Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Louisiana New Orleans Old Spanish Fort

Old Spanish Fort

Before becoming a public park, this spot was a shell midden, a fort, and an amusement park.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Added By
meltingknight
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The ruins of the fort.   Infrogmation/cc by 2.5
Aerial photograph of Spanish Fort Amusement Park, New Orleans.   unknown/public domain
Tickets to the fort.   Infrogmation/public domain
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

People have been in this small location for a long time. The slice of land has witnessed varying episodes from New Orleans' human history, starting long before the state as we know it existed.

Ancient Marksville natives built a shell midden here, which the French later used as a base for their fort. The fort, which was constructed in 1701, was built to protect an entrance to Bayou St. John. When the Spanish gained control of Louisiana, they replaced the French fort with their own, which was decommissioned in 1823.

After that fort closed, an amusement park opened on the spot. It was, perhaps unoriginally, called Old Spanish Fort after the site's previous use and had a hotel, a casino, and an alligator pond. Later in its life, the park received a roller coaster and a streetcar and was known as the "Coney Island of the South." Multiple early jazz bands played there to get their start.

In 1938, the land became a public park. In 1983, the Spanish fort was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The ruins of the fortress are still standing today as a reminder of all stages of New Orleans' long history.

Related Tags

Middens Amusement Parks Parks Ruins Forts History

Know Before You Go

It's near the Lake Vista neighborhood.

Community Contributors

Added By

meltingknight

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe

  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

December 7, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Fort_(New_Orleans)
  • https://www.nola.com/300/2017/07/spanish_fort_new_orleans.html
Old Spanish Fort
6400 Beauregard Ave
New Orleans, Louisiana
United States
30.022406, -90.084164
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Civil Defense Control Center

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

The New Orleans Train Garden

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Orleans

New Orleans

Louisiana

Places 106
Stories 24

Nearby Places

Civil Defense Control Center

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

The New Orleans Train Garden

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Orleans

New Orleans

Louisiana

Places 106
Stories 24

Related Stories and Lists

Dear Atlas: How Do I Safely Explore Abandoned Places?

abandoned

By Sarah Durn

Related Places

  • Wormsloe Historic Site tree canopy.

    Savannah, Georgia

    Wormsloe State Historic Site

    The tabby ruin is Savannah’s oldest surviving structure.

    Sponsored by Visit Savannah
  • Fort De Soto Park is the largest in Pinellas County, spanning over 1,000 acres with five connected islands.

    Tierra Verde, Florida

    Fort De Soto Park

    Fascinating military history, awe-inspiring wildlife encounters, and endless outdoor adventures draw people to this sprawling park.

  • Ruins of the Old Stone Fort walls.

    Manchester, Tennessee

    Old Stone Fort

    This limestone outcropping was once a ceremonial site for ancient Native Americans.

  • Inside the masonry ruins.

    Quebradillas, Puerto Rico

    Puerto Hermina Ruins

    Legend has it this historic port was a popular hideout and smuggling spot for pirates.

  • View of the valley from the homestead.

    Tucson, Arizona

    Bowen Stone House Ruins

    The remains of this rugged homestead ranch offer a brief glimpse into a bygone era.

  • Entrance to archeological site.

    Mexico City, Mexico

    Baths of Moctezuma

    The ruins of the bathhouse used by the ill-fated last Aztec emperor still lie in Chapultepec Park.

  • The African Cemetery at Higgs Beach, Key West.

    Key West, Florida

    African Cemetery at Higgs Beach

    Near the ruins of a Civil War coastal fortress lies the only known African refugee cemetery in the United States.

  • Pasha Gardens

    Thessaloniki, Greece

    Pasha Gardens

    A little-known park with unusual, half-ruined structures and a mystical energy.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.