1999: Houseboat Adventures

This story was selected by the Country Roads magazine editorial team as the representative piece for 1999 in the archival project "40 Stories From 40 Years"—celebrating the magazine's 40th anniversary on stands. Click here to read more stories from the project.

Outdoor living takes on a new dimension for guests who book accommodations at Houseboat Adventures. But that name is a bit misleading. The adventures that most people encounter on board one of Doug Sabatier’s houseboats are mostly in the mind. However, that seems to be enough to keep them coming back. 

All kinds of activities are possible: fishing, water, skiing, boating, exploring the flora and fauna of the Atchafalaya Basin swamp. Doug tows the houseboat out to a remote cove and tethers it to a stump. When he comes back in a couple of days, he says he mostly finds folks “laid out like lizards” on the front porch swing or on the deck, soaking up the sun and relaxing. 

The beauty of the swamp makes it easy to just take it easy. And getting away from the hectic pace of everyday life seems to be what draws most clients. Eighty percent of all reservations are made by women, according to Sabatier, and a good many of them come by themselves, or just with their children. While guests have visited from all over the world, the majority come from within the hundred-mile radius of Cypress Cove Landing, where Houseboat Adventures is located, on the levee road just outside Henderson. 

James and Sheila Guilbeaux were one such couple who spent a whole week there last month arriving on a Monday morning and leaving on Friday afternoon. They live in Opelousas and were thankful for the convenience of being close by when an emergency required them to get back home for a few hours one day. 

Fish weren’t biting much during their time on the water, they said expect for sac-o-lait caught with a “yo-yo” (a hook and line would on a small flat reel that does look like the child’s toy–the tug  of a fish taking the bait causes a latch on the line to release, and the line automatically reels itself in–along with the fish). 

The weather wasn’t the best either, with wind and rain their first night. The wind caused the nearest thing to heart-thumping excitement. Sheila says she felt bumps in the night that she was sure were alligators thumping alongside. Investigation proved it was just the boat being blown against a log. Snakes were another not-very-welcome thrill, says Sheila, “But whenever I saw one, it was gone by the time Jim got there, so he wouldn’t believe I saw any?” 

[Read Mary Ann Sternberg's 2022 article about New Orleans's batture dwellers, here.]

Even though the fishing and the weather were problematic, the couple affirmed they’ll be coming back for another vacation on the swamp soon. That’s typical, says Doug. A high proportion of his clients are repeat visitors, with many planning several weekends per year on his houseboats. He is usually booked up solid on weekends for a month to six weeks in advance. “If people keep it simple here, they learn to rest,” Doug says, explaining that the peacefulness of the setting is, he believes, the major attraction. 

Peace of mind is what attracted Doug to earning his living by renting houseboats on the swamp. Five years ago, he had a thriving steel fabrication business. He also, he said, had a head full of worries and very little time for his family. When the opportunity to buy Houseboat Adventures arose, he was interested because he’d grown up around houseboats–his dad had owned an 85-foot-long-one. 

After he acquired the business on Cypress Cove Land, Doud expanded the number of houseboats available to five and is currently building two more, as well as a new dock. He and his sons are doing all of the construction themselves. His wife, Diane, runs the reservation end  of the business. “I’m making about as much money as before,” Doug said, “but now I get to spend most of my time with my family.” 

He also gets to spend time on the waters of the basin. He still thrills to the sight of egrets spreading their wings and taking off on long low flights over the water. And he waxes poetic over the beauty of the starry sky seen from the deck of a houseboat, moored in the depths of the swamp, with no distracting lights or noises. 

The pontoon houseboats are about 22 feet wide by 44 feet long. They all have front porches with swings and rocking chairs as well as narrow back decks and a barbecue grill. Inside is a kitchen-dining area, sleeping space for six, and a bathroom with shower. The kitchen includes a gas stove, sink, and basic cooking gear, as well as an ice chest (but no refrigerator). A generator on board provides electricity for lights, air conditioning, and a television set. 

Each houseboat also comes with a small motor boat for exploring or fishing. Guests must bring their own fishing gear or other recreational equipment. An onboard water tank holds 80 to 120 gallons of water for cooking, washing up, and showering, but guests are asked to bring their own drinking water. 

Although there is no telephone, most people bring along a cellular phone and can reach Doug by pager. However, Doug can recall no mishaps or emergencies that have occurred since he opened for business. “Maybe there’ve been some they have never told me about,” he mused. Or it may be he forestalls emergencies by checking up on his visitors, bringing ice for the ice chests and making sure all is as it should be on board.