Aviation and sawmill history shape Patterson, a Cajun Coast town
Patterson is a small town on the banks of southern Louisiana’s Bayou Teche, about 20 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. The St. Mary Parish community has roots in the lumber and aviation industries. It was once known as the “sawmill capital of the world,” as it was home to the F.B. Williams Cypress Company, which had the globe’s largest cypress sawmill. Aviation pioneers Jimmie Wedell and Harry Williams also hail from Patterson. The pair founded the Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation, advanced the technology of racing planes and helped bring aviation to the Deep South. The Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum showcases this history.
Today, this sleepy town on the Cajun Coast is known for its home-grown character and southern charm. “It’s a small, tight-knit, friendly community,” says Realtor Lori Broussard with Latter & Blum, who has sold many homes in the area. “They have the Cypress Sawmill Festival every year, which brings out a lot of the community and the Main Street Fall Festival, which has vendors and music to promote the businesses on Main Street.”
Outdoor spaces and museums highlight Patterson’s character
Kemper Williams Park is one of the area’s most popular outdoor spaces. It offers RV camping, picnic shelters, playgrounds, sports facilities and access to the Atchafalaya River for fishing and boating. The adjacent Atchafalaya Golf Course’s 18 holes are open for public play. Its clubhouse has a restaurant that serves Cajun cuisine, fun cocktails and more. By the bayou, Morey Park has a playground, scattered picnic tables and a floating dock. The split-focus Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum offers a glimpse into Patterson’s history, highlighting two industries that shaped the town’s identity. Its aviation collection tells the story of pilots Jimmie Wedell and Harry Williams, whose planes broke records and made the town an unlikely hub of innovation during the golden age of aviation. Visitors can view restored aircraft, historic photographs and exhibits that showcase the technical advances of the era. The Cypress Sawmill Collection catalogs Louisiana’s lumber industry with artifacts, tools and interactive displays. The nearby Patterson Civic Center is a venue for various events and celebrations.
Carnival rides, gumbo cook-offs and classic car shows
The Cypress Sawmill Festival is an annual three-day event at Kemper Williams Park. It celebrates the town’s history through exhibits on the lumber industry. The festival also includes a carnival, a classic car show, a softball tournament, live entertainment, a gumbo cook-off and more. The Main Street Fall Festival at Morey Park brings local vendors and performances, like a DJ and acts from local schools, to downtown Patterson.
Live oaks and pines shade modest homes near the water
Mature pine and live oak trees shade Patterson’s residential roads. Ranch-style homes and small cottages are common, and can range in price from $90,000 to $240,000, depending on size, age and condition. While the community is surrounded by water, Broussard notes it’s not much of an issue. “There are a few areas along the bayou considered flood zones,” she says. “But a lot of those homes are a good 50 to 60 feet from the water.” FEMA deems the area moderate- to low-risk for flooding.
Grocery stores and casual dining spots line local roads
Family Dollar, Dollar General and a Cypress Point Fresh Market grocery store sell everyday essentials. To dine out, Claudia’s Soul Food is popular, serving classic southern cuisine, like po'boys, chicken and waffles, cornbread and more. Black Kettle Cajun Meats & Market also specializes in Cajun classics, offering a variety of prepared and uncooked meats. Some well-known chains in town, like Pizza Hut and Sonic Drive-In, are also in town. For a larger concentration of shopping and dining options, Morgan City is about 7 miles away.
Students attend St. Mary Parish Public Schools
St. Mary Parish Public Schools serve Patterson. Students can attend Hattie A. Watts Elementary, which gets a B-plus from Niche, before Patterson Junior High, which gets a B-minus. They can graduate from Patterson High School, which earns a C-plus and offers dual enrollment courses with Louisiana State University.
U.S. Route 90 connects Patterson to major Louisiana cities
Patterson is car-dependent. U.S. Route 90 runs through the area and travels throughout southern Louisiana. It leads about 62 miles northwest to Lafayette and 90 miles east to New Orleans. Baton Rouge is about 70 miles north. In case of emergency, Ochsner St. Mary Hospital is about 8 miles east. For air travel, Lafayette Regional Airport is about 60 miles away, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is about 77 miles away and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is about 80 miles away.
![Adreanna DeMarino]()
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
