On the off chance someone reads this who knows someone with a rental or knowledge of Vermilion Parish, Iberville, anywhere close to Lafayette, Abbeville, Avery Island, Cypremort Point, New Iberia--grah, the south-central part of Cajun territory...
I'm trying to organize accommodations for a documentary crew (of 20!) shooting around Avery Island/Abbeville area for 3 nights in November. For various reasons a motel is not good--so I'm trying to find cabins or a camp or (large) B&B(s). Missed the darn cabins at Cypremort state park that would have been perfect. Am losing mind over this. Another requirement is some sort of meeting room or at least a room big enough to screen dailies in.
I guess next to try is convention & visitors' bureaus. Have looked at lots of FRBO type sites, nothing doing in southern LA.
This is a long shot, but there are so many people reading ST it seems--if anyone has an idea (or a huge house(s) for rent) let me know.
Doug's Hunting Lodge in Gueydan...looks rustic and accommodates groups. It is in Vermilion Parish.
Here is a list of "camps," which could literally mean a camp, or it could mean a vacation rental, beach house rental, cabin rental, mobile home rental, etc. but being in Baton Rouge, you probably already know that.
Good luck! btw we used to live in Baton Rouge, and have spent a few winters on Grand Isle.
Have you tried this website? http://www.louisianabandb.com/cajun-country/bed-and-breakfasts.html It may be impossible to find accommodations for everyone in one facility, but perhaps a few of these could be used, if available. And what about private homes? A local C&VB should be able to help with that possibility.
HUGE thanks for those links, Kayjay & Ann. I am trolling through the campsites now--that list is incredible, I had been trying to find that sort of thing. Yup I have seen camps that I would call palaces, and some that are, you know, barely shacks. (the word "camp" confused me so much when I moved down here!) Had seen Doug's Hunting place earlier but Gueydan was a bit off our mark--it's on the list now, though, thanks. Alot of the camp websites I had found only showed rates for package deals that included shooting lots of birds and beasts. (At least I now know ducks and all sorts of other things are out of season during our trip ...) Meanwhile Bayou Cabins in Breaux Bridge came through--perhaps the only B&B with enough room! I'm liking the proximity to eateries, and they will let us use the restaurant porch for meetings & screening rushes. Also I won't have to find breakfast for everyone. I have a reservation--still looking for other options, but this feels right.
I looked (hard) at the Blue Moon in Lafayette and the people there have been so nice--but the saloon attached doesn't bode well for needing to get up very early and having evening meetings. Doesn't that place look wonderfully funky?
I'm also wondering if Avery Islands, or the McIlhenny Tobasco Co. would have more suggestions, since they depend on the tourist trade so heavily.
Breaux Bridge is really a beautiful town, very historic. We stopped and ate at a restaurant downtown, and there is a wonderful little bakery with Cajun goodies not far from downtown.
"Camp Chateau Debris" at Grand Isle SP, La.
Winter of 2004-2005, we stayed at Grand Isle, and arrived at the GI State Park just as the campgrounds were being renovated by heavy equipment. (Pre-Katrina.) No RV's could use the hook-ups until renovations were completed, so you disperse camped anywhere. Because of our vehicle size, we could camp on the beach, but because of the wind, we chose to camp nestled in a bushy area near the comfort station. It was so windy, I roped the large gray tarp around the picnic table as a shelter. I made a sign saying "Camp Chateau Debris." You can see our Christmas decorations and there's firewood on top of the van from Washington state.
In a few days, the campsites were finished, and all RV's parked in their new spots. Katrina didn't damage the new renovations, but did destroy the comfort station and 400' fishing pier in the park.
Anyway, that was our Cajun "Camp!"
Good luck with your group, and I hope they enjoy the Louisiana and Cajun cuisine as much as we did when we were in Louisiana.
I hope the area you are going to be in with your group was not hit hard by Katrina. I know there are many places in marshy areas that still have boats, vehicles, trailers, appliances, junk, etc. strewn about, miles from where they originated.
Camp Chateau Debris is wonderful! You should write the duck tape people and tell them you made a duck tape camp!
I went ahead and confirmed the cabins today. It feels good to tick that off the list.
There's a Holiday or or something close-ish to Avery--I think that's the closest place. A lot of folks come through there on boat, through the Intercoastal, Bayou Petit Anse. We've talked a bunch to the Tabasco and Jungle Gardens folks about our project (all very nice--good, good people there), and I know they have some kind of house where they've put up archeology teams doing digs, but I'm kind of saving a request like that until we have something to show them.
I'm going to Cameron tomorrow in connection with this project--or, what is left of Cameron after Rita. It's pretty bad. Holly Beach is just gone, completely gone. The surge did come up into Vermilion Parish way further than anyone dreamt, and some of the bayous up into Abbeville flooded pretty badly. But mostly where we're going with the big group was not as affected, at least in the devestated way. But, it is dotted with FEMA trailers, and some of the impact isn't so visible. The cattle farms are a mess down there-much the grazing land got salt water in it. Rice, sugar--a hard year for farmers.
We still have our own Rita yard art way up in West Baton Rouge in the form of a huge old magnolia, lying there, that we need to chop up but it just seems like such a huge task with so many others pressing, and it's kind of become an ecosystem for birds, lizards, etc.
You can make a camp out of our magnolia any time you like, Kayjay
Glad you found accommodations that suit your needs. I hope the cabins work out just fine. One thing that stands out in my memory, is the wonderful hospitality of business owners in Louisiana. Unlike anywhere else, to be sure.
Hope your group has a great stay.
I saw the video of Holly Beach from the helicopter's view. There are before and after pics on the internet. Just unbelievable.
Our favorite place for King Cake was a bakery/donut shop in West Baton Rouge or Port Allen, just over the bridge. We really miss the great food in Louisiana, as well as all the big beautiful trees.
We're not from Louisiana, but we're homesick. When we finish school, we'll be back.
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