Into the Woods
Cooler nights and low rainfall make fall a great time to consider a family camping excursion. While the weather allows, seize the day on Anacoco Lake. Or plan a hike in the Kisatchie National Forest, whose name was derived from a tribe of Kichai Indians of the Caddo Confederacy, who called themselves “Kitsatchie,” which means “reed river” in Choctaw. While there, don’t miss visiting Wolf Rock Cave, which archaeological evidence suggests sheltered both Native Americans and, later, fleeing outlaws. The stunning woodlands that surround it should be showing plenty of fall color by mid-October.
Miles Partnership Courtesy of Louisiana Travel
Exploring Wolf Rock Cave
The Kisatchie National Forest is the largest in Louisiana. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries has organized it into five controlled areas known as Ranger Districts, which encompass more than 604,000 acres scattered across seven parishes. The network of scenic byways that meanders through Vernon Parish make this region a biker’s haven for weekend pedalers.
On the Water
Anacoco is a word in the indigenous Caddo language that means “muddy sands.” Anacoco Reservoir was created by the impoundment of Anacoco Creek, Caney Creek, Prairie Creek, and Sandy Creek. The result: a little-known 2,400-acre lake with twenty-one miles of wooded shoreline that provide great habitat for fish species including largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. Off the water, Anacoco’s wooded shores and coves provide much to discover for recreational fishers, boaters, and campers, too. There are public landings and a good access at Leesville’s Methodist Landing Recreational Park, which offers pay-per-use access to the lake, and serviced campsites, too. So bring your tents but not your RV’s, although Vernon offers plenty of facilities for RV travelers as well.
Sunset over Vernon Lake
Birds of a Feather
• Birders keen to track the progress of migrant species moving south for winter will find that Vernon Parish harbors a host of woodland and shoreline habitats to explore. Visit LegendCountry.com/Birding for a list of popular birding sites. There’s also a downloadable Birding Guide to help with identifying resident and visiting species, so bring your binoculars!
Pretty Pebbles
Amateur rock hounds will be interested to learn that Vernon Parish hosts a renowned deposit of rare sandstone opal. And while a mine established to extract the precious stone only operated briefly, amateur geologists still find smaller deposits of Louisiana opals along the Sabine River and in the Toro Bayou area. For amateur geologists, finds of agate (the Louisiana state mineral), jasper, petrified wood and other interesting pebbles are common here. Check out vernonparish.org/article/vernon-voyager-rock to learn more.
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In Vernon parish, finds of Louisiana agate are not unusual along the course of the Sabine River.
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In tiny Pitkin, Louisiana, Allen Acres welcomes bed and breakfast guests to a 26-acre property that is a haven for butterflies, birds, native plants … and nature lovers, too.
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The garden and signage at Allen Acres
Angels’ Wings
• Those with a penchant for Lepidopterology should plan a pilgrimage to Allen Acres Bed & Breakfast—a 26-acre wooded paradise and native sanctuary where plants chosen to attract butterflies, moths and hummingbirds are nurtured by Dr. Charles Allen, an accomplished authority on the native plants of Louisiana. Dr. Allen leads plant I.D. classes including basic, wetland plants, edible plants, and graminoids; and offers bed and breakfast accommodation that will go straight to the hearts of gardeners and butterfly lovers everywhere.
Messing About in Boats
• If paddling under your own power is what floats your boat, Tack-a-Paw Expeditions Outpost is an outfitter and guide service situated on Toro Bayou with access to more than 70 miles of streams and rivers. Tack-a-Paw’s knowledgeable guides can arrange float trips from 2 hours to several days of canoeing and camping for paddlers from beginner to expert.
Burr’s Ferry - A Historic Crossing
• The geographical and legal peculiarity known as the Neutral Zone or No-Man’s Land led converging cow-paths from the west of Texas to one of the few crossings where cattle being driven between Texas and Louisiana along the “Old Beef Road” could cross the Sabine River. That place was Burr’s Ferry. During the Civil War, to protect Texas from invasion a “tête du pont” breastworks was built here. Today, these earthworks are some of the few remaining earthen fortifications in Louisiana, and Vernon Parish’s only Civil War site. Visit LegendCountry.com/BurrFerry to learn more.
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Leesville Art Park
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Signage at the Art Park
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West Louisiana Museum
Take a Break for Art
Art buffs in search of visual candy will find a wide range of contemporary sculptural pieces at the Leesville Art Park . For visitors more interested in figurative expression, during World War II, two German officers during World War II were detained at a Leesville hotel as they awaited formal accusation and processing at the military base then known as Fort Polk. While they waited, the prisoners of war painted murals on the hotel walls depicting scenes from their homeland that speak of homesickness, uncertainty, and longing. When the hotel was renovated the murals were removed and preserved at Leesville’s Museum of West Louisiana, which is scheduled to reopen following renovations later this fall.
Photos by Rickie Smith - High Octane Images
Tanks and other fighting vehicles on display at the Fort Polk/Fort Johnson Military Museum
Fort Johnson Military Museum
On the grounds of Fort Johnson (formerly Fort Polk), the 3,600-square-foot Fort Johnson Military Museum exhibits artifacts and interprets the historic contributions of the U.S. Army presence in Vernon Parish from 1940 to the present day. Interpretive exhibits and historical artifacts including weapons, uniforms, military vehicles, and training aids introduce visitors to the pivotal role Fort Johnson has played in preparing the Army for combat. The museum and adjacent Warrior Memorial Park offer self-guided tours; guided tours are also available. Admission is free. vernonparish.org/listing/fort-polk-military-museum
From hikers to birders to history buffs, there’s so much to discover in Louisiana Legend Country. Visit legendcountry.com to get started.
