The St. Landry Parish Visitor Center located at I-49 Exit 23, was opened in 2011 as one of the first visitor centers in the state designed to be an attraction in itself. The Center is an award-winning example of how sustainable practices can and should be incorporated in the design and function of a building as well as a state certified welcome center.
PUBLIC ART
The newest addition to the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center is the Amédé Ardoin Commemorative, a 1,500 lb. carved steel statue of the iconic Louisiana musician, Amédé Ardoin. This public sculpture was designed by award-winning artist, Russell Whiting, and was made possible by members of the Amédé Ardoin Project Committee. The project honors one of the earliest French-speaking Creole musicians to commercially record his songs and the first to build a library of over 30 recordings with national labels.
The “Key of ‘C’ Accordion” kiosk is the Center’s sister piece to the Commemorative. The kiosk is a “hands-on” tool and allows users to access CajunTravel.com to learn more about the culture and heritage of the people of St. Landry Parish. Users can also hear the sounds of Southwest Louisiana through the use of the accordion’s keyboard buttons. These buttons play songs from a variety of genres and educate all ages about the evolution of Cajun and zydeco music.
GROUP TOURS
Tours of the center are available for all ages. Participants will learn more about the building and the landscape design that plays an integral part in this project utilizing indigenous plantings and trees from St. Landry Parish, reflecting several of Louisiana’s ecosystems. The St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission has partnered with Le Vieux Village Heritage Park and St. Landry Parish Solid Waste, making it easy for organizers to fill their day with educational opportunities.
