Pontchartrain Beach And Amusement Park - New Orleans, LA
Posted by: 
Big B Bob
N 30° 01.976 W 090° 03.730
15R E 783315 N 3326071
Pontchartrain Beach - The Deep South's Greatest Amusement Park.
Waymark Code: WM4MV2
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 09/08/2008
Views: 66
Pontchartrain Beach was an amusement park located in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It opened in 1928, across Bayou St. John from the existing amusement resort at Old Spanish Fort. In the early 1930s, as part of the lake shore was filled in and a seawall built, Pontchartrain Beach was moved to a new location at the lake end of Elysian Fields Avenue, a location formerly the lake edge of Milneburg before being filled in.
Pontchartrain Beach included a beach, amusement rides (including a large roller coaster, The Zephyr), and concession stands. The park featured live music concerts, including many local musicians and touring national acts such as Elvis Presley. "The Beach" also featured the exotic Bali Hai south seas restaurant, which actually survived as a banquet hall long after the amusement park's closure. For many in New Orleans, Bali Hai was the local equivalent to a Trader Vics style restaurant with its Asian bamboo decor, popular tiki inspired drinks and unique cuisine. Another popular restaurant was the Ship Ahoy, which featured hamburgers and seafood.
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.
Several of the rides ended up in Gulf Shores, Alabama at a small amusement park - including The Airplanes and many Kiddieland rides - which was subsequently wiped out by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
Much of the land formerly housing the park is now used by the University of New Orleans.
Date Park Opened: 01/01/1928
Date Park Closed: 09/23/1983
Current Use or Function:
Just a beach, but no swimming.
Is the park still there?: No
If not, what is in its place now?:
Just a beach, but no swimming.
Address: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
You must post at least one original picture at the posted coords to post a visit log for this waymark. Extra points if you are in the spirit of the park (i.e., in costume, etc.).