RURAL LOUISIANA: The CRAZY Things I Saw

I took a drive through nearly forgotten central Louisiana. I visited these fading small towns:
Glenmora
Oakdale
Oberlin
Mamou
Ville Platte
Bunkie
Marksville

Travel Vlog 156

[chriskelly]

Growing up in a trailer park my mom once told me "just because we are poor doesn't mean we have to live like pigs ". My mom always kept the place clean.

[markallen]

I was young, dumb and broke and wound up in Lafayette, La. with a desire to work hard, get up before the sun and go down sometime after it sets. The Cajun people made sure I never went hungry or had to sleep out in the cold. After 6 years went by I was driving a fairly new Cadillac, living in a nice house along the coolie and was a superintendent for an oilfield service company. All in Breaux Bridge just outside of town. All bc they were good people and were willing to help their fellow brother.

[susievarnado]

Rural Louisiana is a place where if your down on your luck, you can live in a house trailer or shante with out being embarrassed and that’s a lot better than living on the streets in some big city.

[roseswallow]

I was raised in Louisiana, and until I was 7 yo, I lived in an alley. An alley was the poorest of the poor. My mother was wonderful and raised us to have manners and pride. She was legally blind and worked in a bar to support us, 4 children. She taught us the Golden Rule - Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do To you. Mamma, thank you for loving us and taking care of us. We were street kids, but we turned out fine. RIP my dear Momma. Rose Mary

[maryparsons]

I am from Louisiana and I love it. We care about our neighbors, and if you are hungry, we will feed you. We like seafood gumbo and homemade pies. We like boiled crawfish and fried catfish. We are Cajuns, Spanish, creoles, and black Americans. We get along just fine. I grew up in a 3-room house, with 1 sister and 3 brothers. My daddy was a WW2 veteran and my mother a baker. My daddy taught us how to hunt and fish. Yes, I got my first BB gun at 6 years old. I learned how to shoot a shotgun at 10. We had a simple life but it was a great life. We ate wild game and I loved it. I had a great childhood living free. Those were the good old days. We didn't care what our house looked like, but my mother kept it spotless. My dad taught us a lot and I miss them so much. I love Louisiana!!

[ourblazingworld]

Mamou is known for it's Mardi Gras celebration. The ride around on horses and collect chickens and other stuff to make gumbo. My Aunt married a Guidry and lived in Crowley; I loved going to visit her as a kid. Her husband was creole and loved hearing his french and his accent on english. He was a good man, they both were good people and I miss them.

[michaelbrower]

Most abandoned mobile homes are the aftermath of hurricanes. A lot of these rural towns that are depopulating were thriving before the interstate system was put in. Oil and gas industry is at a downturn due to various reasons causing some relocation. The Acadian region you are exploring is very strong in culture and heritage. Some of the best folks you'll ever meet.

[evelynfoster]

Can you imagine what the old houses would tell if they could talk ? I love old and small places. Thank you for sharing the area and small towns with us !!

[Bubba_Beer_Gut]

Working in New York and living in New Jersey makes me appreciate how quiet and empty some other parts of this country can be.

[yolandam]

I would love for you to interview people every now and then just to get a real feeling of what it's like to live in these towns

[k-huntk-hunt]

I liked the video because you said, " you can be poor, but still pick up your trash". Facts 💯

[mikejohn]

I remember in HS in the 1960s going to the theater downtown on a Saturday night with a beautiful girl at your side.
It was a rush posturing your arm closer and closer to her shoulder until contact was made and she remained in place as we watched "The Great Escape."
All three theaters closed their doors in my home town to be open no more to those teenage transforming years. It's a damn shame, gone forever.

[solarguy]

Was in the Air Force with a guy from Lafayette. Told me every time he drove his van to New Orleans, he would get pulled over and searched for drugs. He went to a sporting goods store and got two big stickers. One of a fish and one of a deer. Put them on his van and never got stopped again.

[Neilsowards]

I learn so much from the comments. Thanks to all the people who give history and personal experiences, so we can better understand the places.

[jlathem]

During the '70s and '80s, I traveled through many of those towns as a portrait photographer. There was a large percentage of the people there who had never traveled more than 30 miles away from their hometown. It was also a very different way of life.

[trixier]

How I miss the flatness, small houses, old gas stations, and vegetation along the Gulf Coast. I grew up in a small, Southern town and am sad to see that so many small towns are disappearing all over the country. Thank you very much for your documentation.

[u.s.militia]

I’m loving this video. It’s taking me back. Fully functioning Civil War cannons used to be a common sight in people’s front yards across the South in the early 1970’s. Also, before the interstate roads were built, all the “mom & pop” shops were open for business. We had no Walmart’s or McDonald’s & gasoline station attendants actually came to your car and checked your oil and water and filled your tank up with leaded gasoline. All the small towns had an ice cream stand too. We had cards on Saturday night with dad’s family and Sunday supper at mom’s family. I was very fortunate to have experienced it all.

[clarencephillips]

Louisiana is MY favorite Foreign country in the United States I Love it's hospitality it's people it's Food is out of sight MY First Love for 39 years and 10 months before She passed was for there what a Blessing.

[TheMechasmo-efue]

One thing you need to take in account when you're down in Louisiana is when you see something like that trailer being taken over by nature that's only about a month or two of growth in the summer. I giggled when you said it's been abandoned for a very long time. 😆

[kirk]

During Mardi Gras the Main Street is blocked off and the intersection by Fred’s Lounge is set up with a bandstand and there’s music and food on the streets! You should make a trip and video during Mardi Gras and really meet some crazy fun people and try the Cajun barbecue and gumbo, it’s awesome and exciting! I’m from Lake Charles and a bunch of friends, all get together and ride our Harley’s there for the fun, music and food! Thanks for sharing the video, brings back memories of the last time I was there and it’s been a while! Thanks