The Butterfly That Named a Riverbank
If you ask someone from Uptown New Orleans where they go to watch the sunset, the answer is usually the same: "The Fly." It's the waterfront stretch of Audubon Park that sits behind the zoo, across the Mississippi River levee, where the grass slopes down to the water and the whole city seems to exhale. People have been coming here for decades to grill, throw footballs, walk dogs, and stare at the river, but almost nobody knows how the place got its name.
The story goes back to 1969, when a butterfly-shaped concession stand was built in the area. The locals, being locals, shortened "the Butterfly" to "the Fly," and the name stuck long after the stand itself was destroyed. How was it destroyed? A tugboat pilot operating in heavy fog pushed a barge into the riverbank, and the barge smashed the butterfly stand to pieces. The stand is gone, the fog has lifted, but the name remains — a perfectly New Orleans origin story where a nickname outlives the thing it was named for.
Uptown's Secret Waterfront
The Fly is the kind of place you have to know about to find. There's no big sign, no obvious parking lot, no tourist brochures pointing the way. You drive or walk through Audubon Park, past the zoo, over the levee, and suddenly you're standing on the bank of the Mississippi River with a view that stretches for miles. Cargo ships slide past at eye level — or what feels like eye level, given how close they are to the bank. You can almost reach out and touch the hull of a container ship the length of a football field.
The area was funded in part by the federal government to create a scenic recreation area, and it delivers on that promise without trying too hard. The grass is open and expansive. Trees provide shade for picnics. On weekends, the smell of charcoal grills fills the air, and families spread out with coolers and folding chairs for hours of riverside lounging.
The River Up Close
What makes the Fly special is the proximity to the river. In most of New Orleans, the Mississippi is hidden behind levees, wharves, and industrial infrastructure. You know it's there — the city exists because of it — but you rarely get to sit next to it and watch it work. At the Fly, the river is right there, brown and enormous and moving with a current that reminds you of the power that carved this delta and built this city.
At sunset, the Fly turns into something close to sacred. The sky goes pink and orange over the river, the ships become silhouettes, and the city behind you fades into background noise. It's the cheapest therapy in New Orleans — a lawn chair, a cold drink, and the oldest river in North America doing what it's been doing for millions of years.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Fly
Why is it called the Fly?
The name comes from a butterfly-shaped concession stand that was built in the area in 1969. Locals shortened "the Butterfly" to "the Fly." The stand was destroyed when a barge, pushed by a tugboat in heavy fog, smashed into the riverbank.
Where is the Fly?
The Fly is the waterfront portion of Audubon Park, located behind the Audubon Zoo across the Mississippi River levee in the Uptown neighborhood.
Is the Fly free to visit?
Yes. The Fly is a free public recreation area. Unlike the zoo, there is no admission charge. The area is accessible during park hours.
What can you do at the Fly?
Popular activities include picnicking, grilling, watching ships on the Mississippi River, walking, jogging, playing sports on the open grass, and watching spectacular sunsets over the river.
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