Louisiana
HEART OF LOUISIANA: Chemin-a-Haut State Park
BASTROP, La. (WAFB) – This is a rare site in Louisiana, giant old growth cypress trees whose ages are counted, not In years, but in centuries.
“We have several, um, large trees here. Several unique looking trees here. But then also you have a cypress trees that almost probably get as tall as me,” Demetrius Fields said.
The trees are located in a state park in extreme north Louisiana, at a site that includes trails used by Native Americans. The name is French.
“Chemin-A-Haut. It means the high road,” said Fields.
Demetrius Fields is manager of Louisiana’s Chemin-A-Haut State Park. The ancient treasures of this park are found by paddling up Chemin-A-Haut creek.
“It’s going to take, you have maybe about an hour to paddle to it, but once you get there, it’s worth it” Fields said.
The main attraction is a cypress giant that locals call the ‘castle tree’.
“It’s magnificent when you see it. So you know why they named it the castle tree. The age is going to be about 800 years to maybe a thousand and, um, size. We’re looking at more than 20 feet in diameter as far as around the base of the, of the tree,” said Fields.
This tree, and a few others here, managed to avoid the saws and axes of the lumber business.
“I think based on the position they are in, in our creek, um, also, based on the fact that the water levels here only kind of give you a great float a certain time of year that kinda helped save them,” Fields said.
The tree has a large hollow that begins below the water line. And it’s big enough that you can paddle a boat inside of the cypress, where you see a giant, wooden arched ceiling.
“That’s where a plenty of people get great pictures in kayaks, you know,” said Fields.
When you view the tree from the creek bank, you don’t see the big hole. You need to paddle to the other side. And that’s led to a legend of moonshiners taking advantage of the hidden hollow.
“We had moonshiners that would be in the area and they may have still several stills or something in the area. And the, you know, police may be able to find a stills, but a lot of times they weren’t able to recover the alcohol. And the reason being is because the alcohol was being hidden in the tree and the only, the only people who knew about it was people who could float to it and access it by canoe,” Fields said.
This is the second oldest state park in Louisiana. It was built in the 1930s during the great depression by the civilian conservation corps.
Today, the park has modern cabins that stand at the edge of a bayou. It’s a place of quiet, natural beauty.
“We’re looking at, now that we have something in this area for, for recreational purposes, was Morehouse Parish,” Fields said.
But this park’s main attraction is nature, a quiet creek, the gentle sound of the wind as it rustles the leaves, and seeing a tree that has anchored this little wilderness for a thousand years.
More information on Chemin-a-Haut State Park can be found on Heart of Louisiana’s website.
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Copyright 2024 WAFB. All rights reserved.
Yasin Gungor
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
At least eight children were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana, local police said Sunday.
Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said officers responded to the shooting just after 6 am (1100GMT), following a domestic disturbance call.
The age of the deceased ranged from one to 14 years, he said, adding that the incident involved at least 10 individuals across four separate locations.
The suspect attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle and driving to neighboring Bossier City, where police located and shot him dead.
Bordelon said Shreveport police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle into Bossier, where three officers discharged their firearms, killing him. He said investigators believe the suspect was the only person who opened fire at the locations.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the attack as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
No immediate information was available about the condition of the injured.
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
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