The crumbling brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829 by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville, founder of the nearby town of Mandeville, suggest an interesting history for this site, and indeed there is. The wealthy Marigny developed this area across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans as a sugar plantation until 1852. The plantation income helped support his lavish lifestyle. He named his large land holding Fontainebleau after the beautiful forest near Paris, a favorite recreation area of the French kings.

The 2,800-acre park is located on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. On a clear day, visitors can see the lake dotted with multi-colored sailboats of all sizes and types. The sandy beach also is a delight for sunbathers. An old railroad track that runs through the park has been converted into the Tammany Trace as a part of the Rails to Trails program. It is a wonderful route for cycling, hiking and in-line skating. After a full day of activities, overnight guests can enjoy the rustic charm of the campground or the scenic setting of the lakefront cabins.

The park's nature trail is a favorite of nature lovers. Interpretive signs along the trail will help you identify many of the common trees and shrubs. Always be on the lookout for birds and other animals, as over 400 different species live in and around Fontainebleau. Bordered on three sides by water – Lake Pontchartrain, Bayou Cane and Bayou Castine – and characterized by a convergence of diverse ecosystems, it has a multitude of habitats for birds.

Fontainebleau State Park

Scattered throughout the park beneath a canopy of huge oak trees, you will find numerous picnic tables, as well as a group pavilion, a playground, and comfort stations. Spend a relaxing afternoon on the river or venture out into the water for lively outdoor recreation.

If you prefer to stay on land, the park's nature trail will take you by the river where you can enjoy the view. Then, cap off the perfect day by staying overnight in the park's campground.

The cool, crystal-clear waters of the Tchefuncte River yield bass, bluegill, white perch, and bream near the park area, and channel catfish, speckled trout and redfish where the river meets the lake. Freshwater fishing from the river bank or a boat offers unmatched delights for even the most casual fisherman. Crabbing in the lake and the river is also popular.

Just two miles away by road and a few minutes by water is the Madisonville public boat launch. Many visitors use the launch for access to the calm waters of the Tchefuncte River or the exhilarating expanse of Lake Pontchartrain.

Otis House
When you enter the park, you will notice a large home facing the water. This is Otis House, originally built in the 1880s as the family home for sawmill owner William Theodore Jay. It was later purchased and renovated in the 1930s by Frank Otis, serving as his summer home until his death in 1962. Mr. Otis left the property to the State of Louisiana to be developed into a recreational site for visitors. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

The Otis House Museum offers tours Wednesday – Sunday and is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Museum admission is $4 per adult. Children (12 and under) and seniors (62 and over) are admitted free. Call 985-792-4652 for group tour information. 

Fairview-Riverside State Park

At Bogue Chitto State Park, visitors will experience a diversity of natural habitats on one of the most dynamic and scenic river systems in Louisiana. The 1,786-acre site includes small streams, cypress tupelo swamps, a hardwood forest, upland forests and a rolling landscape.

Overnight visitors will find accommodations from tent camping to RV camping to cabins overlooking the bluffs. For larger groups and family reunions, the park offers a group camp and a conference room.

Fricke's Cave, which – despite its name – resembles more of a gorge, possesses delicate sandstone spires created when water erodes the surface underneath pebbles. The pebbles remain perched atop the spires, while over time water splashes on the sandstone surface, forming the two-foot tall fingers of sandstone that shoot up from the now-lowered surface. Boardwalks have been built, so that visitors can admire the sandstone creations from afar, as the formations are too delicate to allow visitors to walk among them.

Fourteen miles of equestrian trails wind through some of the most interesting topography of southern Louisiana, with the trailhead located near Fricke's Cave. A day trip to Bogue Chitto State Park will be a full one, with a river perfect for canoeing or kayaking, 11 lakes stocked with a variety of freshwater fish, a water playground, numerous picnic pavilions and an outdoor classroom. 

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Bogue Chitto State Park

Bayou Segnette State Park offers the best of everything. Just a thirty-minute drive across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, a multitude of recreational opportunities awaits visitors of all ages -- boating, fishing, camping, canoeing, hiking, picnicking, playgrounds and, of course, swimming in the wave pool, as well as an ecosystem that offers you the chance to spot plants, trees and wildlife from both swamps and marshland.

Both salt and freshwater fishing are available because of the park's unique location. From the boat launch, you may explore many areas not readily accessible by overland routes. Catches of bass, catfish, bream, perch, redfish and trout are common in the area.

On land, picnic areas are available for the whole family, and the playgrounds will delight the children. Group shelters are also a perfect spot for large groups to gather.

After you have splashed the day away in Bayou Segnette's popular wave pool or skipped across any one of the adjacent waterways by boat, you will be glad you took the time to sit back and watch nature at play – for the wildlife is abundant and the vegetation worth closer study.

Bayou Segnette State Park

St. Bernard State Park is the ideal spot for visitors who are seeking a family atmosphere and natural experience, as well as for campers who don't want to or cannot stray far from civilization. Many campers consider combining a camping vacation with a touring vacation of the New Orleans area. The Chalmette National Historic Park, Jackson Barracks, and other historic sites and plantation homes are also nearby.

A local family business donated the land for St. Bernard State Park to Louisiana in 1971. Today, St. Bernard State Park provides a much-needed recreation area, as well as relaxing and enjoyable surroundings for anyone wishing to experience a portion of Louisiana's natural beauty.

Located right along the Mississippi River, the park contains a network of man-made lagoons which provides a peaceful, natural setting for relaxation. Woodlands meet wetlands in St. Bernard and the park's nature trail is the perfect way to introduce children to the joy of discovery in nature.

Picnic tables, barbeque grills, restrooms, and a large, covered pavilion complete with a grill are ideal for a family outing. The water playground will delight youngsters and their families all summer long.

St. Bernard State Park

Strolling through four ecosystems on over a mile of boardwalks through Tickfaw State Park, visitors can experience the sights and sounds of a cypress/tupelo swamp, a bottomland hardwood forest, a mixed pine/hardwood forest and the Tickfaw River.

Periodically the park site serves the region by detaining floodwaters when winter and spring rains overflow the steep banks of the Tickfaw River. These periods of occasional flooding offer a unique opportunity to educate visitors on the importance of periodic flooding in the cycle of life that makes wetlands an invaluable habitat and breeding ground for wildlife and fisheries.

At Tickfaw State park, you can go night hiking or listen to the swamp nightlife from the porch of your vacation cabin. Check at the Nature Center for scheduled programs. While there, view the 800-gallon aquarium stocked with fish found in the Tickfaw River. There are also displays featuring the animals, history and culture of the area and of Louisiana. Be sure to watch the 8-minute introductory video about the history of the park area.

Bicycle, stroll or skate the interconnecting park roadways. Bring your canoe or kayak and take a fun-filled trip on this unique section of the Tickfaw River. The Water Playground offers refreshing fun for those not quite adventurous enough to explore the swamps and sloughs.

A gift shop in the Nature Center (open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily) offers souvenirs with a local flavor.

Fontainebleau State Park Maps

Mandeville, LA

Fontainebleau State Park Description

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