The Rural Roots of Louisiana

Abbeville is a small, charming community with Cajun culture, unique attractions and warm hospitality.

by

Words by Jennifer Leigh Hill

A lot of people think Louisiana is one of the smaller U.S. States in terms of geographical size. It may be surprising to learn that it has a landmass of 112,835 km2 (43,566 mi2), qualifying it as the 33rd largest in the country. However, in terms of population, that’s a different story. Dubbed the Pelican State, Louisiana has a population of just 4,627,002 with the largest cities being New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. So you’re probably wondering what is so special about Abbeville, which is only 16.8 km2 (6.5 mi2) and has just 11,760 residents. There are many answers as it has its appealing attractions for RVers.

Betty’s RV Park

When I travelled through the Gulf States a few years ago, I heard a lot about Betty’s RV Park. Selected as one of the Top 25 RV Parks in the U.S. and considered the ‘most fun small private RV park’ in the country, its website reveals that visiting this campground offers more of a B&B experience compared to other RV parks.

The park (and Betty) lives up to its friendly reputation. During my visit, I wasn’t there 30 minutes before I was invited to a crawfish boil at a local restaurant and then the next day I was asked to join a group tour at the local Tabasco factory, followed by a ‘pot-luck happy hour’ hosted by Betty.  On my third and final day, a swamp tour was organized by another group that rounded out with a ‘happy hour.’

This social atmosphere may not be for everyone but it would be ideal for solo travellers. Although the park is basic with only a few added amenities, it’s Betty’s hospitality and the friendly guests that make the park a unique experience.

History of Abbeville

Located 240 km (150 mi) west of New Orleans, 97 km (60 mi) southwest of Baton Rouge, and 33.80 km (21 mi) due south of Lafayette, Abbeville is definitely off the beaten path. The original settlers were Acadians from Nova Scotia who were forced to leave their homes between 1766 and 1775 as they refused to swear their allegiance to the British.

It wasn’t until 1850, however, when Abbeville was incorporated as a town after it was founded by a Capuchin missionary, Père Antoine Desire Mégret when he bought the land for $900 in 1843. Some believe he named it after his hometown of Abbeville in France. Others believe the name came from the combination of ‘Abeé’ (that is French for priest) and added the ‘ville,’ making it known as ‘The Priest’s Town.”

Mégret was instrumental in laying out the area, making it remarkably similar to his hometown. He designed three different squares. One was for the church and one for the courthouse. The other square was for a town park with an impressive gazebo and a fountain that still stands today, which many consider this area to be the heart of the community.

Starting Your Journey in and Around Abbeville

The first stop during a visit here should be the Abbeville Cultural and Historical Museum and Art Gallery that’s known for showcasing the works of local artists. It also has a plethora of information about the area. From here, visit the St. Mary Magdalen Church that was built in 1884 and named after St. Mary Magdalen; the Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum and Annex that was constructed in 1912; and the Wells Fargo Building, built in the late 1880s. Each attraction is unique and reflects Abbeville’s interesting history.

Dining Cajun Style

Being close to the Gulf of Mexico, seafood is popular and it’s common to see shrimp, oysters, crabs and crawfish (aka crawdads or mudbugs) served in the local restaurants. Since the area is also surrounded by fertile farmland, there’s a wide variety of pork, beef and some ‘specialties’ such as duck and even alligator for the ‘more bold foodies.’

Cajan cooking is known for its use of local ingredients and as rice, corn and soybeans are grown throughout the area, they often appear in the local recipes like gumbo and étouffée. For a good sampling of the cuisine, some of the best restaurants are Shucks! and The Riverfront, which both have live music on the weekends. Don’t be surprised if the party moves outdoors, resulting in a true ‘fais-do-do’ (a typical Cajan country-dance).

You might also hear some local zydeco music that typically includes a Cajun accordion, a washboard, an electric guitar, and various forms of percussion. To enjoy a great experience of this genre visit Buck and Johnny’s in historic downtown Breaux Bridge that’s 49.7 km (30.9 mi) from Abbeville. Be sure to go on a Saturday morning for their popular Zydeco Breakfast. Try their ‘Trouble Water Breakfast’ that consists of grits topped with crawfish étouffée.

Other Must-See Attractions

The Tabasco Factory

Approximately 30 km (19 mi) from Abbeville is the Tabasco Factory on Avery Island and a tour is recommended. According to its founder, Edmund McIlhenny, the common diet during the Reconstruction era in the South was ‘bland and monotonous’ so he created his world-famous sauce to give the food some ‘flavour and excitement.’

When he was given some seeds of Capsicum Frutescens peppers, he planted them on Avery Island and as they say, the rest is history. The first run of 658 bottles was in 1869 and today, the factory manufactures nine different sauces and produces 700,000 units per day. While most of Avery Island is occupied by the Tabasco factory,  its fields and staff residences, there’s a wildlife preserve and bird colony that’s open to the public.

Named after the Avery family who settled in the area during the early 1800s, Avery is not an island in the true sense of the term but it sits on a massive salt dome that spans approximately 890 ha (2,200 ac).

Some other attractions include Jungle Gardens. This is a semi-tropical garden located along Bayou Petite Anse that’s known for its variety of plants - including azaleas, camellias and colourful bamboo - as well as wildlife. Bird watching is popular and tours are available to catch glimpses of white ibises, roseate spoonbills and great blue herons.

Palmetto State Park

Named after the locally-found Dwarf Palmetto palm, which forms dense ‘suckering colonies’ in wet and poorly drained soil, this state park is located on the Vermilion River, only 16.2 km (10.1 mi) from Abbeville. If you have a boat in tow, a launch offers easy access on the river and is also canoe and kayak-friendly. Be sure to travel the river’s ‘water trail’ that links to a variety of lagoons. On land are a number of easy hiking and biking trails - some are even paved.

The campground in the park offers 96 RV sites that have levelled spaces and are conveniently well-distanced for privacy. Prices range from $24-$33 USD per night. It’s also known as being a home for the 9-Banded Armadillo. Mainly nocturnal, you can see them scavenging for insectivores, its primary food source, under fallen leaves.

Swamp Tours

It’s hard not to have fun on a Louisiana swamp tour. During my visit, the Cajun Country Swamp Tours met my expectations. The group I was with was treated to up-close encounters with a variety of wildlife including alligators, snakes, turtles and several birds.  The tours also consisted of riding in open flat-bottom boats through the bayou. Be sure to bring a camera and most importantly, sunscreen as not all of the boats offer any overhead protection from the sun.

Louisiana is a very interesting U.S. State and Abbeville is just one of the unique areas where you can discover rich history, nice scenery, and exciting culture that includes Cajan food and music, making it all worthwhile to go off the beaten path.

www.louisianatravel.com

 Your Abbeville Online Directory to the many Sites and Unique Attractions