Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park
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Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park was created during the Lakeshore reclamation project of the 1920s.
The Orleans Levee Board began the project with the construction of a seawall which was completed in 1930. At the same time, the reclaimed area behind the seawall was drained and filled hydraulically with material from the bottom of the lake. The result was the creation of over 2000 acres of land available for development.
Due to the additional lakefront property, the Bayou St. John amusement park was relocated to the reclaimed area and became Pontchartrain beach.
For 55 years, Pontchartrain Beach was segregated for 'whites only' until the mid-1960s. Lincoln Beach was available for black residents from 1955-65.
Pontchartrain Beach was closed September 23, 1983, due to decreasing attendance, rising insurance costs, pollution concerns in the lake, and the impending competition of the 1984 World's Fair.
In 2000, New Orleans opened a new theme park called Jazzland, later renamed Six Flags over New Orleans, which featured the names of many rides enjoyed by older residents who frequented Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park.
The only remaining structure from Pontchartrain Beach was the entrance and exit building of the Ragin' Cajun roller coaster. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina damaged the building. The Levee board removed the structure in 2007 to fortify the levee system around the UNO technology park.
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Pontchartrain Beach before reclamation, circa 1927
This view was taken from the Milneburg lighthouse looking east. Notice the temporary wooden bulkhead structure and the train tracks on the platform. The "Smoky Mary" train was used by Milneburg residents as a primary means of travel up and down Elysian fields. After Milneburg neighborhood was evacuated for reclamation, the train was used for transporting materials for the reclamation process by the WPA. Courtesy of Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library
Pontchartrain Beach after reclamation
This view from the Milneburg lighthouse shows the same area with the new amusement park and its WPA-built bathing beach, bath house under construction, and one of two light towers built by the WPA for night swimming. Courtesy of Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library
Pontchartrain Beach Seawall before reclamation, circa 1928
This view shows the bulkhead of the seawall with the old Milneburg lighthouse in the background. Notice the wooden bulkhead structure in place before the area behind it was filled in. Courtesy of Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library
Pontchartrain Beach Seawall after reclamation
This view shows the same area transformed into a modern amusement park. Shown here are the WPA-built bathing beach, bath house under construction, one of two powerful lights for night swimming, and a life guard tower. Notice Milneburg lighthouse on the right side of the photograph. Courtesy of Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library
Photo of Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park from the air in 1947 or 1948 by the Army Corps of Engineers
The Zephyr roller coaster dominates the scene. The Air Base is visible in the background. Notice the amount of shoreline between the lakefront walkway and the water. Courtesy of Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library
Pontchartrain Beach, circa 1931
Caption reads, "From Bathhouse looking west showing crowds on pavilion and around various rides. Sunday June 7th, 1931." Courtesy of Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library
Ragin' Cajun Roller coaster at Pontchartrain Beach
The entrance and exit pavilion in the background was the only structure remaining after Pontchartrain Beach Amusement park shut down in 1983. Courtesy of Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library
The entrance and exit structure for the Ragin' Cajun ride at Pontchartrain Beach
This was only remaining structure left from the Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park after its closure in 1983. Many of the rides were dismantled and sent to other parks throughout the Gulf coast. Hurricane Katrina severely damaged this building in 2005, leaving it to decay until its demolition in 2007. Picture courtesy of Patrick Stephen
Pontchartrain Beach Riprap Groin
Two 500-foot riprap groins, or wave breaks, built by the WPA extend out into the Lake on either side of the sand beach to prevent wave wash. These structures are still in use today. Courtesy of Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library