Wolf Rock
Wolf Rock Cave, where the infamous bandit John Murrell is said to have hidden out.

“No Man’s Land”

150 years ago Vernon Parish was on the American frontier. Today the outlaws may be gone, but in Vernon, their mythos lives on.

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“No Man’s Land”. This simple phrase, coined to define an expanse of unincorporated territory, has evolved, figuratively, over time, to refer to those places mysterious and unknown– calling to mind all things wild and lawless: quickdraw cowboys, perhaps; the plaintive howls of a coyote pack in the distance; bandits, and buccaneers.

That would have certainly been an apt description of Vernon Parish in the early 19th century. As one of seven westernmost Louisiana parishes that were part of the ungoverned “No Man’s Land” that formed the dividing line between the nascent United States and territory claimed by Mexico, Vernon Parish became a destination for delinquency.

Now, over 150 years later, the outlaws may be gone, but their mythos remains alive in the imaginations of visitors to Vernon Parish as they venture to explore Louisiana’s very own wild west! With both aquatic and dry-land options for sojourners to travel, “No Man’s Land” has something for every adventurer.

Now, over 150 years later, the outlaws may be gone, but their mythos remains alive in the imaginations of visitors to Vernon Parish as they venture to explore Louisiana’s very own wild west! With both aquatic and dryland options for sojourners to travel, “No Man’s Land” has something for every adventurer.

To imagine a pirate is to imagine a ship—a hook hand hoisting skulls and sails. However, not all scallywags were seafaring. “The Great Western Land Pirate,” as the infamous bandit John Murrell came to be known, is said to have hidden out in Wolf Rock Cave, just one of the many storied features of the Myths and Legends Byway.

This scenic byway can be traveled by road, utilizing several rural roadways, or by water, on The Ouiska Chitto River, (aka The Whiskey Chitto). Regardless of the method, the Myths and Legends byway offers a self-guided, day-long journey into the past that offers a captivating mix of real life and lore. Those up for an immersive challenge can follow in the bootsteps of treasure hunters and geo-cache for “Treasure Caches” along the byway.

Learn more at vernonparish.org/about-us/history.