St. James Parish
Attractions 

Laura: A Creole Plantation

On Laura, a sugarcane plantation built in 1805, stand 12 buildings on the National Register. Seven tours focus on Creole Louisiana and are based on 5,000 pages of French documents plus Laura's Memories of My Old Plantation Home, in which Laura Locoul dramatically details 250 years of the true life stories of French-speaking owners, women, slaves & children.

What English speakers know today as the "Tales of Br'er Rabbit" came to Louisiana from West-Africa 276 years ago and were first recorded in this site's remaining slave cabins some 125 years ago. The 60-minute guided tours are given in English or French. Gift shop (free catalog) offers original Br'er Rabbit Tales, Laura's Memoirs and Creole plantation decorative arts.

2247 Highway 18, Vacherie, Louisiana 70090 - (225) 265-7690.
www.lauraplantation.com - Open 9-5 daily.
Admission: $10/adult & $5/children. - Group rates.

Oak Alley Plantation

This plantation is unique among plantation mansions in the state because of it's splendid avenue of trees. Ben Se' jour (Good Rest) is Greek revival type architecture surrounded by 28 Doric columns and double galleries, is 70 feet square, built of plastered brick and painted a soft creamy pink.

The famed Oak Alley, a double row of 250 year old live oaks, 14 on each side, leads to the River Road some 300 yards distant. Trees range from 15 to 22 feet in circumference, and their branches have long since interlaced, forming a leafy canopy from the road to the house. Spacing between the trees is exactly 80 feet. Nowhere in the Mississippi Valley is there such a spectacular setting.

The mansion was built by hand with slave labor in a seven year period from 1832 to 1839. Jacques Telephone Roman, a wealthy French sugar planter, built Bon Se' jour for his new bride. Later the name was changed because of the interest in the trees of Oak Alley. This beautiful National Historic Landmark is on the West Bank, 5 1/2 miles above the Veterans Memorial Bridge on the Great River Road. A nominal entrance fee is charged.

 

3645 LA Highway 18, Vacherie, Louisiana 70090 -- 1-800-44-ALLEY
Oak Alley Plantation Web Page
Email: oakalleyplantation@worldnet.att.net 

Admission: $10/adult, $5/ages 13-18, $3/ages 6-12. - Group rates.

Take a walk through time as you enjoy a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the many interesting people who have called this plantation, "home." You may even be guided around by one of the family members themselves.

Owned by William Priestly, son of the discoverer of oxygen. Birthplace of his grandson, H.H. Richardson, one of the most important American Architects of the 19th century.

Later purchased by Dr. Cazamie Mericq from Paris. He cared for the ill, from the plantation masters and their families to the vast number of slaves that inhabited the surrounding plantation.

Using her wedding dowry from her father Valcour Aime, the Louis the XIV of Louisiana, Josephine and her husband Alexis Ferry acquired the plantation in 1858. They immediately enclosed the bottom floor doubling its size to the present day 12,000 sq. ft.

Sold at a sheriff's sale after the Civil War, and purchased by Joseph Waguespack in 1877, his descendants have kept this working sugarcane plantation a vital part of the landscape of the Mighty Mississippi River.

View and exhibit from the old plantation commissary where items need for every day life were purchased.

See examples of items, both domestic and farming, necessary for early life on the plantation.

Learn about the sugarcane industry in South Louisiana from its beginnings in 1795, through the Golden Years before the Civil War, when sugar was considered White Gold, to the present day modern industry, still playing a very important, vital roll in the economy of South Louisiana.

Located four miles up river from Laura Plantation and next door to Oak Alley Plantation. Located 45 miles from New Orleans.
 

Open Monday - Saturday 9:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. with the last tour starting at 4:00 P.M.
Open Sunday 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. with the last tour starting at 3:00 P.M.

Prices: Adult: $ 10.00
Youth: 13 - 18 $ 6.00
Child: 6 - 12 $ 4.00
Under 6 $ Free
Group Discounts Available
Wheelchair accessibility to 1st floor of home, restrooms and grounds
 

St. Joseph Plantation
3535 Hwy. 18, Vacherie 70090
(225) 265-4078
www.stjosephplantation.com
Email: stjosephhouse@msn.com

Lodging

(Bed & Breakfast)

Jolie Bed and Breakfast

Raised Acadian cottage (c. 1842) located on Historic River Road; spacious upstairs sitting room overlooking gardens and pool. Two private bedrooms & bath with view of River. Tour & history of home included.

6804 Hwy. 44, Convent, LA 70723
Phone - (225)562-3553
Fax - (225)562-8919

Oak Alley Plantation Bed ands Breakfast

19th century guest cottages are located not far from the antebellum mansion; tastefully furnished and cheerfully decorated in a peaceful setting; enjoy
all the amenities and a great country breakfast. 3645 LA Hwy. 18,
Vacherie, (225)265-2151 (800)442-5539

www.OakAlleyPlantation.com

Plantation Country Bed and Breakfast

Near River Road Plantations. We speak French.
2306 Hwy. 20 West, Vacherie -- 800-688-1791
Fax 225-265-9428

            www.plantation.net
Email: bodinbbl@bellsouth.net

Felix Poch`e Plantation Bed ands Breakfast & RV Resort

Located on Majestic River Road, the Victorian Poche' Plantation Home and Grounds has been beautifully restored to its original splendor. Felix Poche Plantation is open daily for tours 10a.m. - 4p.m. and bed in breakfast stays in surrounding cottages. Overnight RV facilities available. Swimming pools available.   

6554 LA Hwy 44, Convent, LA 70723 -- (225) 562-7728
www.pocheplantation.com

Richardson Mini Hotel Internaltional

(985)226-6120 (985)232-3287;
19539 Hwy. 643, Vacherie, off LA Hwy. 20