
Too bad Hurricane Katrina came in and ruined everyone's chances of riding the Mega Zeph 😭
There have been a few times where financial groups have come together, trying to re-open the park and get Mega Zeph up and running again. That would be cool if it were to happen but I think we are a long way from that becoming a reality.
@@SeanFlaharty I know. If someone follows through with approval from the city, this thing will be open... again!
Hey Sean, I love the video, I am doing a video on defunct six flags coasters, any chance I could use the footage, with credit of course?
Many thanks for asking. Yes, you can use this footage. Thanks in advance for the credit.
Great layout ..needs to be saved.is this built by cci?
Yes, this was a CCI.
That looks like a mix of judge Roy scream and texas giant at six flags over Texas
The hip hop group suicide boys made a song named after this ride. They're from Louisiana so it makes sense
That's interesting. The coaster that Mega Zeph's name was partially taken from (Zephyr) is a coaster that was featured on the album cover of a Dexter Freebish album. The name of the band is also is also reference to a coaster of the same name that used to operate at Six Flags Astro World.
@@SeanFlaharty my parents were around 11 to 13 when ponchartrain beach closed so they went there a lot as kids. If you go to one of the local recreational parks they have the crest of the lift hill of the zeyphr still as a monument
@@bradythomas234 That's awesome! The last time I was. in NOLA I was taken on a drive around the remaining Six Flags then to Ponchartrain Beach, but we didn't get out and walk around so I missed seeing the crest of the lift. I had a conversation with Kirk Windstein (of the NOLA band Crowbar) and he told me he remembers visiting it when he was younger but never made it to Jazzland/ Six Flags.
@@SeanFlaharty my mom's dating the drummer from crowbar (Tommy) so that's a cool coincidence lol.
@@bradythomas234 No way! What a small world. I have been a huge fan of Crowbar since I saw them live, opening for Pantera in 1993. I know Tommy wasn't in the band back then but most of the times I have seen Crowbar, he has been playing with them. I have worn Crowbar shirts in my vlogs before, including the closing shot on my 2019 Japan series. I also had Kirk do the intro to one of my vlogs (MASSIVLOG 8) and went to two of their shows that year, which is covered in that vlog. Kirk and his wife told me the next time I am in NOLA, I have to let them know and we will have a beer at Pat's Pub, a place I covered in a previous vlog that is Kirk and wife love to go to. I have been there once but he was on tour so I missed him.
The unbanked lateral ejector hill at 0:35 and the double up at 1:14 were my favorite parts by far.
Sigh, this was my home park.
LOL. I have never heard anyone call him that before.
They should sell mega zemph to Hersheypark, and take out the Farenhight @ Hershey, and replace it with Mega Zemph.
#bringbackJazzland
Do you know what trains this roller coaster used and who manufactured those trains?
The trains used were also manufactured by Gerstlauer.
@@SeanFlaharty that's what I thought do you like this design of train?
@@vectorcollector4893 I was never a big hater on the Gerstlauer trains like some others were. They weren't as sturdy "feeling" as the PTC trains but they served their purpose. When the Son of Beast coaster reopened with G-trains, I rode it twice and swore it off. Those trains just didn't feel all that great to be in while riding Son of Beast. Then again, they were better than the Premier ones the park removed.
@@SeanFlaharty I could never understand the hate Behind These trains they look like relatively smooth rides they may not be the best but I think they would be a decent train to put on a new wooden coaster also sorry if I'm annoying but do you know of any other wooden coasters that still use these trains and that are still operating?
Wow thats a shame, it looks like a great woodie and now its just going to deteriorate where it stands :(
Cool layout. Such a shame :(
it was a very underrated coaster in my opinion. it really impressed us.
Nick Cage
@MrTechlover100
oh goood god man look @ desc
this coaster looks just so ehh lol
It was actually a really surprising ride. I didn't think it looked like much until I rode it.
@@SeanFlaharty Yeah. It looks like one of those rides where the experience is unpredictable lol
Exactly.