Cypress Lake (Lafayette, Louisiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cypress Lake |
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 Cypress Lake
Location in Louisiana
Cypress Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lafayette, Louisiana |
| Coordinates | 30°12′49″N 92°01′05″W / 30.2136°N 92.0180°W |
| Type | Manmade |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2 acres (0.8 ha) |
Cypress Lake is a small, 2-acre (0.8 ha) swamp-like lake. It sits right in the middle of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. This special lake began a very long time ago. It started as a muddy spot where bison used to roll around.
Today, Cypress Lake is a unique landmark for the university. It's home to many creatures like alligators, turtles, birds, and fish. You can also find beautiful native irises here. Students love to hang out by the lake. It's also a cool spot for tourists visiting Lafayette, Louisiana. People often call Cypress Lake "The Swamp." This is also the nickname for the university's football stadium, Cajun Field.
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History of Cypress Lake
Long, long ago, in ancient times, large groups of bison roamed this area. They would stop under the shade of cypress trees. The bison would stomp and paw at the ground. Over time, this created a dip in the earth.
This spot, called a trou de taureau in Cajun French, means "bull hole." It started to collect water and became a pond.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (founded in 1898) grew up around this pond. At first, the university fenced it off. They used it as a pig pen for their farm. In the early 1920s, the pig pen was emptied. The university wanted to bring back the 63 cypress trees. This area was then called Cypress Grove.
The grove became an outdoor theater. Plays by Shakespeare, music shows, and dance programs were held there. The university's graduation ceremonies even took place under the cypress trees in 1935 and for several years after, if the weather was good.
In the early 1940s, some agriculture teachers had an idea. They thought the grove should become a pond again. They worried that the cypress trees needed more water. So, a pump was put in, and the pond was refilled. That's how Cypress Grove became Cypress Lake.
There's an oak tree south of Cypress Lake. It has a plaque honoring Edwin Stephens. He was the first president of the university. Back then, it was called Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute.
Another Idea for the Lake
There's another idea about why the grove became a lake. This idea is different from the trees needing water. Both stories could be true.
This other idea suggests the university made the lake for safety. This happened during World War II. Two women who knew a lot about the university shared their memories in the 1980s. Their names were Maria Mario Mamalakis and Vesta Bourgeois.
Mamalakis said, "People didn't realize we were so close to the gulf. There were many German submarines in that area." She explained that the university worried about being bombed. "It was Cypress Grove for many years," she added. "But they were afraid we might need extra water. This would be for fires if a bomb hit the campus." Bourgeois agreed with this idea. She said female students helped fill the swamp. They also practiced fire drills.
Bourgeois explained, "They knew if Germans came to the gulf south of Abbeville, they wouldn't bomb us. They would bomb a more important place, like Baton Rouge." She continued, "If their planes had bombs left, they wouldn't fly back to the ship. They would drop them at a vulnerable spot. Southwestern (the university) could have been one of those spots."
"So they started getting ready for this," Bourgeois said. "They saw there was no water. So they added water to the grove. We started teaching girls at the gym how to form bucket brigades. We had ladders and an obstacle course for the girls. This was because all our men were in the military. The women would have to do these kinds of things. That's how Cypress Grove was filled. Not many people knew that."
The grove was a popular place for students to gather. It was even a spot for couples. But students accepted the swamp because it was part of the war effort. This is according to Bruce Turner. He is a history professor at UL Lafayette. He also leads the special collections at the Edith Garland Dupré Library.
Turner said, "I'm sure if they said it was for war readiness, people would accept it. They would do it for patriotic reasons." He added, "It was right in the middle of World War II. Everyone was worried. Everyone was willing to make sacrifices for the war."
University Traditions
Cypress Lake is right in the middle of the campus. Because of this, many university traditions have grown up around it over the years.
Lagniappe Week
"Lagniappe" means "something extra." It's a week of fun activities for UL students. The week ends with "Lagniappe Day." Many events on this day happen around, or even in, Cypress Lake.
The Annual Crawfish Boil
Eating crawfish is a popular tradition in this area. Students love crawfish boils throughout the year. But the biggest and most exciting boil is on Lagniappe Day. The University Program Council hosts it. Over 20,000 pounds of crawfish are boiled. They are served for free to UL students. Students enjoy them in the new Cypress Lake Plaza. They also eat in the outdoor seating areas of the "U" (Student Union). Of course, there's also music, dancing, and lots of laughter.
Canoe through Cypress Lake
Students get a special chance to paddle through the lake. It's a quick trip. They can enjoy the view from a totally different angle. They also get to see the alligators, turtles, fish, and other animals up close!
Canoe Races
Students can also join the yearly canoe race on the lake. Sixteen teams, each with 4-6 people, race to win the championship title.
Lake Jump
The Lake Jump is another tradition during Lagniappe Week. It started in 1977. Student Philip Beridon took the first plunge. The yearly tradition continued until he passed away in 2006. A memorial jump happened in 2007. Since 2008, a new student performs the jump each year. They jump feet-first into the lake's murky waters.
Ring Ceremony
This tradition began in 2012. All current and past graduates who ordered rings are honored. The UL President, Dr. Joseph Savoie, gives them their rings. This happens on the stage in Angelle Hall. But the night before the ceremony, the rings spend the night on Cypress Lake. They are placed in a special metal boat called a pirogue. Members of UL’s Army ROTC take them there. Then, students guard the rings overnight.
Student Union
The new Student Union building was finished in 2015. It's a huge building, 178,000 square feet! It's much bigger than the old one. It was built to wrap around Cypress Lake. The "U" offers meeting rooms and offices for student groups. It also has a post office, a movie theater, and coffee shops. The cafeteria has space for over 600 students. Most of the second floor is for dining. It has great views of the lake, the new Cypress Lake Plaza, and the Rose Garden dorms. The area around the new "U" also has terraces along the lake. These provide more outdoor dining spots for everyone.
Cypress Lake Plaza
The old Student Union buildings were taken down. They were located along Hebrard Boulevard and Boucher Street. A new green space was finished there in early 2018. It was named "Cypress Lake Plaza."
The Plaza has an amphitheater. It has a podium and a stage. This gives speakers a beautiful spot to talk to campus crowds.
More improvements were made to the Plaza in October 2019. These include arbors, which are like shaded walkways, over part of the Plaza. There's also a pier that goes out into the lake.
Future plans include making the lake bigger on the Hebrard side.
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New arbor over the Plaza.
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Night view of arbor
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Night view of pier.
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Picnic table at Cypress Lake edge, with new pier in distance
Images for kids
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View of plaza looking towards the lake
