Your 21 Favorite Stories of 2021
Movie Stars in Natchez, Aliens in Pascagoula, The Strange Case of Bobby Dunbar, Black Forest Cake, and a whole lot of travel
As we wrap up the 38th volume of Country Roads, we look back on twelve months of highs and lows, resilience and renewal in our region. It's a true privilege, this story collecting that we get to do—and the stories gathered during 2021 document a particularly mutli-faceted and evolving era in this remarkable place we call home.
But what stories did you, reader, engage with the most? According to good old Google Analytics, our readers this year loved mysteries: you contemplated the Strange Case of Bobby Dunbar, imagined the possibility of alien abductions, indulged in the haunting stories of a pauper's cemetery on the prairie, and (in the only 30 days since it's been on our website) rejoiced in the resolution of a decades-old mystery in Hattiesburg. Foodways took the cake, this year, too: from Shreveport's iconic Black Forest Cake to the small town intricacies of the Smoked Meat Capitol of the World. Together, we celebrated revitalization and new ideas in our cities, who are impressing the world with their cultural preservation efforts, their new industries, and their commitment to bon temps even in the hardest of times. But most of all, our readers sought adventure this year: traipsing through historic gardens, glamping in our state parks, exploring farther afield, and even mountain biking on the Northshore.
2021 was a year holding multitudes, and we are grateful to have been able to capture some of it in our pages. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to another year of looking even closer, discovering even more, with all of you.
If your favorite story didn't make this list, or you otherwise want to revisit our other stories from 2021 you can find our content all the way back to 2016 in our Issue Archive. If you'd like to continue to read these kinds of stories in 2022 (and beyond!), be sure to subscribe here. As always, thanks for reading!
21. The Secret Life of Beekeepers
Daring and a little dangerous, a profession in pursuit of gold
By Jason Vowell
20. Chef Shorty's Black Forest Cake
For over thirty years, Chef Shorty Lenard's nontraditional dessert reigned in North Louisiana
By Chris Jay
19. A New Era at Dunleith
Natchez’s signature mansion reopens, Castle and all.
18. The Krewe of House Floats
In true fashion, local creatives have come together to present the first ever Krewe of House Floats, an initiative that sets out to drape the Crescent City in whimsy, joy, and celebration despite all odds.
By Alexandra Kennon and Jordan LaHaye Fontenot
17. Saint Luc Immersion and Cultural Center
Mavis Frugé leads the charge for cultural revitalization in Acadiana
16. A Saintly Stay
The Hotel Saint Vincent melds Garden District history with vintage flair and contemporary opulence
15. Fear and Loathing on the Boudin Trail
Bridging the gap between the past and future of Louisiana’s favorite fast food
By Jason Vowell
14. My, Oh, My Monroe
The local’s travel guide to Northeast Louisiana’s best
13. A Hiker's Guide to Louisiana
Rugged hills and stunning vistas await
12. Around the World with Café du Monde
The New Orleans staple flavors Vietnamese iced coffee around the globe
11.Stories from the Hidden Cemetery
In Point Blue's pauper's graveyard, little legends live on.
10. The Mystery of Hattiesburg's Footprints, Solved
The untold history of the Mississippi freedman John Wesley Fairley
9. Biking the Bogue Chitto
The Northshore Off-Road Bicycling Association completes fourteen miles of mountain bike trails in Bogue Chitto State Park
8. The Pascagoula Alien Abduction
Nearly 50 years after becoming one of the most credible alien abductees in history, Calvin Parker shares his story
7. Old Mandeville, New Lens
From bikes to boats, two Southshore residents spend their first weekend in Old Mandeville.
6. 24 Hours in Jefferson
East Texas’s BnB Capital is one of its best kept secrets
5. Happy Glampers
Tentrr elevates the camping experience in Louisiana
4. The Kitchen Culture of Evangeline
Understanding the complicated culinary landscape of the Smoked Meat Capital
3. Five Historic Gardens to Visit This Spring
Gardens of the past and present bloom across Louisiana
2. The Strange Case of Bobby Dunbar
A missing child, replaced by another
By Terry Jones