Roller Coasters in Louisiana

I am sad to learn that there are hardly any roller coasters in Louisiana anymore! Six Flags New Orleans was open for a mere 5 years before damage from Hurricane Katrina shuttered it permanently in 2005. After 18 years, they seem to have finally reached a redevelopment deal – so watch this space for a possible water park in the future. (See this video for a good run-down of all the coasters once present at this park.)

Another decently-sized park called Dixie Landin’ in Baton Rouge seems to not have quite survived Covid. The attached water park, Blue Bayou, is open this summer (with plenty of caveats) but the amusement park side has no plans to open this year. If it ever does open back up, there are three roller coasters in the park: the Ragin’ Cajun shuttle coaster, Gilbeau’s Galaxi fair-style steel coaster, and the Loco Loco family coaster. (I think the biggest loss to the coaster world might be Louisiana-specific ride names like Ragin’ Cajun, Zydeco Scream, and the Muskrat Scrambler.)

Despite not having many roller coasters in Louisiana, I’ve still linked coaster names above and below to POV videos, so you can ride all of Louisiana’s roller coasters, past and present, from your couch!

Carousel Gardens

The ONE still-standing roller coaster in Louisiana is in the state’s oldest amusement park, Carousel Gardens in New Orleans. The roller coaster is the Lady Bug family coaster. It’s not too shabby as a kid’s coaster, but it’s a far cry from a Six Flags.

Otherwise, there’s a train around the park, an antique carousel, a Ferris Wheel, a fun house, and a few spinning rides and rides for smaller kids. However, for only 17-18 rides, it seems awfully expensive. Daily ticket prices cost $25 for any riders over three feet tall, though non-riding chaperones and seniors can get in for $15. Anyone under three feet/36 inches can get in free. On weekdays in the summer, you can ride the Lady Bug, plus the train, carousel, and “umbrella cars” for just $15. There is parking within the park, including right across from the Carousel Gardens entrance, but I can’t tell if it is paid.

Carousel Gardens is open from 11:00-8:00 pm Fridays-Sundays and 11:00-4:30 Tuesdays-Thursdays. (Which means they must be closed on Mondays.) Included with Carousel Gardens admission is Storyland, an area with storybook character statues, (though it looks like you can pay $6 just for it.) In the larger New Orleans City Park there’s also putt-putt ($10), a botanical garden ($12), a Children’s Museum ($16), the New Orleans Museum of Art ($15), as well as golf courses, horseback riding, boating & fishing on Big Lake, bike rentals, a greenhouse, forested land, historic pavilions, a school and restaurants. There’s even a City Park outpost of the famous Cafe du Monde! So it’s clearly not a bitty city park, it’s New Orlean’s version of Central Park, with lots to do inside.

Water Parks in Louisiana

You’d think that as hot and humid as Louisiana gets, there’d be more water parks in the state, but again, the list is quite a bit shorter than usual.

• Blue Bayou, the aforementioned waterpark connected to the (possibly defunct) Dixie Landin’ in Baton Rouge, has a whopping 15 slides, 3 kids’ areas, a wave pool, and a lazy river. Admission is $50 for guests over 48 inches (4 feet) and $40 for those under 48″ and seniors 60+. Kids 35″ and under are free. Parking is an extra $5. They make sure to note in a few places that, “Some attractions may be modified, limited in capacity and subject to availability” so maybe don’t get all your hopes up about riding anything in particular.
• Splash Kingdom Oasis is a religious chain of Texas water parks with one location in Shreveport. It features 10 slides, 2 kids’ areas, a wave pool, lazy river, an activity pool, and a sand volleyball court. Tickets cost $26 at the gate, or $23 online. Save even more by choosing what day you visit for tickets as low as $16. These prices are for all ages, though age 2 and under get in free. There’s also “Toddler Tuesdays” in June & July when you can get your 5-and-under toddler and a guardian an hour and a half of morning playtime for only $7. A $50 three-day pass is good for three visits during the season. It doesn’t look like there’s a charge for parking.

• SPAR Waterpark in Sulphur is a regional “parks & rec” park with 5 slides, 3 kids’ areas, a large lagoon pool that several of the slides exit into, and a lazy river with a wave pool section. For non-residents, admission is $14 for adults, $12 for kids 48″ and under, seniors 62+, and military, and free for 2 years and under. For residents, all prices are half that. Parking is free.
• Liberty Lagoon in Baton Rouge is a smaller park with some interesting attractions. There are 5 slides, a kids’ “water playground” and shaded splash pad. And while there is no wave pool or lazy river, there’s a lap pool, a “vortex pool”, a net crossing, and something called a “wet deck” where I guess you can put your chair in shallow water? But they also have a flow rider, which is impressive for a smaller park. Admission costs $12; $10 for active military and first responders, and the flow rider costs an extra $5 for all-day use.
• Aqua PARDS in Denham Springs is another regional park, with at least 2 slides and a kids’ splash tower. Admission is $10 for out-of-district; $8 for in-district. Mondays & Tuesdays are $2 less.

• Gator Grounds RV Resort in Bunkie has a waterpark with 5 slides, a lazy river, and an indoor kids’ area, but it’s only for the use of guests at the campground. Rates are in the $50-85 range, though you can add a visitor with waterpark rights for $20 extra.
• I’ll list this just because it is interesting, but I don’t think there are any significant slides. The Audubon Zoo in New Orleans has a “Cool Zoo” tucked in the back of the park, featuring a lazy river and a kids’ alligator-themed splash tower. It’s offered as an add-on to zoo admission, and you pay for either a morning or afternoon session. It’s at least $30 for the zoo itself, plus $12 more for the Cool Zoo.

Did I miss anything? Have you been to any of these parks? What are you looking forward to doing this summer? Let me know in the comments below!