Thibodaux Louisiana Travel Guide

In the heart of Cajun Country and Acadiana, Thibodaux is located in south Louisiana on Louisiana Highway LA-1 on the banks of historic Bayou Lafourche. Our family roots are from nearby Paincourtville, Napoleonville, Plattenville and Labadieville, where my grandfather worked in the sugar cane fields along Bayou Lafourche.

Location of Thibodaux

It is the parish seat of Lafourche Parish and has a population of about 16,000 residents. It was incorporated as a town in 1838.

Area communities include Labadieville, Paincourtville, Plattenville, Raceland, Morgan City, Lockport, Des Allemands, Chauvin, Houma, Pierre Part, and Napoleonville.

Thibodaux in Song We all know that popular song "Amos Moses" sung by Jerry Reed, and its lyrics ... it always gets us to thinking about Thibodaux ... About 45 minutes southeast of Thibodaux, Louisiana Lived a man named Doc Milsap and his pretty wife Hanna. Amos Moses was a Cajun, He lived by himself in the swamp. He hunted alligators for a livin, He just knocked 'em in the head with a stump.

 

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• The Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, operated by the National Park Service, hosts special events and demonstrates the French and Acadian culture which remains strong in Thibodaux.

• Bayou Lafourche

  The Edward Douglas White Historic Site is the home of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, born in Lafourche Parish in 1845. Many other area attractions are available, from plantation tours to swamp tours.

• The Louisiana Gumbo Festival of Chackbay is a popular annual event held in October.

• Historic churches such as the St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, at 721 Canal Boulevard, and St. John's Episcopal Church are popular tourist destinations in the area.

• Bayou Country Children's Museum -

  Louisiana culture comes to life at the Bayou Country Children’s Museum at 211 Rue Betancourt in Thibodaux. This hands-on museum provides the type of recreational learning experience desired by parents and educators that has a lasting impact on child development. The museum provides children ages 2-12 years with a unique learning environment that enhances the classroom experience.

• Laurel Valley Village - With a history spanning more than two centuries, the story of Laurel Valley covers the lives of early Cajun settlers, slavery up to the Civil War, the Reconstruction era and tenant-farmer system, and the industrialization of the sugar cane industry. With more than 50 original structures remaining, Laurel Valley offers a unique glimpse into plantation along the bayou.

• Chef John Folse Culinary Institute - Nestled in the heart of Louisiana’s Bayou Region, the Culinary Institute invites aspiring chefs with an adventurous palate and an insatiable desire to work in the food and service industries to pursue a Bachelor of Science or Associate of Science degree in culinary arts at Nicholls, currently the only post-secondary institution in Louisiana offering a four-year culinary degree.

• Acadia Music Fest -Thibodaux's biggest outdoor music festival featuring the best local musicians, artists and southern food!

Swamp Tours in the Thibodaux Area

One of the most popular things to do in Louisiana is touring the swamps!

Swamp tours are available starting at a number of area communities such as Houma, Thibodaux, Gibson, Kraemer, Patterson, Napoleonville and Theriot.

Learn more about Swamp Tours Near Houma, Morgan City & Thibodaux

 

Nicholls State University

Nicholls State University, located in Thibodaux, serves all of south central Louisiana through a variety of degree programs, and has an enrollment of over 6,500 students. Nicholls capitalizes on its prime location and rich culture by offering distinctive academic programs in culinary arts, geomatics, maritime management, marine and environmental science, petroleum services and safety technology.

Nicholls is the city's major employer, and a nationally accredited institution offering more than 85 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. For more information, visit the website of Nicholls State University

Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana

 

Bayou Lafourche and Thibodaux

Bayou Lafourche is a 106 mile long waterway which stretches from Donaldsonville, at the Mississippi River, to the Gulf of Mexico. From Donaldsonville, it flows through Paincourtville, Napoleonville, Labadieville, Thibodaux, Raceland, Larose, Cut Off, Galliano, Golden Meadow and finally into the Gulf near Leeville and Port Fouchon.

Originally called the Chetimachas River, it flows through Ascension Parish, Assumption Parish and Lafourche Parish. Many of the early Cajuns settled along the bayou. On the west side of the bayou is Louisiana Highway 1, and on the east bank is LA 308.

The name Lafourche is from the French word for "fork", and comes from the fact that the bayou historically carried a large amount of water from the Mississippi River. Naturally a Mississippi River outlet, Bayou Lafourche was dammed at Donaldsonville in 1905. The dam cut off nourishment and replenishment of a huge wetland area of south Louisiana, and the bayou was gradually transformed into a stagnant ditch. Today, design efforts are underway to resume part of the flow from the Mississippi River to bring life back to the bayou.

Swamp People on the History Channel

Not far from Thibodaux is Lake Verret, a popular fishing destination in Assumption Parish near Pierre Part.

Filmed in this area have been several episodes of the History Channel's hit TV reality series "Swamp People". The History Channel has announced that Season 14 of Swamp People would debut on January 4, 2024, at 8/7C.

Segments are also filmed in other bayous, lakes and swamps in Louisiana such as those near Bayou Sorrel, Pecan Island, Bayou Pigeon, Morgan City and Houma.

"Choot 'em" is a phrase heard often on Swamp People, voiced by gator hunter Troy Landry of Pierre Part, a small community in the swamp close to the city of Donaldsonville. To learn more, visit Troy Landry's website at ChootEm.com

The History Channel debuted Season 15 of Swamp People on January 4, 2024, at 8/7C, with Episode 1, entitled “Cruel Summer.”

Scenes Around Thibodaux

E. D. White House	Laurel Valley Store
Fremin's Restaurant	Dansereau House B&B

More Thibodaux Area Information & Resources Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Thibodaux at LouisianaTravel.com The Official Travel Website of the State of Louisiana City of Thibodaux Lafourche Parish Government Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce Thibodaux Travel Guide at TripAdvisor

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