Scenes from Cypremort Point

When the Young Curmudgeon and I were in the planning process of our summer trip this year, we made the decision that after three nights in New Orleans we would move on to somewhere else.  At times, we would talk about staying somewhere in the heart of Cajun Country.  Other times, the desire to relax on a beach somewhere on the Gulf Coast took precedent.  Being the indecisive people that we are, we eventually talked about fitting in both.  Then I remembered a place I once visited briefly a long time ago in another life far, far away. 

So, I visited the Louisiana State Parks website and booked a night in a cabin at Cypremort Point State Park.    

Cypremort Point State Park is one of the rare places in Louisiana where you can actually drive to the Gulf of Mexico.  In fact, it’s the only spot in central Louisiana between Grand Isle and Cameron in the southwestern corner of the state.  With access to the ocean at Vermillion Bay, a massive marsh behind it and a half-mile stretch of beach, the park is perfectly situated for fishing, sailing, windsurfing, bird watching or – like the Young Curmudgeon and me – just getting away from civilization for a night. 

New Iberia is the nearest town of note, and that’s 30 minutes away.  From there, you meander down La. Hwy. 83 past sugarcane fields, bayou, marshland, and the entrance to the Weeks Island salt dome (you’ll see an ominous looking turnoff to a road that eventually takes you to some facilities operated by the Morton Salt Company) on a narrow road that looks like it hasn't been touched by a construction crew in 20 years.  When you reach La. Hwy 319, take a right, climb the massive bridge that carries you over the Intracoastal Waterway (that salt has to be shipped out of there somehow), and about five minute later you’ll see the park entrance on your right.       

Given the distance between you and civilization, you might want to pack some essentials and be prepared if you’re going to stay the night.  Fortunately, their idea of cabins at Cypremort Point is hardly roughing it.  The six cabins on site are actually two deluxe triplexes elevated above the marsh.  I’m sure it keeps the buildings dry and safe when the occasional hurricane blows in, and it provides stunning views of the surroundings.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Check out Cabin No. 1 where we stayed …

Here’s the fully equipped kitchen and dining area.  Use what you need, and wash before you leave.  I could have cooked a full meal here.  And judging by the fish cleaning station below our cabins, I imagine those who don’t grill outside take full advantage of the facilities inside.

This is the living room area, complete with a tired Young Curmudgeon.     

Here’s the main bedroom … make your own bed, then break down the bedding when you’re done and leave it for the staff to clean.

And here’s the second bedroom where I the Young Curmudgeon slept.  Actually, he could have chosen the sleeper sofa in the living room, but I think he just wanted to say I made him stay in a bunk bed. 

All of this for about $120 a night.  Seriously.  I immediately began wishing we’d booked this place for a week. 

And the best part is the view.  From the back of our cabin, you could look directly over the marshland …

And turn to your left to see where the marsh meets the gulf …

And this will give you an idea of our location relative to the other triplex.  We enjoyed watching our neighbors entice an alligator with marshmallows. 

Look closely to see the alligator's head.

From above, the marshy grasses may not look that tall, but this will give you an idea of what you’d face if you happened to walk into it.

On the other side of our triplex, you get the view of the park and the beach.

Of course, all of this looks even more spectacular if you happen to catch a nice sunset.

Speaking of the sunset, the Young Curmudgeon and I also took advantage of the beach to swim (mostly him), chill out (mostly me) and enjoy a nice Abita beer at dusk (definitely me). 

As I mentioned earlier, our neighbors had a visitor in the form of a marshmallow loving alligator.  We did not have experience anything that ferocious, but our cabin did get surrounded by an army of geckos as the night wore on. 

Geckos on the walls ...

Geckos on the screened-in porch ...

In the morning, as we packed for the next leg of our road trip, we got to experience another beautiful side of Mother Nature at the park when a storm blew in from the Gulf.  I wasn't crazy enough to take pictures in the downpour that followed, but this will give you an idea of what hit us … the point being that even this was cool to experience in this setting.  The only thing that wasn't cool about it was the lightning strike that was too close for comfort.  The cabins at Cypremort Point are easily the tallest buildings on the premises.

The fog was our first clue.

 

Yep, I think it's time to head toward home. 

As I alluded to earlier, if you’re looking for a place to get away from it all or to use as a starting point for exploring southern Louisiana, consider Cypremort Point State Park.  The facilities are very nice and clean, and if this is any indication of the Louisiana state park system as a whole, there are several other parks that rent cabins as well.  I’m certain I’ll be a repeat visitor.