pre.cjk { font-family: \"Courier New\",monospace; }p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; } Pontchartrain Beach was closed September 23, 1983 & this sign came from the original beach property when it was broken down prior to the World Fair in New Orleans. Pontchartrain Beach was an amusement park located in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It was founded by Harry J. Batt Sr. and later mananged by his son, Harry J. Batt Jr. It opened in 1928, across Bayou St. John from an existing amusement resort at Old Spanish Fort. Pontchartrain Beach\'s original location is the present-day lakefront neighborhood of Lake Terrace. In the early 1930s, subsequent to the construction of a seawall extending from West End to the Industrial Canal that created a new shoreline for Lake Pontchartrain, Pontchartrain Beach was moved to a new location at the lake end of Elysian Fields Avenue, a location formerly offshore of Milneburg. Pontchartrain Beach included a beach, amusement rides (including a large roller coaster, the Zephyr), and concession stands. The park featured live music concerts, including many local musicians and touring national acts such as Elvis Presley. Other rides included the Zephyr Junior, Smoky Mary, The Wild Maus, Musik Express, Log Ride, The Ragin\' Cajun (a modern, looping steel coaster), The Bug, Paratrooper, Calypso, \"The Airplanes\", Haunted House, Ghost Train, bumper cars, Ferris wheel, the Monster, Trabant, Sky Ride, Hard Rock, Galaxie, Laff in the Dark, Magic Rainbow, Red Baron, and many others. In addition to rides, there were also the summertime shows which changed every few years (Skipper & Dolly dolphin show, Great American High Dive Show, Merlin\'s Magic Rainbow Show). For a few years there was also a fairly large petting zoo with many farm animals and a huge red barnhouse. Just outside of \"The Beach\" gates was the \"Bali Hai\" south seas \"Tiki\" style restaurant. Another popular restaurant was the Ship Ahoy, which featured hamburgers and seafood.