Grand Isle State Park (Louisiana)

Grand Isle State Park

A view of the Gulf of Mexico at Grand Isle State Park
Map showing the location of Grand Isle State Park
Map of Louisiana, United States of America
Location Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States
Coordinates 29°15′31″N 89°57′17″W / 29.25861°N 89.95472°W / 29.25861; -89.95472[1]Coordinates: 29°15′31″N 89°57′17″W / 29.25861°N 89.95472°W / 29.25861; -89.95472[1]
Area 140 acres (0.57 km2; 0.22 sq mi)[2]
Established 1968[3][4]
Governing body Louisiana Office of State Parks
Official website

Grand Isle State Park, lies at the eastern end of Grand Isle, a barrier island in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, U.S.A. Grand Isle is the only inhabited barrier island in the state.

The park has been seriously affected in the past by Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, and Ike. However, much of Grand Isle State Park has been renovated. Beach restoration in the area is ongoing. At one time, the park's fishing pier was especially popular, but it was destroyed in 2005 and has yet to be rebuilt. An observation tower provides fine views of the surrounding coastal scenery. Visitors come to 160-acre (0.65 km2) Grand Isle State Park to beachcomb, birdwatch, boat, camp, crab, fish, and sunbathe.

Grand Isle State Park enjoys a long and lively history of supernatural occurrences and was recently named "America's Most Haunted Beach" by Skeptic magazine. Local lore involving Jean and Pierre Lafitte as well as the wider legend of the rougarou weigh heavily on the minds of those who dare to camp here.

On May 22, 2010, the beach was closed due to oil contamination from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.[5] On May 3, 2011, a portion of the beach reopened.[6] On June 26, 2011, volunteers, organized by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, planted 1,600 black mangrove trees along the coast to prevent erosion.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Grand Isle State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  2. ↑ Frois, Jeanne; Calhoun, Milburn (2006-05-31). Louisiana Almanac: 2006-2007 (17 ed.). Pelican Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-58980-306-0.
  3. ↑ "Make a Weekend Stop to Grand Isle State Park". Houma, Louisiana: Gumbo Entertainment Guide. July 6, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2012. Nestled in the northeastern portion of the only inhabited barrier island in the state, Louisiana purchased the 150-acre park in 1968.
  4. ↑ "Facebook–Grand Isle State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Retrieved April 11, 2012. The park was purchased in 1968 by the State.
  5. ↑ "BP May Attempt to Plug Oil Leak With Mud Next Week (Update2)". Archived from the original on 2010-05-25.
  6. ↑ "Portion of Grand Isle State Park Beach Reopens" (PDF) (Press release). Office of State Parks. 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
  7. ↑ Rodriguez, Maya (2011-06-27). "Volunteers help renew Grand Isle Park". Lafourche Parish, Louisiana: The Daily Comet. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
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