Vacherie (pop. 3,500) is an old settlement located in St James Parish on the west bank of the Mississippi River. The name means "the place where cows are kept" in Cajun French.
The Creole Plantation in Vacherie presents the Creole lifestyle of the antebellum era. The main house was built in 1805 and was a sugarcane plantation for 180 years. Family furnishings are featured inside the home with original outbuildings on the grounds. The Memoirs of Laura, a detailed account of 200 years of life on this farm, were written by the planter's daughter, Laura Locoul.
Address: Laura: A Creole Plantation, 2247 Highway 18, Vacherie, LA 70090-5409, United States
Phone: 1 (225) 265-7690, Fax: 1 (225) 265-7960
Hours:
10am-5pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Mardi Gras - Shrove Tuesday - Christian, Easter - Christian
The Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie is a Greek Revival mansion that was named for two rows of live oaks, planted in the early 1700s. The quarter-mile colonnade of centuries-old oaks frames the classic antebellum mansion. Built 1837 to 1839, the plantation has been restored and decorated with period furniture. Located on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Oak Alley Plantation has been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road".
Address: Oak Alley Plantation, 3645 Highway 18, Vacherie, LA 70090-7079, United States
Phone: 1 (225) 265-2151, Fax: 1 (225) 265-7035
Hours:
9am-5pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Mardi Gras - Shrove Tuesday - Christian
Tips: The Grounds open at 9:00 a.m. with the guided tours beginning at 9:30 a.m. and offered on the hour & half hour. Discounted rates for groups of 20 or more that are scheduled in advance and paid as a group. Special events offered throughout the year so check the calendar of events at www.Oakalleyplantation.com/calendar/ for more information.
Guides: Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities: Gift shop, On-site accomodations, Restaurant or food service