Fontainebleau State Park

About Fontainebleau State Park

In 1852, the Marigny empires turned the area around Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans into a sugar plantation. The income from the plantation helped to maintain a lavish lifestyle, and the large estate of Fontainebleau was named after its owner, Jean-Baptiste de Fontaines, a wealthy businessman. Indeed, there was a sugar factory built in 1829, but the crumbling brick ruins are a reminder of their former glory.

The 2,800-hectare park is located on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain and on a clear day visitors can see colourful sailboats of all sizes and types on the lake. The sandy beaches are also a pleasure for sun-worshippers, as well as a number of other attractions such as the beach volleyball courts, a golf course and a swimming pool.

The old railway line that runs through the park has been converted into the Tammany Trace as part of the "Rails-to-Trails" programme and there are a number of wonderful routes for cycling, hiking and rollerblading, which prove to be a wonderful route for both cyclists and hikers.

The nature trails in the park are a favorite spot for nature lovers and the interpretation of the signs along the way will help you recognize many of your usual trees and shrubs. Always look out for birds and other animals - over 400 different species live in Fontainebleau and some of them are always on the lookout for you.

The Fontainebleau bird guide is an excellent resource for enthusiasts to identify the many bird species that occur in the area. The waters surrounding all three sides of Lake Pontchartrain (Bayou Cane, Bayou Castine and Bayou St. Bernard) offer birds a variety of habitats in an interplay of different ecosystems characterized by the presence of many different bird species and by the abundance of trees and shrubs.

Parking is closed on Saturdays and Sundays from 6: 00 am to 6: 30 pm and on Sundays from 9: 00 am to 5: 00 pm. There are improved campsites, picnic areas and better access to Pontchartrain Lake and the lake shore.

Adjacent landfills are also available, as is the access road to the adjacent landfill, which is also available as a parking lot for vehicles and as a picnic area for tents.

The park also offers group camps, and camp number 3, with 65 people, can accommodate up to four people in a single tent or two in two tents. For those who want to be a little more rugged, there are also 200 undesignated campsites, as well as a number of private campsites.

A nearby swimming pool is available for guests of the group camp and lodge, and there is a fishing pier for freshwater fishing within the camp.

The group camp has bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen, and the lodge has sleeping facilities.

Fontainebleau State Park Lodge is located on the west side of the park, a short walk from the campsite, and is an ideal base for exploring the parks.

The nearby boat ramp provides access to the park and Pontchartrain Lake, and scenic side roads lead to the nearby French Quarter. Visit the museum and enjoy a lively history programme, or stroll through the vaulted casemates and watch the Rigolets. This historic masonry was completed in 1811 to defend New Orleans against the French and Spanish during the American Civil War (1812-1813).

The New Orleans Museum of Natural History and the French Quarter Museum, both within the park itself and on the grounds of the museum itself.

St. Bernard State Park is located on the west side of the French Quarter, just north of New Orleans City Park, and features a large covered gazebo, picnic area, amphitheater, picnic tables and picnic areas, and playground.

The 1 km reconstruction of the rail track between Slidell and Abita Springs is open, and a 1.5 km path from the trailhead of St. Bernard State Park to Abbe Bebe Trace.

The State Museum is part of St. Bernard State Park and the only public museum in Louisiana and contains a collection of more than 1,000 objects from the history of Fontainebleau State Park.

Visitors can go fishing, go for walks in the nature, visit the shooting range and fish in the lake, as well as hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, boating or hiking.

This is one of the reasons why visitors return to Fontainebleau every year and the park covers an area of more than 1,000 hectares of land in the city of Mandeville. To reserve a campsite in State Park or any other park in New Orleans, call 1-877-CAMP-N-LA. The park's main entrance to the State Park and Recreation Center is southeast of Mandeville on US 190.