LAUREL VALLEY PLANTATION

In the 1770s, the Spanish government of Louisiana granted 214 hectares of land to Etienne Boudreaux, an Acadian settler. At the end of the 19th century, the house belonged to the family of J. Wilson Lepine, who installed a system of rails and mule cars linking the plantations over 24 km! This old plantation still has several agricultural machines and exterior buildings: the remains of a huge sugar mill and a crane to load the sugar, a school, a boarding house that welcomed the workers during the roulaison (autumn harvest season), ageneral store, a farm, a barn containing the old wagons, a blacksmith's shop, and workers' houses. The place is run by friendly volunteers who tell you the history of the place. You can then take your car to drive in the middle of the field, to the old slaves' huts. The main house cannot be visited, but the tour is interesting because you can get an idea of the surroundings of the mansion. A sequence of the film Ray, a biopic of Ray Charles, was shot here as well as a part ofInterview with the Vampire . Note that the plantation is about 6 miles southeast of Thibodaux. It's best to reserve a spot in advance for the guided tour (at least two tours per day, one hour long), and it's all easily done online through the plantation's website. It is also recommended to wear comfortable shoes for the walking tour.