Kaplan offers more than just farming in Acadiana
Deep in Acadiana, the small town of Kaplan is about 45 minutes from Lafayette , the unofficial capital of Cajun country. Louisiana's official state capital, Baton Rouge , is about an hour farther. Traditionally, the area around Kaplan has been dominated by agriculture, and rice fields and crawfish farms still surround the town. “They’re a really rural, country community,” says Jessica Lafitte Landry, a Realtor with NextHome Cutting Edge Realty who has worked in local real estate for eight years. These days, Kaplan is more than farmland. “A big factor is school districts. A lot of people move to certain areas for the school district,” Landry says. A hospital in the Ochsner Health System attracts people to the area, and a number of music and food festivals pull in visitors from around the region.
Homes range from cottages to Acadian and Victorian-style builds
Power lines run along the narrow, gridded streets in town. Mature oaks shade modest front yards, while cars park in driveways and under carports. Outside the gridded sections of town, lots get larger and homes have more room to spread out. Fixer-uppers and smaller cottages can sell for $20,000 to $80,000. Ranch and Acadian-style houses go from $110,000 to $200,000, while larger properties and Victorian homes sell for $250,000 to $340,000.
Well-regarded Vermilion Parish schools
The Vermilion Parish School System receives a B-plus overall grade from Niche. Students can attend Kaplan Elementary, Rene A. Rost Middle and Kaplan High. The elementary and high schools each get an A-minus grade, while Rost Middle receives a B-plus rating. Kaplan High offers clubs and honor societies for students, including Beta, Future Farmers of America and Key Club.
Cultural events include concerts and Food Fest
“Culture, heritage, music and food are huge,” Landry says, “so people will drive there for specific foods or festivals.” The Kaplan Chamber of Commerce puts on the free Boogie in the Park concert series, and local artists play weekly shows at Turnley Park in the spring and fall. Other popular events include the annual Mardi Gras parade and the Louisiana Cajun Food Fest, which draws visitors from across the state.
Parks in town and recreation in the region nearby
Kaplan has several baseball and softball fields clustered on the city's west side, where youth and adult sports leagues play year-round. The fields were renovated throughout the 2010s, adding new dugouts and lights. Adjacent to the ballfields, West Side Memorial Children’s Park offers a playground and picnic tables. City Park, on the east side of the community, has a playground, a basketball court and a picnic pavilion. For more outdoor recreation, residents can head 17 miles to Palmetto Island State Park, which offers plenty of kayaking, boating and canoeing, plus RV campsites and a visitor center. “There’s a ton of duck hunting, especially in the marshes there,” Landry says.
Shopping and dining on Cushing Avenue and Highway 14
The main commercial drag in Kaplan is Cushing Avenue, with parking spots lining both sides of the road. Some storefronts are empty, but locally owned businesses still call many of them home. Drip Coffee House is a modern spot for breakfast and beverages, and B’s Wild Wings Bar B Que serves pub fare and Cajun favorites. Highway 14 has fast-food options and stores like CVS and Dollar General. Locals find groceries at Lyons Market or Larry’s Super Foods. More shopping options, including a Walmart, are in Abbeville .
Employers in town and commutes to Lafayette
Louisiana Highway 14 leads 10 miles east to Abbeville, and Lafayette is about 30 miles away. Agriculture is the largest industry in the region, but some residents commute to the larger cities for work. The nearest commercial flights are at Lafayette Regional Airport, which serves several hubs. Ochsner Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital has an emergency room and other services within the community.
Home insurance is challenging issue in the area
Parts of Kaplan are within a FEMA-designated special flood hazard area. Homeowners in this area are required to have flood insurance. However, home insurance has become a pressing topic throughout the region, even for those outside flood zones. Insurance companies have raised rates due to the increased risk of hurricanes and other flooding events. “As far south as they are, that area does struggle with home insurance premiums as well as flood insurance rates,” Landry says.
