New Roads is Louisiana's "Little Carnival Capital" on the False River
New Roads is known as Louisiana’s “Little Carnival Capital” for its extensive Mardi Gras festivities, held since the late 1880s. The festivities draw thousands to the region, and many visitors enjoy the community’s access to the False River while in town. The combination of sights and sounds in New Roads led to the creation of a city slogan: “Come for the culture. Stay for the sunsets.” Many families have taken that advice to heart — and for a long time. “I’ve been here all my life, like my family has for 11 generations,” says Brian Costello, the historian at the Point Coupee Parish Library. “The community is small, so you have a lot of family and friends. Even people who move away come back for Mardi Gras and other festivals.” Tourism is an important industry, and so is agriculture. Eight major crops are grown in the region, with sugarcane and soybeans being the most prominent.
New Traditional and Acadian-style homes on the riverfront
New Traditional homes, traditional cottages and Acadian-style houses, with steep roofs and columns, can be found throughout the city. Location dictates the price of most properties. Homes along the False River can range from $600,000 to $1.75 million, while houses elsewhere commonly run from $110,000 to $400,000. “A lot of people have weekend homes on the river,” Costello says. “They enjoy the aquatic sports and the Mardi Gras celebrations.” The residential asphalt streets are often narrow, and some near the region’s commercial area have sidewalks. Yards can feature several medium or large trees and smaller bushes.
Livonia High students can choose a learning pathway
Students are zoned for the Pointe Coupee Parish School System. Those in kindergarten through sixth grade can attend Rosenwald Elementary School, which has a C Niche rating. Livonia High School, for grades 7-12, offers learning pathways like manufacturing, health sciences and digital design. It earns a B-minus score.
The state’s LA GATOR Scholarship Program gives education scholarship accounts to eligible families, who then receive funds to use on private school tuition and other expenses. Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee, a private 7-12 academy, holds a B-plus grade.
Fishing and boating on the False River, plus sports facilities
Residents fish in False River from the banks and on the water. Largemouth bass and crappie are among the most common catches. Boating and water skiing are also popular, and Morrison Park offers a free public boat launch. False River Park has baseball and softball diamonds, basketball and tennis courts, multi-use fields, swings and a slide. It sits near the Pointe Coupee Parish Multi-Use Facility, which hosts rodeo events and horse shows. Community Park features a splash pad, a playground and a walking path. Several churches, including St. Mary of False River, sit along Main Street.
Restaurants offers waterfront views and real Cajun flavors
Most restaurants sit near the intersection of Main and New Roads streets, or along Louisiana Highway 1. Morel’s Restaurant, open since 1926, offers upscale dining and has a waterfront view. Ma Mama’s Kitchen mixes Cajun cuisine with the atmosphere of a French bistro. Southern Chicks Cafe & Daiquiris has a drive-through and a sit-down area, and rotates through daily lunch specials. The community has Walmart and Super 1 Foods locations, and Dollar General is in nearby Ventress.
The community goes all-out for Mardi Gras and an annual fall festival
The annual Harvest Festival on False River showcases the area’s agriculture. The three-day fall event features carnival rides, live music and local vendors. The community also celebrates throughout the Mardi Gras season. The Chemin Neuf Mardi Gras Festival features family-friendly games and activities, food vendors and live music, plus the Sweet Pecan Challenge, a baking competition. Several parades are thrown, including a night parade with illuminated floats.
Access to Highway 10, but flooding is a possibility
Costello says the community is protected from major flooding by the Morganza Floodway, though during hurricanes or periods of heavy rain, homes toward the southern end of the community can see their yards go underwater.
Louisiana Highway 1 cuts through the western half of the community, eventually becoming Highway 10 and acting as a regional northern border before heading east. Costello says most highways in the region are two-lane roads. A railroad runs through the center of town, south of Parent Street and Railroad Avenue. Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is close to a 30-mile drive, and Downtown Baton Rouge is around 35 miles away. The area’s Pointe Coupee General Hospital has served patients since 1969 and has a 24-hour emergency room.
