| For the equivalent area at California's Great America, see Orleans Place (California's Great America). |
Orleans Place is a themed area at Six Flags Great America, based on the French Quarter in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It opened with the park on May 29, 1976, as one of its original areas.
It neighbors with the Mardi Gras section, which has a similar theme. Mardi Gras opened in 2004, as a "retooling" of a former section of Orleans Place.
History[]
Marriott era (1976–1983)[]
Orleans Place opened as one of the six themed areas of Marriott's Great America on May 29, 1976. On opening day, Orleans Place had four different rides; Rue Le Dodge, Traffique Jam, Cajun Cliffhanger, and the Gulf Coaster. Midway through the 1976 season, the Gulf Coaster caught fire, forcing it to close. The kiddie coaster had been plagued with issues from the start, and was removed in the 1976/1977 off-season. It was replaced with the Southern Cross Skyridge.
In the 1983 season, The Edge opened. It was a drop tower ride, similar to Stuntman's Freefall at Six Flags Great Adventure, which opened years later. After an incident in 1984, the ride suffered dwindling ridership, and it was removed after the 1984 season. It was sold to Rocky Point Amusement Park in Warwick, Rhode Island.
Six Flags era (1984–present)[]
In 1987, Power Dive opened, a "looping starship" type ride.
In 1988, Shockwave opened, a "megalooper" steel roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics.
During the 1991 season, Condor opened was introduced, after previously being located at Six Flags Over Mid-America in 1988. It is a scrambler-type ride, where guests board small blue "condors" that take off into the sky.
After an accident on July 19, 2000 that involved the injury of two girls, Cajun Cliffhanger was closed. Inquiries found that the operators were negligent, and the park was fined $1,000. The ride was then removed and scrapped in the 2000/2001 off-season.
In 2001, Power Dive closed.
In 2003, Superman: Ultimate Flight opened. It is a "flying coaster", where guests board trains that give them the feeling of flying like Superman.
In 2004, Six Flags Great America introduced Mardi Gras, the first new land to be added to the park since Southwest Territory in 1996. The area took up a part of what had formerly been Orleans Place. As part of this, Roaring Rapids was rezoned into Mardi Gras.
In 2008, The Dark Knight Coaster opened, replacing the Theatre Royale. Based on the film The Dark Knight, which opened that same year, guests board Gotham City Rail and head into the subways as a fight between Batman and The Joker ensues. It used much of the original theater, with an added structure in the back.
In 2009, the Cyber Café opened, replacing the Bourbon Street Café. It was an internet café sponsored by Xfinity.
For the 2019 season, Bugs Bunny & Company was replaced with the new Great America Emporium.
Attractions[]
Current[]
- Rue Le Dodge (Opened 1976)
- Condor (Opened 1991)
- Superman: Ultimate Flight (Opened 2003)
- The Dark Knight Coaster (Opened 2008)
Former[]
- Gulf Coaster (1976)
- Traffique Jam (1976–1984)
- The Edge (1983–1984)
- Cajun Cliffhanger (1976–2000)
- Power Dive (1987–2001)
- Recording Studio (?)
- Cirque Electrique (?–2003) (Now part of Mardi Gras since 2004)
- Roaring Rapids (1984–2003) (Now part of Mardi Gras since 2004)
Dining[]
Current[]
Former[]
- Penny P. Patrick's Praline Parlour (198?–199?)
- New Orleans Grill (?)
- Bourbon Street Café (1986–2008)
- Cyber Café (2008-2014)
- Go Fresh Café (2014-2022)
Shopping[]
Current[]
- Great America Emporium
- Heroes
- Sweet Treats
- Villains
Former[]
- Laffite's Treasure Chest of Toys (?)
- Mardi Gras Emporium (?)
- Rue Royale Clothiers (?)
- Bangles, Baubles, and Beads (?)
- After Shock (?)
- Coaster Dude (90s-)
- Computer Portraits (?)
- Thrillseekers (?)
- Freeze Frame (?)
- Bugs Bunny & Company (199?-2018)
Guest services[]
Current[]
Former[]
- Strollers and Wheelchairs (????-2023)
Fright Fest[]
- Main article: Six Flags Great America Fright Fest
Orleans Place has been home to several different Fright Fest scare zones and attractions since the annual event began in 1991. These include:
- Bayou Du Vaudou (2011-2012)
- Lost Souls (2018)
