Destrehan Plantation purchases 8 acres for expansion

Helps secure return of fall fest, additional parking

Destrehan Plantation expanding by eight acres will provide the needed area to grow its events and venues, as well as ensures the return of its popular fall festival.

When the River Road Historical Society, that owns and operates the location, learned 1,100 acres of adjoining land was for sale, Society Executive Director Nancy Robert said they approached BP about buying a portion of it for $500,000.

Some $350,000 of the amount will come from the Azby Fund, a New Orleans family foundation, started by Herbert Harvey Jr., a Destrehan family descendant. The society will raise the remaining funds for the property, which will provide more parking, as well as accommodate future planned growth.

The latest land purchase brings the total site to 18 acres.In November, the society’s board announced last year’s festival would be its last to make way for growth. Robert said then it was the needed direction to either end the festival or replace it with smaller events because visitor parking, as well as space used by festival crafters and vendors for parking would be lessened or taken up by planned bed and breakfast cottages.

The additional acreage will allow a dedicated parking lot that also will provide easier access with two gates entering the festival grounds, she said.

“This was something vital for us to get this land,” Robert said. “We knew it was going to be available and acted on it as soon as we were able to get the money in place.”

A portion of the new land will be used for parking, but it will additionally facilitate the plantation’s growing wedding business.

Robert said the society board is discussing uses for the remaining land, which could include cottages or developing an RV park, she said.

The plantation’s connection to BP goes back 45 years when the company, then known as Amoco, donated the house and four acres to the society, Robert said. Later, Amoco allowed the society to continue using an adjoining 14 acres, which it still uses today. Robert said they’re hoping the land will be donated for continued society use.

“All of this land was part of the Destrehan family land in 1787, so we feel we’re getting back part of the family land with this purchase,” she said.

In November, when the plantation’s growing pains forced discontinuing the festival, Robert said they couldn’t find a feasible alternative to continue it when less parking represented smaller crowds to cover the cost of holding the event. The announcement drew a lot of complaints, but she said next year’s fest will be bigger and better with added parking that also includes handicap and vendor parking.

“This will be a way we can continue our fest and make it a success each year,” she said.

To help raise money for the land purchase, Robert said a gala is planned in December and next year’s festival proceeds are dedicated to help cover the cost.

A children’s event called Candy Cane Celebration is also planned in December, Robert said. Next year’s wedding schedule is nearly full and additional events are likely.“We think this is a great thing for St. Charles parish and it brings in people from all over the world,” she said.

A recent example was a wedding booked online from Scotland that brought in 100 people from all over the world into the parish, Robert said.

Overall, she said they anticipate growth in weddings, overnight stays and areas for interactive tours for children, as well as plans to remodel the old business office as a venue for small events and children’s birthday parties in efforts to provide more family-oriented activities.

“We have a good, positive future ahead so we look forward to all this taking place,” Robert said. “We’re excited. There’s a lot going on here.”

 

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