From historic museums exploring everything from our musical or spiritual heritage to how food gets to your table, along with outdoors from hiking greens to golfing greens, and shopping authentic main streets and arts, boutiques, antiques and uniques as well as a beautiful, cultural drive along our Zydeco Cajun Prairie Byway, enjoy the attractions of Acadia, Cajun Harvest Country.
David E. Lyons, the “Amusement King,” built the Grand Opera House in 1901 and brought many successful plays and shows to Crowley. After Lyons’ death in 1940, the theatre closed and became a hardware store. In 1999, the building was purchased and completely restored by L.J. Gielen who then donated the entire 33,000-square-foot building to the nonprofit organization, the Grand Opera House of the South. It has been in operation since 2008 as a performing arts venue.
Check the Grand Opera House of the South’s website for a calendar of musical and theatre performances. Tours available by appointment only. Event hosting available.
Mon-Fri 8:00am-12:00pm, or by appointment.
The Theatre was constructed in the 1940s and later sold to the City of Crowley in 1986. Today, the Historic Rice Theatre hosts various community events as well as musical and theatrical performances. Tours available by appointment.
Contact: City of Crowley 337-783-0824
Le Vieux Dépot was built in 1907 when the Opelousas, Gulf, and Northeastern Railroad was created. Having served as a passenger depot and freight platform for over 70 years, the Dépot was purchased and preserved by the town and is open to the public. Community events are held there, including the Artisans’ Market which takes places on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
Gravesite of Charlene Richard, “the little Cajun Saint.”
Charlene was born January 13, 1947. After being diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia, she died on August 11, 1959, at the age of 12. During her confinement in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana, Charlene would offer her prayers and suffering to God each day for the benefit of others.
“She was a faith-filled little girl,” said Fr Joseph Brennan, a priest for the Diocese of Lafayette, who was serving as hospital chaplain and ministered to Charlene during her final days.
Charlene Richard is well on her way to achieving sainthood as a result of the many who believe to have witnessed miracles after praying for Charlene’s intercession. Every year, pilgrimages are made to her gravesite by those who believe that she might heal them.
The museum houses a wealth of information on the German families who settled in Acadia, their culture and traditions, and how their lives in the Cove were affected by historic events, like World War II. Additionally, the Roberts Cove German Heritage Museum is a wonderful resource for genealogists or anyone seeking information on the area’s early settlers.
Open every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00am to 12:00pm, or by appointment.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertsCoveGermanHeritageMuseum
St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Rayne is believed to be the only Christian cemetery in the United States where the graves face North to South, rather than the typical South to North. For this strange characteristic, the St. Joseph’s Cemetery has been featured in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” and has earned the nickname “Wrong Way Cemetery.”