The Daily Advertiser from Lafayette, Louisiana • 49

Bargain Air Fares 6E Caribbean island 2E Cyber Trips 2E French Quarter 3E Travel light 2E The Sunday Advertiser www.acadiananow.com May 14, 2000 Southern Destinations Peruse antique books in historic New Orleans More than a dozen bookstores that specialize in antique or second-hand books could make for a full day outing in New Orleans. Downtown: Arcadian Books 71 4 Orleans (504)523-4138 Beckham's Book Store 228 Decatur (504)522-9875 Crescent City Books 204 Chartres (504) 524-4997 Dauphine Street Books 410 (504) 529-2333 De Ville Books 344 Carondelet, (504)525-1846 The Faulkner House 624 Pirates Alley, (504) 524-2940 Kaboom Books 915 Barracks (504)529-5780 Kitchen Witch 1214 N. Rampart, (504)569-8450 Librairie Books 823 Chartres, (504)525-1837 Starling 1022 Royal (504) 595-6777 West Bank: Bayou Books 1005 Monroe (504)368-1171 Uptown: Garden District Bookshop 2727 Prytama, (504) 895-2266 Great Acquisitions Book Service 8200 Hampson Suite 302, (504) 895-2266 George Hebert Books 3109 Magazine (504) 891-5595 Submined Photo A new amusement park, Jazzland, will open May 20 in New Orleans. Junica-Biloxi Pow Wow set at Casino Avoyelles Bringing back memories of Pontchartrain Beach Submined Photo Warrior dancers Jazzland built on a platform One of the Gee Whiz aspects about Jazzland is the fact that the whole park is actually built on a 140 acre platform. Designers knew the land in east New Orleans is too soft to support the weight of the park plus the constant pounding rides at Jazzland will produce.

The platform they created is four feet above the lands surface. In order to construct the platform, 24 thousand cubic yards of concrete have been poured and nearly 18 thousand pilings were driven into the porous earth. The building principle is as old at the medieval city of Venice. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in a lagoon entirely on the tops of millions of wooden logs rammed deep into the earth. Presumably, if it is good enough for Venice, it is good enough for Jazzland.

The structure is designed to support the weight of the 30 rides and 79 buildings that comprise Jazzland plus the thousands of expected visitors. Hundreds of workers from Broadmoor Construction were involved in the project. The owners claim patrons will never know they are strolling on anything but terra firma. Story by David Hinkle i the wooden roller coaster drops over 1 the top of its first hill, you begin a rat-X tling ride straight down, reaching a gut-m wrenching speed of 60 miles per hour. No, this is not the 1950s and you are not riding the Zephyr at Pontchartrain Beach.

This is the Y2K, and the ride called the Mega Zeph is part of the new Jazzland Theme Park in New Orleans. Jazzland is set to open May 20. The 140-acre theme park is located at the corner of 1-10 and I-510 in east New Orleans about a dozen miles from the French Quarter. The park has 30 rides, live music and, of course, lots of food. Jazzland, the newest amusement park in the United States, features six themed areas from Jazz Plaza and Kids Carnival to a place called Mardi Gras and one named Cajun Country.

The entire park is built on a huge platform. This is necessary because the soil in east New Orleans is too soft to support all the rides and park visitors without reinforcement. Park owners say Jazzland is so beautifully landscaped people will not know they are actually walking on a platform above the ground. This platform is going to take a beating. Besides the Mega Zephs wooden structure, 29 other rides are designed to spin, whirl, drop and scare the bravest of thrill-seekers.

Lafittes Pirate Ship, for example, promises an out-of-your-seat experience while Voodoo Volcano is advertised as a serious ride with over the top action. All this entertainment comes at a cost for the visitor. Adults will each pay just under $29 plus tax for a one-day visit. The admission price for a child under four feet tall is $23.86 plus tax. Jazzland Opens: Adults Children under Children 2 and Senior citizens Season passes For (504) (504) www Submitted Photo Jazz Plaza is one of six themed areas in the 140-acre park.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will host their 5th annual Pow Wow May 19-21 on the reservation grounds next to Grand Casino Avoyelles on Highway 1 in Marksville, La. Booths filled with Indian art, crafts, clothing and food will be available around the dance circle on the Pow Wow grounds. Pow Wow schedule May 19 5 p.m. Gourd dancing (Warrior dance) 6:30 p.m. Concert by Hawk (Nipmuc flutist) 7 p.m.

9 p.m. Grand entry (Procession of dancers) 8 p.m. Tloke-Nahuake (Aztec dancers) 9 p.m. Joanne Shenandoah Pow Wow stage May 20 8 a.m. 2 p.m.

Archery contest 10 a.m. D. Pierite and Jackie Crow (Storytelling and songs) 11 a.m. Gourd dancing (Warrior 1 dance) 12:15 p.m. Doris Mager (Birds of prey presentation) 1 p.m.

4 p.m. Grand entry and competition dancing 3 p.m. Tloke-Nahuake (Aztec dancers) 5 p.m. Gourd dancing 6 p.m. Hawk (Nipmuc flutist) 6:30 p.m.

Joanne Shenandoah 7:30 p.m. Grand entry and competition dancing May 21 8 a.m. 2 p.m. Archery contest 10 a.m. D.

Pierite and Jackie Crow (Storytelling and songs) 10:30 a.m. Gourd dancing 11:30 a.m. Doris Mager The Eagle Lady" Noon Grand entry, social dancing and finals of competition dancing 4 p.m. Dance and archery contest award presentation Admission to the Pow Wow is $4 for adults and $1 for children age 12 and younger. For more information, call (318)253-1946.

Children under the age of 2 get in free and there are senior citizen discounts for park lovers 60 years and older. The park will be open every day from May 20 through October. Owners say they intend to keep Jazzland operating during the fall weekends after the regular season is over. Jazzland is owned and operated by Ogden Entertainment. The firm says it is an international leader in theme parks, attractions and other entertainment venues.

It took Ogden 18 months to build Jazzland. Theme Park May 20 Tickets: $28.44 tax 48-inches $23.86 tax under Free 60 $14.22 tax are available information: 253-8100 242-2324 jazzlandthemepark.com.