Louisiana

[administrator]

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Sharon Broussard
November 10, 2009 ph. 225-342-5473

Louisiana State Parks Re-open,

Following Passage of Hurricane Ida

BATON ROUGE – The Office of State Parks announced the re-opening of sites closed in preparation of Hurricane Ida’s landfall late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

St. Bernard State Park in Braithewaite opened Tuesday morning, receiving no damage or flooding to the site; meanwhile Grand Isle State Park opened at noon on Tuesday, after seeing minor flooding in the park.

Moderate flooding occurred at Fort Pike State Historic Site, with some water remaining in the fort and across the moat bridge. The site will remain closed through Tuesday, and is anticipated to open on Wednesday.

Louisiana State Parks guests are reminded that cabins and the campground Lake Bistineau State Park in northwest Louisiana remain closed due to high water levels brought on by extensive rains last week.

Persons with questions about reservations at the listed sites should call the Reservation Center at 1-877-226-7652, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Reservation Center will be closed in observation of the Veterans’ Day holiday on Wednesday, November 11.

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[administrator]

NEWS RELEASE



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Richard Scott

November 5, 2009 Ph. 985-624-4130



Fontainebleau En Plein Air

Landscape Painting Exhibit
December 5, 2009-January 3, 2010



MANDEVILLE - During the month of November, Fontainebleau State Park will be host to 16 en plein air (in the open air) painters who will be painting scenes of the park’s beautiful woodlands, marshes, and beachfront.



In 1829, Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville named his sugar plantation on Lake Pontchartrain, Fontainebleau, after the historic forest of Fontainebleau, located south of Paris. The forest was home to the Barbizon school of painting (1830-1870), which bridged classical landscape painting to the Impressionist movement. The Barbizon painters were masters of en plein air painting.

In their spirit, the beautiful landscapes of Louisiana’s own Fontainebleau will be presented in the first Fontainebleau En Plein Air exhibit, opening Saturday, December 5th in the park at the new Fontainebleau Visitor’s Center and Museum, located behind the Sugar Mill. A reception to meet the artists will be held from noon-4:30p.m.



Featured Artists:

Anthony Bordelon Mary Monk

Steve Bourgeois Auseklis Ozols

Al Champagne Roy Pfister

Claude Ellender Don Rhodes

Alan Flattmann Phil Sandusky

Peggy Hesse Robert Seago

Diego Larguia Billy Solitario

Carlos Lopez Garth Swanson



Fontainebleau Visitor’s Center and Museum hours: 9a.m.-5p.m., Tuesday-Sunday, closed Monday. The park is open seven days a week, admission is $1 per person, children under three and seniors (62 and older) are free. For more information please call the Visitor’s Center at 985-624-4130. The park is located at 67825 Hwy. 190, Mandeville, Louisiana 70448.

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PHOTO CAPTION for Fontainebleau En Plein Air

Tag-Ellender Fontainebleau

Artist at work, en plein air (in the open air) landscape painter Claude Ellender is a participant in the first Fontainebleau En Plein Air art exhibit at Fontainebleau State Park, in Mandeville. A reception to meet the artists is Saturday, December 5th, noon -4:30p.m at the new Visitor’s Center behind the Sugar Mill. For information please call the center at 985-624-4130. The show runs December 5th, 2009-January 3rd, 2010

[administrator]

NEWS RELEASE

Office of State Parks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Daniel Wilcox
November 5, 2009 ph. 225-635-3739


AUDUBON STATE HISTORIC SITE PRESENTS

A COLONIAL CHRISTMAS DEC. 4-5
ST. FRANCISVILLE – Visitors are invited to Audubon State Historic Site to experience A Colonial Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 5. Area schools are invited to the site on Friday, Dec. 4. to experience a special version of A Colonial Christmas.

Oakley Plantation House will be trimmed in the style of the 1800s. From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., visitors will see a plantation Christmas dinner setting and rooms decorated for the holiday season. The plantation kitchen will feature the day’s meal being prepared over an open hearth and costumed staff will explain how the holiday celebration differed from what is traditional in modern times. In addition, various hands-on craft demonstrations will be located throughout the park. All schools wishing to participate in this special program must pre-register with the site.

As an added feature for the Saturday program, candlelight tours of Oakley House will be given from 6 to 8 p.m. During the tour, traditional holiday snacks such as roasted chestnuts, fig puddings and wassail will be served.

"Living history events, such as these, bring to life peaceful and nostalgic periods of our state’s history and give visitors a glimpse of that bygone era," says John House, site manager.

Audubon SHS is the setting for the 200-year-old Oakley House, temporary home and inspiration to John James Audubon in the 1800s. The park includes a museum, picnic areas, Historic buildings and a nature trail. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, Oakley House and its lush natural settings are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.

The $2 adult admission to Audubon SHS includes the site video history presentation, the plantation house tour and all special programs. Children (12 and under) and senior citizens (62 and older) are admitted free. Audubon SHS is located 30 minutes north of Baton Rouge near St. Francisville on La. 965 in West Feliciana Parish.

For more information, call 1-888-677-2838 toll free or 635-3739 in the St. Francisville area.

John R. House III.
Site Manager
Audubon State Historic Site
Louisiana Office of State Parks
Office: (225) 635-3739
Fax: (225) 784-0578

"Audubon State Historic Site...Where Louisiana comes Alive "

[administrator]

NEWS RELEASE

Office of State Parks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Kathleen Mocklin

November 5, 2009 ph. (225) 687-7158



PLAQUEMINE LOCK SHS FREE MONTHLY MOVIE NIGHTS



PLAQUEMINE – The Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site will host a series of free monthly movie nights. This program will be held on the third Friday of each month from 7-9 p.m., showing a different movie each night.



Movie Nights will kick off on Nov. 20, with Robert J. Flaherty’s Louisiana Story (1948). Louisiana Story is a 78-minute American, docufiction film. It was writtten by Frances and Robert J. Flaherty and also directed by Robert J. Flaherty. The story deals with the adventures of a young Cajun boy and his pet raccoon, who live a somewhat idyllic existence playing in the bayous of Louisiana during the time when major oil companies were drilling for oil.



The film was shot on location in the Louisiana bayou country, using local residents for actors and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story in 1948. In 1949, Virgil Thomson won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his score to the film. In 1994, Louisiana Story was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".



Dates for future Movie Nights will be: November 20th, 2009; December 18th, 2009; January 15th, 2010; February 19th, 2010; March 19th, 2010; April 16th, 2010; May 21st, 2010; and June 18th, 2010. For more information about Movie Nights call 687-7158 or toll free 1-877-987-7158.



Plaquemine Lock SHS is on the National Historic Register and celebrates the 100th Anniversary of its opening this year. The site is located in historic downtown Plaquemine, 13 miles south of Baton Rouge and 19miles north of Donaldsonville.

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[administrator]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Lori Barnes
October 28, 2009 ph. 985-792-4652
Fairview-Riverside State Park presents Eyes at Night October 30th
MADISONVILLE – Visitors to Fairview-Riverside State Park on October 30th are invited join the interpretive ranger at 7:30 pm to see animal eyes at night. During this evening program learn how to identify various nocturnal animals by the shape and color of their eye shine. Bring your flash light and bug spray!

The program is free with park admission of $1 per person aged 4 – 61. Children under 3 and senior 62+ are admitted free of charge. Fairview-Riverside State Park is located one mile east of Madisonville on highway 22 in St. Tammany Parish. The site includes camping, a day-use picnic area on the banks of the Tchefuncte River, and Otis House Museum. For more information call 985-792-4652 or 985-845-3318 locally, or 1-888-677-3247 toll free.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Lori Barnes
October 28, 2009 ph. 985-792-4652
Audubon Nature Institute’s ZooMobile presents Raptors Rule! Nov. 14 @ 1 pm

MADISONVILLE – Visitors to Fairview-Riverside State Park on November 14th are invited to an educational program presented by the Audubon Nature Institute’s ZooMobile at 1 pm entitled Raptors Rule! This is an informative close up look at birds of prey to examine differences and likenesses of raptors that inhabit Louisiana.

The program is free with park admission of $1 per person aged 4 – 61. Children under 3 and senior 62+ are admitted free of charge. Fairview-Riverside State Park is located one mile east of Madisonville on highway 22 in St. Tammany Parish. The site includes camping, a day-use picnic area on the banks of the Tchefuncte River, and Otis House Museum. For more information call 985-792-4652 or 985-845-3318 locally, or 1-888-677-3247 toll free.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Lori Barnes
October 28, 2009 ph. 985-792-4652
Fairview-Riverside State Park presents Signs of Autumn Nov. 21 @ 8:30 am

MADISONVILLE – Visitors to Fairview-Riverside State Park on November 21st are invited to a nature walk through the park examining changes in flora and fauna as winter approaches. As a leaf’s chemical laboratory is busy altering colors, animals also prepare for seasonal change. Join the interpretive ranger at the steam engine pavilion and prepare for a walk to the boardwalk and back exploring these changes, approximately 1 mile.

The program is free with park admission of $1 per person aged 4 – 61. Children under 3 and senior 62+ are admitted free of charge. Fairview-Riverside State Park is located one mile east of Madisonville on highway 22 in St. Tammany Parish. The site includes camping, a day-use picnic area on the banks of the Tchefuncte River, and Otis House Museum. For more information call 985-792-4652 or 985-845-3318 locally, or 1-888-677-3247 toll free.

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[administrator]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Ann Durel

October 2, 2009 ph. 985-792-4652



Halloween Hayride & Hoopla 6 - 8 p.m. on October 24th

at Fairview-Riverside State Park



MADISONVILLE – The staff invites visitors to take a hayride through the park grounds and enjoy the haunting trivia revealing Halloween’s true traditions as the ride meanders through the campground and day-use areas. Hayrides will begin every half hour, last one being at 7:30 p.m. At 6:30, guests of all ages can enjoy storytelling as the Porta-Puppet Players present “Wizard in a Dither!” an interactive puppet show featuring the wizard as an inept hero in need of assistance with his Halloween-y plans and “Magic”…

Children are invited to bob for apples and enter a costume contest. Costume contest age groups: 5 & under, 6 – 9 and 10 – 15. All ages are welcome to bring your completed carved pumpkin and a candle for displaying in the carved pumpkin contest (call for details).

The program is free with park admission of $1 per person ages 4 - 61. Children 3 and under or seniors 62+ are admitted free. Fairview-Riverside State Park is located one mile east of Madisonville on La. Hwy. 22 in St. Tammany Parish. The site includes camping, a day-use picnic area on the banks of the Tchefuncte River, and Otis House Museum. For more information call 985-792-4652 or toll free 1-888-677-3247.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Lori Barnes
October 2, 2009 ph. 985-792-4652
Fairview-Riverside State Park presents Eyes at Night October 30th

MADISONVILLE – Visitors to Fairview-Riverside State Park on October 30th are invited join the interpretive ranger at 7:30 pm to see animal eyes at night. During this evening program learn how to identify various nocturnal animals by the shape and color of their eye shine. Bring your flash light and bug spray!

The program is free with park admission of $1 per person aged 4 – 61. Children under 3 and senior 62+ are admitted free of charge. Fairview-Riverside State Park is located one mile east of Madisonville on highway 22 in St. Tammany Parish. The site includes camping, a day-use picnic area on the banks of the Tchefuncte River, and Otis House Museum. For more information call 985-792-4652 or 985-845-3318 locally, or 1-888-677-3247 toll free.-30-

[administrator]

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Sharon Broussard
September 30, 2009 ph. 225-342-5473



Louisiana State Parks

Looking for Bogue Chitto-area images


BATON ROUGE – In preparation for the opening of Bogue Chitto State Park in 2010, the Office of State Parks invites residents to submit pictures of the area, which might be used as artwork in the new site’s visitor center and cabins. Submissions will be taken at the Louisiana State Parks’ booth during the Washington Parish Fair, Oct. 21-24.

Of special interest will be pictures of outdoor activities on and around the Bogue Chitto River and Fricke’s Cave; but all area pictures will be considered. Louisiana State Parks staff will have a scanner and computer on hand, so submissions will be returned to their owners that day.

Bogue Chitto State Park is located off LA Hwy. 25 in Washington Parish, approximately 10 miles south of Franklinton. Visitors to the park 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-forested gorge and upland forests. For more information about Bogue Chitto State Park, visit www.lastateparks.com or call 1-877-226-7652.

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[administrator]

Office of State Parks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Daniel Wilcox
Oct. 1, 2009 1-888-677-2838



BATON ROUGE 1779 at Audubon State Historic Site
ST. FRANCISVILLE -- Visitors of all ages are invited to Audubon State Historic Site during the Baton Rouge 1779 program on October 10.

This year marks the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War Battle for Baton Rouge. This nearly forgotten battle of the American Revolution happened literally within present day Baton Rouge and featured thousands of soldiers wrestling over control of both the city and colony.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can see demonstrations of early 1800s crafts. The program also include flintlock musket demonstrations, camp life talks, and talks on the clothing of the day. Guest speakers will include Rob Mann of the Division of Archaeaology speaking on Historic Galveztown, and Raymond Berthelot, Chief of Interpretive service for the Louisiana Office of State Parks speaking on Spanish General Bernardo Galvez.

"Baton Rouge 1779” is a new program for the park reflecting the changing interests of our visitors.” said John House, Manager of Audubon S.H.S. “ West Florida is sometimes referred to as the 14th American Colony or the lost colony of the American Revolution. The unique history of the Florida Parishes of Louisiana and the briefly lived Republic of West Florida is often overlooked.”

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, Oakley House and its lush natural settings are open daily for tours throughout the year. The park includes an Interpretive Center, Oakley House, slave cabins, gardens, kitchen, trails, picnic area and picnic pavilion.

Audubon SHS is located north of Baton Rouge near St. Francisville on La. 965 in West Feliciana Parish. The fee is $2 per person with children (12 and under) and seniors (62 and over) admitted free. For more information, call 1-888-677-2838 toll free or 635-3739 in the St. Francisville area.



John R. House III.
Site Manager
Audubon State Historic Site
Louisiana Office of State Parks
Office: (225) 635-3739
Fax: (225) 784-0578

"Audubon State Historic Site...Where Louisiana comes Alive "

[administrator]

PRESS RELEASE

Office of State Parks



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Sharon Broussard

September 18, 2009 ph. 225-342-5473



Louisiana State Parks Observes

Creation of Parks Commission in 1934



NEW ORLEANS – In conjunction with 75th Anniversary celebrations throughout 2009, Louisiana State Parks system is commemorating the legislation that created the Louisiana Parks Commission in 1934. From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, Fort Pike State Historic Site will hold ceremonies and activities marking the legislation and highlighting the history of the site. The public is also invited to tour the site, and see the improvements made since its reopening in June.

Following opening ceremonies at 10 a.m., site staff in period uniform will perform musket firings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Throughout the afternoon, staff will offer presentations on the history of Fort Pike and of the Louisiana State Parks system, as well as the history of the various flags that have flown over the Fort. Also going on during the afternoon will be a history cooking demonstration and a wood-carving demonstration. All entrance fees will be waived for this special event.

Fort Pike was the first of the Third System fortifications, built between 1816 and 1867. The fort, along with nearby Forts Jackson and St. Philip, defended the city of New Orleans from nautical assaults. From a staging area during the Seminole Wars to a hard-fought strategic outpost for the Union during the Civil War, Fort Pike has played an integral part in Louisiana’s military history. Fort Pike State Historic Site, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, is located on U.S. 90 just south of the Rigolets Bridge. For more information on the reconstruction progress at Fort Pike SHS, visit www.lastateparks.com.

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[administrator]

Additional Beach Work at Grand Isle


GRAND ISLE – Effective September 14, the Army Corp of Engineers will be pumping sand back onto the beach of Grand Isle, part of the coast rebuilding efforts to correct damage caused by hurricanes over the past few years. This project will involve the use of heavy equipment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for approximately 45 days.

For the duration of this project, there will be no beach access at Grand Isle State Park, potentially no fishing and heavy equipment noise may occur at night. The park’s campground, day-use area and fishing lagoon will remain open during this time; however, visitors should be advised of the possible impact on their visit. This project will help protect Louisiana's coastline against future hurricanes, it will allow the Office of State Parks to offer beach camping at Grand Isle State Park again.
Grand Isle State Park is located on the east end of Grand Isle, of LA 1 on Admiral Craik Drive. The only state-owned and operated beach on the Louisiana Gulf Coast, the site offers excellent fishing, crabbing and camping opportunities. For more information about Grand Isle State Park, visit www.lastateparks.com or call 1-877-226-7652.

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