A Disney-like Second Line (funeral) themed attraction in New Orleans

[Buddy]

Just a few steps from St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the centuries old New Orleans burial ground and final resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, stands a boarded-up, three-story red brick building that's getting a new life as a home for death.

Barry Kern, CEO of Mardi Gras design company Kern Studios, and developer Joe Jaeger are teaming up to turn the building into a $10 million attraction designed to explain one of New Orleans’ most unique cultural phenomena: The way it sends off and celebrates its dearly departed.

The City of the Dead, as the tourist attraction will be called, will be located in the Basin Street building that was once part of the former Iberville Public Housing Complex.

It will focus on aspects of death and burial in New Orleans that visitors find fascinating: historic cemeteries with above-ground tombs, jazz funerals with second-line parades and a bit of Voodoo lore.

“It’s going to be interesting, interactive and fun,” Kern said. “We will tell real stories and it will be an attraction for the whole family. But it won’t be a history museum. It’s an attraction.”

The partners have a 99-year lease with the building’s owner, the Housing Authority of New Orleans, and secured permits from City Hall earlier this summer to begin construction. The renovations are expected to take about 18 months and the City of the Dead is slated to be open by early 2025, when New Orleans plays host to Super Bowl LIX.
A new, $10 million attraction is coming to New Orleans. It's about death.

 

[Wig Twistin Season]

Not a bad idea actually.



Not everyone understands second lines and they are unique to the city and Sicily apparently.



Yeah, I know…

 

[King_Kamala61]

New Orleans stand up!

 

[King_Kamala61]

Just a few steps from St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the centuries old New Orleans burial ground and final resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, stands a boarded-up, three-story red brick building that's getting a new life as a home for death.

Barry Kern, CEO of Mardi Gras design company Kern Studios, and developer Joe Jaeger are teaming up to turn the building into a $10 million attraction designed to explain one of New Orleans’ most unique cultural phenomena: The way it sends off and celebrates its dearly departed.

The City of the Dead, as the tourist attraction will be called, will be located in the Basin Street building that was once part of the former Iberville Public Housing Complex.

It will focus on aspects of death and burial in New Orleans that visitors find fascinating: historic cemeteries with above-ground tombs, jazz funerals with second-line parades and a bit of Voodoo lore.

“It’s going to be interesting, interactive and fun,” Kern said. “We will tell real stories and it will be an attraction for the whole family. But it won’t be a history museum. It’s an attraction.”

The partners have a 99-year lease with the building’s owner, the Housing Authority of New Orleans, and secured permits from City Hall earlier this summer to begin construction. The renovations are expected to take about 18 months and the City of the Dead is slated to be open by early 2025, when New Orleans plays host to Super Bowl LIX.
A new, $10 million attraction is coming to New Orleans. It's about death.

Wait...is this a white owned company fenna make money off of African funerary customs and religions????? Naw man...

 

[Matt504]

that money could be much better spent than this.

 

[get these nets]

The CEO's father

 

[WaveCapsByOscorp™]

when I saw the name Kern, I already knew it was some bullshyt; I live in New Orleans.



I think I did like one or two gigs for them directly a few years ago in conjunction with an art gallery. It was more of a gig where I was expected to look the part not actually be a good musician.

I could tell from that, they (the group I was working for) wasn’t really about talent or skill, they just got big money clients and they’re tapped into that LGBTQ money.

 

[Gaston]

I hope the city not putting up any money towards this bullshyt.

 

[Peauxboy]

There’s already guided tours and diy tour lists online for all of those things.

As far as the secondlines, I don’t see that as often anymore, where they walk from the church or funeral home to the grave sight.

 

[King_Kamala61]

When I get my art show in NYC I gonna 2nd Line in Time Square as my victory dance

 

[get these nets]

It was more of a gig where I was expected to look the part

I could tell from that they’re tapped into that LGBTQ money.

Almost scared to ask you what the gig was. You weren't the opening act for Freedia, were you?

*just jokes

 

[shopthatwrecks]

i done got overrrrrrrrrrrrrrr hey pocky waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy hey pocky wayyy....i done got overrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr hey pocky wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy hey pocky way

 

[O.iatlhawksfan]

that money could be much better spent than this.

It’s a business man with his own business venture he can do what he wants