Holly Beach, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Holly Beach, Louisiana
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Holly Beach in 1998
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| Nickname(s):
Cajun Riviera
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 Holly Beach, Louisiana
Location in Louisiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Cameron |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 337 |
Holly Beach (French: Plaïe-de-Houx) is a small coastal community in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is often called the "Cajun Riviera" (French: La Rivière Cadienne). This area is known for crabbing and for allowing people to drive on the beach. Most homes here were "camps," which are beach-front cabins. Because of hurricanes, these camps were often built to be easily rebuilt. Holly Beach is part of the Lake Charles metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Holly Beach
Holly Beach first appeared on official maps in 1948. This shows it has been a recognized community for many years.
Hurricanes and Rebuilding Efforts
Holly Beach has faced many challenges from powerful storms. In September 2005, Hurricane Rita completely destroyed the town. Almost nothing was left except for ruins and the water tower. This was not the first time Holly Beach was hit hard. In 1957, Hurricane Audrey caused a huge 12-foot storm surge. After Hurricane Audrey, many houses were made taller to protect them from future floods.
After Hurricane Rita, rebuilding was difficult. Residents had to agree to certain rules to live there. New building rules were put in place for homes in Cameron Parish. These rules often required new buildings to be raised higher off the ground. Many worried that these strict rules and high insurance costs would stop people from returning. Despite these challenges, new permanent homes were built in Holly Beach. These new homes followed the updated building codes.
More hurricanes have impacted the area since then. In September 2008, both Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike caused flooding in Holly Beach. Later, Hurricane Laura also passed through the community in 2020. Each time, the community has worked to recover and rebuild.
Geography and Location
Holly Beach is located on the coast of Louisiana. It is about 10 miles west of Cameron. It is also about 12 miles east of Johnson Bayou.
Climate in Holly Beach
Holly Beach has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters.
| Climate data for Holly Beach, Louisiana | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 60 (16) |
64 (18) |
70 (21) |
77 (25) |
83 (28) |
89 (32) |
91 (33) |
91 (33) |
88 (31) |
80 (27) |
71 (22) |
63 (17) |
77.25 (25.14) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 44 (7) |
47 (8) |
54 (12) |
61 (16) |
70 (21) |
75 (24) |
77 (25) |
76 (24) |
72 (22) |
63 (17) |
54 (12) |
46 (8) |
61.58 (16.43) |
| Source: Accuweather | |||||||||||||
Culture and Music
Holly Beach has a special place in Cajun culture and music. In 1991, a swamp pop song called "(Holly Beach) Under the Boardwalk" was released. It was sung by Kenny Tibbs (Kenny Thibodeaux) and The Jokers. This song was a fun version of the famous 1960s hit "Under the Boardwalk" by The Drifters. The lyrics of the Holly Beach song explain that Cajun visitors "ain't got no boardwalk, just got seaweed, but we always pass a real good time at Holly Beach." This shows the relaxed, natural charm of the area.
Holly Beach was once a popular spot for vacationing Cajuns. It was a place for social gatherings and music. Its importance is also shown in two classic Cajun French songs. One is "La Valse de Holly Beach" ("The Holly Beach Waltz") by Nathan Abshire. The other is "Laisse les Bons Temps Rouler" ("Let the Good Times Roll") by Lawrence Walker. This second song includes lyrics about finding someone in the marshes and bringing them to Holly Beach. Even with mosquitoes biting, the song says, "let the good times roll." These songs highlight the joyful spirit and unique atmosphere of Holly Beach.
