"Life is kind of like a roller coaster," Batt says. "It has its ups and downs. It's joys, it's pain, but at the end it's a fun journey so you got to go with it."

(NEW ORLEANS) — In front of the old Milneburg Lighthouse -- Brian Batt walks on the same ground Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park once sat for some 75 years.

“Over here would have been the Smokey Merry Ride, which later was the Jungle Jeeps,” the Mad Men star and New Orleans native said while talking with WWLTV’s Paul Dudley.

Batt can’t help but feel nostalgic while remembering the old family business, founded by his grandfather and later passed down to his father.

“Growing up all my friend’s families — their dads were lawyers or doctors of businessmen and I am like — ‘my dad runs and an amusement park.’”

Like many parks at the time — Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park closed in 1983 as the nation become less interested in beach front entertainment, Batt says.

“This is actually the first time I’ve been on the property since it closed,” said Batt. “One other time, I was with my father. We stood in the parking lot and watched them tearing down the Zephyr. We couldn't watch it.”

That was a hard day, he said.

Though Batt isn't sad those days are over he’s just happy they happened.

“I don’t revel in the idea of ‘ain't dere no more’ you know?” said Batt. “But I do love to honor and acknowledge our memories and nostalgia.”

And it’s for just that reason that Batt has co-authored a book, alongside Katy Danos, filled with stories, pictures and memories of the park.

“This whole part of New Orleans history had not really been documented and with the year of our tricentennial I didn’t want it to disappear,” said Batt.

The park has taught Batt many life lessons and he hopes the books does the same for others.

“Life is kind of like a roller coaster,” Batt says. “It has its ups and downs. It’s joys, it’s pain but at the end it’s a fun journey so you got to go with it.”

Signed and personalized copies of the book, Pontchartrain Beach: A Family Affair are available at Hazelnut on Magazine Street.