ATTRACTIONS

Casinos

• Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino
  2235 Creswell Lane Extension • Opelousas, LA 70570
  337-594-3000 , 866-4-RACINO
  The casino features 1,627 of the latest slot machines, The Cajun Buffet, Mojo's sports bar, Blackberry's fine dining, Zydeco's casino lounge, and stables for 1,000 horses. Enjoy live thoroughbred racing every Wednesday through Saturday. more...

• Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino
  I-49 and LA Hwy 190
  337-594-3000
  The first entertainment complex in America to combine horse racing and casino gaming. Every Thursday through Sunday. more...

Historic Homes & Buildings

• Le Vieux Village
  828 East Landry Street • Opelousas, LA 70570
  337-948-6263
  Created in 1988 by the Opelousas Tourism and Activities Committee, Le Vieux Village structures include the Palmetto African-American Methodist Church, Dr. Lafleur’s Office, the Whiteville Schoolhouse, and a replica of a typical Cajun, or Acadian style, home.   map

• Michel Prudhomme Home (circa late 1700's)
  1152 Prudhomme Circle • Opelousas, LA 70570
  337-948-6263
  This French Colonial home is believed to be the oldest structure in St. Landry Parish. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is available for meetings, receptions and tours by appointment.   map

Museums & Galleries

• Creole Heritage Folk Life Center
  1113 West Vine Street • Opelousas, LA 70570
  337-407-0250 or 337-948-9884
  The Creole Heritage Folklife Center was founded by Ms. Rebecca D. Henry to promote the rich African-American heritage and culture of her ancestry. Visit the center to hear stories and learn about the African-American culture in South Louisiana. See "Designs by Rebecca" including handcrafted gourds, homemade soaps and potpourri, and okra angels.   map

• Jim Bowie Display & Museum
  828 East Landry Street • Opelousas, LA 70570
  Located in the Visitor & Welcome Center
  337-948-6263
  Bowie memorabilia with local historical items. Jim Bowie is an Opelousas native.   map

• Louisiana Orphan Train Museum
  233 South Academy Street • Opelousas, LA 70570
  337-948-9922
  Featuring a 7’ x14’ mural depicting the arrival of the orphans at the train depot in Opelousas, painted by renowned Louisiana native and artist Robert Dafford; framed pictures of all known Louisiana orphan train riders and artifacts belonging to the orphans at the time of arrival, this 2,400 square foot museum is located in the restored Union Pacific Depot building in Le Vieux Village, "one of the many railway destinations for thousands of young abandoned and sometimes homeless children rescued from the streets of New York and seeking rural homes across the U.S. from 1854 to 1929." more...

• Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center
  315 North Main Street • Opelousas, LA 70570
  Located in Downtown Opelousas
  337-948-2589
  Home of the Louisiana Video Collection Library and the Southwest LA Zydeco Festival archives, the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center preserves and interprets the history and culture of the area. Exhibits include information on agriculture, music, food, religion, Native Americans, folk culture, and the Civil War.  map

• Opelousas Museum of Art
  106 North Union Street • Opelousas, LA 70570
  Located in the Historic Downtown District
  337-942-4991
  The museum is housed in the Joseph Richard Wier Memorial Building, c. 1820. The Opelousas Museum of Art features loan exhibitions from major museums and private art collections.   map

Tours & Cruises

• Historic District Walking Tour
  828 East Landry Street • Opelousas, LA 70570
  337-948-5227
  Whether you walk or drive, this tour can be easily managed in less than two hours. Although there are many historic homes on the tour, the highlights are the old commercial establishments and public buildings around the Courthouse Square.  map

• Runyon Products, Inc.
  1212 South Bullard Street • Opelousas, LA 70570
  337-948-6252
  The most interesting factory tour for the musically inclined is the workshop for Santy Runyon's Runyon Products, Inc. Runyan is an acclaimed musical and technical genius who has been manufacturing mouthpieces for horns and woodwinds since the early forties. more...  map

• Savoie's Sausage & Food Products, Inc.
  1742 Highway 742 • Opelousas, LA 70570
  Southeast of Opelousas
  337-948-4115
  Savoie's has one of the best "plant tours" in Acadiana, provided of course that you are not shy about raw meat. The wood-frame grocery tells the story of Eula Savoie's entry into business back in 1949.  map

• Tony Chachere's Creole Foods
  519 North Lombard Street • Opelousas, LA 70570
  337-948-4691
  This small factory makes some of the state's most popular seasoning mixes and barbecue sauces. Tours are offered by appointment only.  map