Ryan shared some thoughts, via email:
"The first thing that struck me is how much the coasters and larger rides are still standing. Clearly the damage is from the flooding. And then the looting.
"Being in the park alone is awesome, even though the rides are not operational. Then the abandonment sets in. You hear the wind howling through the park. Broken gates creaking. Leaves rustling across spilled papers and plastic utensils. It's literally a ghost town. They closed the park in preparation for the storm and never returned."
"And the park being accessible is not a big secret. We ran into three other people while wandering around the park.
"It is definitely a park I want to visit again and spend a few more hours in."
Abandoned places in general have always been fascinating for me and I'd like to see SFNO one of these days if I'm ever down that way.
Great Pictures!
Thanks for posting them Bobby..
Heh, we won't talk about how I know these things... but technically if anyone cared about people getting into the park you'd be fined with trespassing. If you got fined and hurt in the same trip there isn't an insurance company or judge alive who would accept your plea. After which they'd either try to secure the park with rental security (who is easy to get past anyway) or it'd be bulldozed even quicker. Generally when exploring you don't get hurt unless your being completely stupid.
There is a lot of documentation threw the urban explorer groups who've seen and explored old and abandoned amusement parks. Just do a few google searches and you'll stumble upon them. *Coughgooglesnbocough*
1. The photo with the caption referring to it as a "coaster train" is not a coaster. Inverter is a rotating flat ride that goes upside down..various names at various parks.
2. Zombieland is an absolute classic of its genre, and I, too, got a chuckle out of that picture of the vandalized sign.
3. I thought the saddest pic was of the season passes simply scattered to the four winds, although I'm not sure why the passes were in the park and not in their owners' possession if the park closed in advance of the arrival of Katrina.
Well shot and written photo essay.
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