Lake Catherine

The Lake Catherine area of New Orleans East is one of the most unusual in a city full of unique places. Not only is it more open and less densely populated than other neighborhoods, but it also offers residents a rare look back in time to when dense marshes and cypress-filled swamps dominated the area. It's made up of three primary sections: Lake Catherine, Viavant-Venetian Isles and Village de l’Est. Each has its own charms and amenities, including raised homes, unique shopping spots and plenty of water activities. “Lake Catherine is really great for fishing. It’s a very shallow lake, only four or five feet deep, and it’s connected to the Gulf, so that’s very easy to reach,” says Realtor Christopher Bergeron with Atlas Real Estate Company. “Down Chef Menteur Highway are lots of camp homes on stilts, so water won’t get inside during storms. Many people come on the weekend to fish and boat, then go back home on Monday.”

Living in any of the three sections of the area provides residents with a laid-back lifestyle in a bedroom community. Lake Catherine, Viavant-Venetian Isles and Village de l’Est all have nautical neighborhoods where many people work in the fishing and shrimping industries, too. Major roadways like Interstates 10 and 510 and Highway 90 run through the area, making commutes into town convenient. Homes in the neighborhood are a wonderful mix of traditional and modern, with many having been built in the 1960s and 1970s. The further you get from town, the more you’ll see houses built on stilts to avoid flooding. You can find cottages, bungalows, camp styles, townhouses, Acadians, doubles and French Country homes along with custom-built constructions. Prices range from $150,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch-style residence to $825,000 for a new construction with four bedrooms and three baths.

Students in the area have their choice of public or charter schools. Edward Hynes Charter School has the best public elementary and middle school teachers in Louisiana according to Niche. Founded in 1952, it’s accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and specializes in French immersion, computer literacy, music, band and gifted arts and theatre. Mary Bethune Elementary School teaches prekindergarten through eighth grade and focuses on collaboration to encourage students to work together. Warren Easton Sr. High School was founded in 1843 as Boys High School. In 1913, it moved into its current building on Canal Street and by 1952, the school was co-ed. Today, the facility is known for its athletic programs like track, basketball, soccer and cross country.

One of the draws to living in Lake Catherine is the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge. This is one of the last remaining marsh areas around Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne. The wildlife haven is home to a wide variety of wildlife habitats including bottomland hardware forest, freshwater and brackish tidal marshes, lagoons and canals along with several hundred species of birds. The refuge is open for fishing, crabbing, hiking, paddling, bird watching and nature photography as well as waterfowl hunting, self-guided tours, and interpretive and educational programs. Open daily, the park occupies more than 27,000 acres and includes a ridge trail boardwalk, canoe launch, picnic pavilion and marsh overlook.

Following along US 90, also known as Chef Menteur Highway, will take you right to the door of Dong Phuong Bakery and Restaurant. This local landmark has been serving up amazing Vietnamese dishes for over 40 years and was one of the first Vietnamese eateries in New Orleans. The bakery supplies over 100 restaurants and markets with fresh bread each day, and its pistolettes have become famous as Bahn Mi or po’boy buns. Dong Phuong won the James Beard American Classic Award in 2018 and shows no signs of slowing down as they deliver locally and ship nationwide daily.

Filled with abundant natural beauty, unique shopping and dining and tons of outdoor recreation options, Lake Catherine is a friendly, semi-rural community found east of the city of New Orleans.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Chase Brock

Video By

Michael Voyack