Pontchartrain Beach facts for kids
Pontchartrain Beach c. early 1960s
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| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
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| Coordinates | 30°01′55″N 90°03′43″W / 30.032°N 90.062°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | June 30, 1928 |
| Closed | September 23, 1983, for a gala event. The last day of "Public Admittance" was September 5th, 1983 |
Pontchartrain Beach was a super fun amusement park in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was right on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain. A man named Harry J. Batt Sr. started it. Later, his sons, Harry J. Batt Jr. and John A. Batt, ran the park.
The park first opened its gates on Saturday, June 30, 1928. It was located near Bayou St. John. This area is now known as the Lake Terrace neighborhood.
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Moving to a New Spot
In the early 1930s, the park moved to a new spot. This happened after a big seawall was built. The seawall changed the shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain. The new location was at the end of Elysian Fields Avenue. This spot used to be offshore of Milneburg.
What Made Pontchartrain Beach Awesome?
Pontchartrain Beach had a lot to offer visitors. It had a sandy beach where you could relax. There was also a huge Art Deco style bathhouse. You could cool off in the swimming pools.
Thrilling Rides and Fun Attractions
The park was packed with exciting rides. One of the most famous was the Zephyr. This was a classic wooden roller coaster. Other popular rides included the Zephyr Junior and Smoky Mary. You could also ride the Wild Maus and the Musik Express.
For water fun, there was the Log Ride. If you liked loops, the Ragin' Cajun was a modern steel coaster. Other cool rides were the Bug, Paratrooper, and Scrambler. There were also bumper cars, a carousel, and a Ferris wheel. Kids loved Kiddieland, which had many smaller rides just for them.
Shows and Entertainment
Besides rides, Pontchartrain Beach had amazing summertime shows. These shows changed every few years. There were dolphin shows with Skipper & Dolly. You could also see the Great American High Dive Show. Merlin's Magic Rainbow Show was another favorite.
For a while, the park even had a large petting zoo. It was full of farm animals and had a big red barn. A miniature golf course was added when it became popular.
Tasty Treats and Restaurants
When you got hungry, there were plenty of options. Just outside the park entrance was the Bali Hai restaurant. It had a cool Tiki-style theme. Another popular spot was the Ship Ahoy. They served delicious hamburgers and seafood.
Why Did Pontchartrain Beach Close?
Pontchartrain Beach was sold on September 23, 1983. The main reason it closed was that fewer people were visiting. It was a sad day for many who loved the park.
What Happened to the Rides?
Many rides from Pontchartrain Beach found new homes. Some, like the Airplanes and Kiddieland rides, went to a park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Sadly, that park was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
The Ragin' Cajun roller coaster moved to the Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom. It opened there in 1984 as the Steamin' Demon. One of the park's four antique carousels is now on the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The top part of the Zephyr roller coaster is now at Kenner Memorial Park. You can also find pieces of the Bali Hai restaurant there. The beautiful hand-painted carousel horses were given to New Orleans' City Park.
Pontchartrain Beach Today
The land where the park once stood is now a research and technology park. It is home to the University of New Orleans Research & Technology Park. The Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR) is also located there.
A mile-long sand beach is still in the same area. However, it is currently closed to the public. This is because of underwater drop-offs and rocks that can be dangerous for swimmers.
The water quality in Lake Pontchartrain has gotten much better. The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation is working to reopen the beach. They want it to be a public recreation area again.
