Six Flags New Orleans-Jazzland by Jason Lanier
This is more than just abandoned amusement park photography.
This is Jazzland. Reimagined. Remembered. Reborn.
Step into the haunting beauty and rich history of Six Flags New Orleans, formerly known as Jazzland, through the lens of renowned photographer and urban explorer Jason Lanier. A true passion project over a decade in the making, this body of work captures the eerie stillness and haunting remnants of a once-vibrant amusement park left abandoned in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Jason began photographing the park more than twelve years ago, drawn to its post-apocalyptic atmosphere and symbolic power. His early exploration work gained widespread notoriety, ultimately leading to his appointment as the official archival photographer for the property in 2023. With unprecedented access granted by the park’s stakeholders, Jason was free to creatively document the park in its final form, before redevelopment and demolition took hold.
From sweeping drone vistas to 360-degree walkthroughs, stylized model fashion shoots, long-exposure night sessions, and raw action footage, Jason left no creative tool behind. In September 2024, he began covering the demolition full-time, continuing until work halted in April 2025.
Jason also undertook a deeply personal restoration effort, a solo mission to reclaim the park’s long-forgotten lakefront.
Over the course of several grueling months, he single-handedly cleared and landscaped the entire shoreline, battling through overgrowth and braving waters teeming with alligators and snakes. It was an act of pure dedication, driven not by obligation, but by love. His goal was simple yet profound: to open up the view one last time and let the heart of the park shine before it was gone forever.
Though the project often demanded time, energy, and expense with no commercial backing, Jason committed himself fully, calling it the passion project of his life and career.
He was joined throughout by his close friend and fellow photographer Adam Santino, who not only assisted with shoots but also helped bring the magic of the park back to life, if only for fleeting moments, by lighting fireworks and pushing the limits of creativity within the ruins.
During his journey, Jason collaborated with Bayou Phoenix and Elvin Ross of E. Ross Studios Jazzland, sharing select photos and videos to help preserve the legacy and transformation of this iconic space. What began as an exploration ended in a visual time capsule, one that will soon be shared with the world through a feature documentary, behind-the-scenes video series, and an extensive collection of images that will resonate with both photography enthusiasts and the people of New Orleans.
Email: jason@jlpros.com