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Southern Star rekindles Six Flags bid
Southern Star, a company set up as a vehicle to take over and operate the Six Flags New Orleans theme park, has restarted its efforts to secure a deal for the park.
Six Flags New Orleans has been closed since August 2005 after suffering devastating damages caused by Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flooding.
According to Six Flags, up to 80 per cent of the park's infrastructure was destroyed during the storm. Six Flags has declared that it no longer plans to reopen the park.
The land is owned by the city of New Orleans and currently leased out to Six Flags.
Southern Star first attempted to either take over the lease in 2007, but failed to reach an agreement with city bosses. The talks were terminated at the end of 2008.
According to Danny Rogers, founder of Southern Star, the company is now preparing another attempt at securing a deal and reopening a theme park at the site.
"We made a worthwhile attempt last year to take over operations on the amusement property and were disheartened when we had to pull our offer from the table," he said.
"As several important factors have changed in the interim, we have resumed our efforts, this time partnering with another themed entertainment industry company.
"We believe the property is very much worth saving and can become a thriving economic machine that can transform the East side of the city and help with the sustained growth of the New Orleans tourist market."
If a bid to take over the park is successful, Rogers plans to develop the park into an all-year attraction.
He added: "The waterpark elements of the project, while integrated into the overall layout, will be situated so that they can be closed off during inclement weather, allowing for the remainder of the park to stay open. This will allow the park to operate year round."
Six Flags New Orleans is located in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans - the area most severely damaged by the 2005 flooding. The park first opened under the name Jazzland in 2000, before being taken over by Six Flags in 2002.
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