Amusement Park News

Two Baton Rouge, LA amusement and water parks were scheduled to open in 2025, but only one did so briefly this year, before abruptly closing again. Both have been marred by a troubled history. That history has included abrupt closings, year-long closures, and community complaints.

The owner of both parks, Sam Haynes Jr., reportedly has said that Dixie Landin' will close permanently. It opened for just eight days this year. On June 3rd, Hayne's shuttered it, relating that it would be permanently closing due to a lack of attendance.  

On the other hand, Blue Bayou Water Park has not opened at all this year. Haynes reports that it will, however, be open next year, and with an imminent change in operations, it appears that it will be. It will also be revamped and rebranded.

Along with the property for both parks, Haynes also owns six land parcels around the parks. The land alone has an assessed value of $349,520 and a market value of some $3 million dollars. 



Blue Bayou opened in 1989 and was purchased by Haynes in 1996. He opened Dixie Landin' Theme Park in 1999.

When Blue Bayou splashes back in May 2026, it will have new management and sport a new name as well, Soak'n Fun. The new operators will be Leisure Sports and Recreation, LLC, the company which currently operates the Gulf Islands Waterpark in Mississippi, per a company announcement made June 10th. The company will lease Blue Bayou from Haynes; press releases stress that the new management will focus on cleanliness, safety, and an environment oriented to families. 

Both parks have had operating issues recently. Since COVID-19 closures, they've operated only at limited times. Dixie Landin' was closed entirely between 2019 and 2024; Blue Bayou faced storm difficulties in 2021, closing after a shorter than typical season following Hurricane Ida, which damaged portions of the park.

While Blue Bayou did reopen in 2022, it was only open for a few weeks because of staff shortages and other staffing difficulties. These difficulties appeared to be having an adverse effect on both parks over time, with community commentary about employee pay and treatment as the main issues.

While Blue Bayou can anticipate a brighter future due to new management, as well as some revamping and revitalizing, Dixie Landin' has a far more uncertain road ahead. 

The Louisiana-based Leisure Sports and Recreation LLC says that Dixie Landin' is not included in their leasing agreement.

Leisure Sports' rebranding of the Blue Bayou as Soak'n Fun includes a full upgrade of the historic park's facilities, with work already beginning in preparation for next year's grand opening. That grand opening will also mark a significant milestone for the LLC itself – the 20th anniversary of operating the highly successful Gulf Islands Waterpark. 

According to Leisure Sports' managing partner Glenn Haggerty, “We're excited to introduce the Soak'n Fun experience to Baton Rouge…We're eager to assemble our team and start preparing this offseason for the grand opening in May 2026.”



Haggerty notes that “Our team is committed to creating a safe, exciting, and family-focused environment that will delight both locals and visitors alike.”

The new operators should assure a smoother run for the beloved summer splash destination. Along with Gulf Islands, the team is behind a public/private partnership designed to develop Jubilee Park, a large sports and recreation complex in Mobile County, Alabama. That location will feature an indoor-outdoor waterpark and sports facilities. The price tag for the new venue will be around $60 million. Overall, the company has extensive experience in running family entertainment destinations.

Blue Bayou is currently home to 20 attractions such as a lazy river, a Proslide Tornado, a wave pool, and it's most recent acquisition, Mambo, a quardruple aqualoop ride, which opened back in 2012, a year that also saw an update for the lazy river, bathhouses, and kiddie area. 

As for Dixie Landin', the park's highly uncertain future is a disappointment to the community. It is home to some 25 attractions, including a Vekoma Boomerang, an SDC Galaxi, and an E&F kiddie coaster. Kids also enjoyed the Manchac Railroad from Chance Rides; thrill seekers were drawn to the extreme steel coaster Rajun Cajun', as well as several other coasters. Other popular rides included the S & S Worldwide-manufactured Frog Hopper, the Loco Loco, Zamperla's junior Flying Carpet ride, here titled Around Town; a Tilt-A-Whirl, Yo-Yo, and a merry- go-round, among others. Several classic rides brought in from the former Pontchartrain Beach Park were also a beloved part of Dixie Landin's quiver of rides. Others came from the now-closed Fun Fair Park which was also once located in the area. Speculation in the community is rife as to where all these rides will go to next. 



In mid-May, admission at Dixie Landin' was priced at $10 with kids 36” inches or less admitted free. That $10 dollars came with $10 worth of ride or food tickets; all you can ride bracelets were also available, sold for $27 per person. Back in 2024, season passes for both parks were being sold online, priced between $99 and $130.

While the future looks bright for the Blue Bayou waterpark, for Dixie Landin' it is far more uncertain.