Nick Preps Louisiana Theme Park

NEW ORLEANS: Nickelodeon has unveiled plans for its first-ever outdoor theme park, aligning with Southern Star Amusements (SSA) to build a new family destination in New Orleans.

Nickelodeon’s expansion into the travel and leisure space already includes the Nickelodeon Family Suites in Orlando, Florida, and the Nickelodeon Resorts by Marriott, as well as the Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean. In addition, the indoor theme park Nickelodeon Universe opened in Minneapolis’s Mall of America in 2008. Nickelodeon also has branded lands and attractions at Universal Studios in Orlando and Hollywood, Nick Central at Dreamworld Australia and Movie Park Germany, among other destinations.

The company is now gearing up for its first-ever branded water and theme park, in conjunction with SSA. The destination will be built on a 65-acre theme park space formerly home to Jazzland/Six Flags. Construction on the site is slated to begin in the fall, once the creative and architectural plans are complete. The destination is targeted to open by the end of 2010. 

The blueprints include new rides based on popular Nick shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon costumed characters, live interactive entertainment, retail shops, games and food establishments will be featured, among other elements.

Nickelodeon will receive a licensing fee as part of the agreement, and the city of New Orleans will retain a leasing arrangement with Southern Star Amusements. The rebuilding of the park will be funded by private investors and partially by GO Zone bonds.