Fontainebleau State Park - Mandeville, Louisiana

Address:62883 Hwy. 1089
Mandeville, Louisiana
Tel: (504) 624-4443

Named for the beautiful forest that served as the vacation getaway for French royalty, Fontainebleau State Park's history is only matched by its natural beauty. The parkland used to be a sugar plantation, and still houses the remains of a sugar mill, built back in 1852. Located on the shore of Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain and bordered on two other sides by the Bayou, this Park boasts both sandy beaches and nature trails, which are home to over 400 different species of birds and other animals, due to its expansive ecosystem. To top it off, the park has warm weather throughout the year and so is a great spot for camping, swimming, and boating – it's a true vacation!

The crumbling brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829 by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville, founder of the nearby town of Mandeville, suggest an interesting history for this site, and indeed there is. The wealthy Marigny developed this area across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans as a sugar plantation until 1852. The plantation income helped support his lavish lifestyle. He named his large land holding Fontainebleau after the beautiful forest near Paris, a favorite recreation area of the French kings. The 2,800-acre park is located on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. On a clear day, visitors can see the lake dotted with multi-colored sailboats of all sizes and types. The sandy beach also is a delight for sunbathers. An old railroad track that runs through the park has been converted into the Tammany Trace as a part of the Rails to Trails program. It is a wonderful route for cycling, hiking and in-line skating. The park's nature trail is a favorite of nature lovers. Interpretive signs along the trail will help you identify many of the common trees and shrubs. Always be on the lookout for birds and other animals. Over 400 different species live in and around Fontainebleau. The Fontainebleau Birding Guide is a good resource for enthusiasts to identify the numerous species of birds found in the area. Bordered on three sides by water--Lake Pontchartrain, Bayou Cane and Bayou Castine--and characterized by a convergence of diverse ecosystems, it has a multitude of habitats for birds.