Fontainebleau State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fountainebleau State Park |
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Live oak tree draped with Spanish moss
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 Fountainebleau State Park
Location in Louisiana
Fountainebleau State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States |
| Area | 2,800 acres (11 km2; 4.4 sq mi) |
| Established | 1942 |
| Governing body | Louisiana Office of State Parks |
| Official website: http://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/parks | |
Fontainebleau State Park is a beautiful park located in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. It sits right on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. This park is huge, covering about 2,800 acres (1,100 ha) of land! Long ago, it was a large sugar cane farm and a place where bricks were made. These businesses were run by a man named Bernard de Marigny and later by his son, Armand Marigny. Today, the park is a wonderful home for many different kinds of birds and other wildlife.
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Discovering Fontainebleau's Past
The visitor center at Fontainebleau State Park tells the story of its interesting past. This land once belonged to a very rich man from New Orleans named Bernard de Marigny (1785–1868). He was also the person who started the nearby town of Mandeville.
The Sugar Plantation Era
In 1829, Bernard de Marigny built a sugar mill here. He loved the beautiful forest near Paris, France, so much that he named his large property "Fontainebleau." By 1840, his son Armand recorded that many people lived and worked on the plantation. These were people who were forced to work there, including many children.
A Park Surrounded by Water
Fontainebleau State Park is special because water surrounds it on three sides. You'll find Lake Pontchartrain on one side, and two bayous (slow-moving streams), Bayou Cane and Bayou Castine, on the other sides. When the park first opened, it was called Tchefuncte State Park. This name came from the nearby Tchefuncte River. In 1999, the park was recognized as an important historical place and was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Fun Things to Do at Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau State Park offers many exciting activities for visitors. Whether you want to stay overnight or just visit for the day, there's something for everyone!
Staying Overnight
If you want to spend more than a day, the park has great places to stay:
- There are 12 cozy cabins, and some are designed to be easy for everyone to use.
- You can also find 163 spots for RVs and tents, many with hookups for electricity and water.
- The park has clean comfort stations with showers.
- Kids can enjoy the playground.
- There are three group camps and a lodge for bigger groups.
- In total, there are around 200 camping sites available.
Daytime Adventures
For those visiting during the day, you can explore:
- A 4.8-mile (7.7 km) long hiking trail, perfect for a good walk.
- A 1.2-mile (1.9 km) nature trail that includes a boardwalk. This boardwalk takes you right into the marsh, where you can see unique plants and animals.
- Picnic areas and a playground for families.
- A large pavilion for gatherings.
- A beach, a fishing pond, and a fishing pier where you can try to catch some fish.
- The visitor center has interesting museum displays, educational programs, and a gift shop.
- The famous Tammany Trace trail goes right through Fontainebleau State Park. This is a paved trail, about 31 miles (50 km) long, built on an old railroad path. It's great for hiking, inline skating, and bicycling. There's also a separate trail next to it for horseback riding.
