Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway
The Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway pays tribute to the music of south Louisiana, touching many iconic music spots while ambling through serene, rolling prairies. Crawfish farms, sweet potato fields and pastures where beef cattle and saddle horses graze are just a few of the features on this byway. A ride along this byway also illustrates why Louisiana is well-known for its many festivals. The towns along the route hold celebrations to honor everything from cotton to cracklins. The byway consists of three loops and a spur, so visitors have their choice of routes.
Mamou calls itself the “Cajun Music Capital of the World” and holds a music festival each fall. A must see, Fred’s Lounge, where Cajun music and dancing are a Saturday morning ritual. In nearby Pine Prairie, Guillory’s Grocery and Specialty Meats produces cracklins and locally made sausages. This loop ends in Ville Platte, home to the 6,400-acre Chicot State Park, with its playground, swimming pool, fishing and boating facilities, and the Louisiana State Arboretum. Discover hundreds of indigenous plants, from sycamores to orchids, along with white-tailed deer, wild turkey and many types of birds.
This loop begins in Eunice, home to the Cajun French Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Then, you move into one of Louisiana’s prime rice-growing areas, Crowley, home to the Historic Rice Theatre and Rice Interpretive Center, an auto museum and the J.D. Miller Music Museum.
Few towns contain as many historic structures as Washington, where 80 percent of the town’s buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. For most of the 19th century, Washington was the largest inland port between New Orleans and St. Louis. Buildings like the Steamboat Warehouse, which is now a restaurant, recall the town’s prominent past. Another beautiful stop along this loop is Grand Coteau, founded in 1776 and known for its live oak allées and the historic Academy of the Sacred Heart. This loop ends in Opelousas, the birthplace of musician Clifton Chenier and considered by many to be the home of zydeco. Locals like to eat at Chicory's at The Palace Café, a simple eatery in business since 1927. Try the chicken-fried steak or anything crawfish.
This short spur takes you through Palmetto – home of Budden’s General Store, which opened in 1934 – on the way to Krotz Springs, a former sawmill town.
FIND MORE INFORMATION:
St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission
Acadia Parish Tourist Commission
Evangeline Parish Tourist Commission
Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway Attractions
Downtown Eunice
Known as the Prairie Cajun Capital of Louisiana, Eunice is home of the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center, Cajun Hall of Fame & Museum, Liberty Theatre and a world-famous crawfish étouffée cookoff.
Eunice, LA 70535
Crooked Creek Recreation Area
This beautiful park includes a 400-acre lake, cabins, wilderness camping area, nature trail, group shelter with camper hookups, shaded tent area, swimming areas with a sand beach and a dock with boat launch.
Ville Platte, LA 70586
Chicot State Park
This park boasts hiking trails, boating opportunities, primitive campgrounds and camper hookups, as well as cabins, lodges and a group camp for rent. It's also home to the Louisiana State Arboretum.
Ville Platte, LA 70586
Louisiana Swamp Pop Museum
Step back in time to the 1950s and ‘60s and experience the sounds of swamp pop music, born on the bayous and prairies of Ville Platte. See the Swamp Pop Wall of Fame and listen to songs by Warren Storm, Johnnie Allen, Tommy McLain, Dale and Grace, Rod Bernard and many more.
Ville Platte, LA 70586
Fred's Lounge
Stop in on a Saturday for a Cajun treat. A place where people from all over the world meet to hear Cajun zydeco music, sip a few brews and dance, dance, dance!
Mamou, LA 70554
Kelly's Landing Agricultural Museum & Agri Tours
Browse through Kelly’s extensive and eclectic collection of old farm memorabilia. Marvel at one man’s love of farming that turned into the hobby of a lifetime.
Crowley, LA 70526
Crowley Motor Company/City Hall
One of 1,000 Ford Motor Company dealerships constructed in the U.S. with only a few remaining today, the building is home to City Hall and four museums—the Rice Interpretive Center, the History of Crowley, J. D. Miller Music Recording Studio and Ford Automotive Museum.
Crowley, LA 70526
Frosto
Located in the heart of the historical district in Crowley, Frosto is a 50's style diner serving the best tasting old-fashioned hamburger in town. Have a delicious malt, shake, or one of many other desserts all made from scratch.
Crowley, LA 70526
St. Joseph's Cemetery
The cemetery dates back to 1872. St. Joseph's Cemetery, listed in "Ripley's Believe it or Not!" as the only known U.S. cemetery facing North-South. But this is only the beginning, and to learn more, you've just got to come visit.
Rayne, LA 70578
Candyland Cottage & Ice Cream Shoppe
A friendly, old–fashioned candy store atmosphere featuring homemade ice cream, creamy fudge, gourmet drinks, bulk and boxed candies, gift baskets, party platters, and other delicious treats.
Scott, LA 70583
Le Vieux Moulin Fine Arts & Gift Shop
This unique purple shop consists of gifts, art, music, clocks, jewelry, Cajun Mardi Gras costumes, custom framing and much more. Clocks of all types are built and repaired here, which is almost a lost art. Learn about the area’s French culture, sing a few songs and tell a few jokes. You will feel like family. Open by appointment only. Call ahead.
Church Point, LA 70525
Le Vieux Village and Louisiana Orphan Train Museum
This re-created village is home to the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum, which tells the history of the young riders who came to Louisiana from the New York Foundling Hospital between 1854 and 1929.
Opelousas, LA 70570
St. Landry Parish Visitor Center
This environmentally sustainable visitor center features reclaimed materials, energy efficient methods, native landscaping with year-round blooms and plants, and various conservation practices.
Opelousas, LA 70570
Budden's Store
Established in 1934, this general store retains the character of Palmetto’s early days when it was the trade center for the surrounding agricultural area. Ici on parle français. French is spoken here, as well as English.
Palmetto, LA 71358
Louisiana State Arboretum
Located within Chicot State Park, the state's official arboretum is home to 600-plus acres of lush local flora. Walk the trails winding through the preserve's diverse topography, and take some time to visit the informative, entertaining museum displays at the visitor center.
Ville Platte, LA 70586
Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Cajun French Music Association's mission is to preserve Cajun music and Cajun heritage. Its hall of fame is a who's-who of performers and songwriters.
Eunice, LA 70535
Liberty Theater
The Liberty Theatre is an icon of historical Louisiana venues. Located in downtown Eunice, the Liberty is not only a concert hall, but also the setting for a popular radio and TV show, Rendez-Vous des Cajuns (commonly referred to at the "Cajun Grand Ole Opry"). Under renovation and expected to re-open in 2023.
Eunice, LA 70535
Prairie Acadian Cultural Center
Learn about the lives of the Prairie Cajuns through ranger programs, exhibits, artifacts and films at this National Park Service site.
Eunice, LA 70535
Historic Rice Theatre
The Rice Theatre is a 1930s-era Art Deco venue that features events from both local and national performers.
Crowley, LA 70526
Rice Interpretive Center
Located inside the Crowley Motor Company building, the Rice Interpretive Center is home to exhibits on the history of rice production in the region — a significant economic engine that's central to the culture of the Crowley community.
Crowley, LA 70526
J.D. Miller Music Museum
The J.D. Miller Recording Studio, housed in the Crowley Motor Company building, is the oldest recording studio in continuous existence in Louisiana, where numerous Zydeco and Cajun albums were recorded.
Crowley, LA 70526
Vieux Presbytere Museum
Vieux Presbytere Museum is a Catholic parsonage, constructed in 1887 and restored to its original configuration. Located in Church Point, it's a centerpiece of the surrounding community.
Church Point, LA 70525
Creole Heritage Folklife Center
Acadiana's African American heritage is honored at the Creole Heritage Folklife Center, where the public can learn about Creole culture through educational programs. Stop by the on-site gift shop to pick up some one-of-a-kind Louisiana souvenirs.
Opelousas, LA 70570