Reserve residents enjoy a slower-paced lifestyle
Resting along the Mississippi River just 30 miles from New Orleans, the small community of Reserve is a tad more reserved than its rowdy neighbor. A good time here might entail spending the day fishing or a night out at a church fish fry. Reserve’s 8,500 residents relish the slower-paced lifestyle and proximity to nature. “It’s a rural area. It’s quiet. That’s what people like about it,” says Richard Spears, a Realtor with Keller Williams First Choice, who’s been selling homes in the area for seven years. “It’s got that small-town community feel. That’s its biggest draw. Everybody knows everybody there. It’s the kind of place where people have lived for generations.”
The nearby chemical plants along the river provide plenty of job opportunities. However, the Environmental Protection Agency reports significantly higher rates of cancer in the area compared to the national average. “It’s a chemical plant community. The plants employ a lot of people,” says Spears, who lives 30 minutes from Reserve. “Everybody has heard about the increased cancer risks, but people don’t worry about it too much.”
Reserve offers lower price points
Homes in Reserve span from the 1920s to the modern day. There’s a wealth of vintage cottages and brick ranch houses, as well as newer Acadian-style homes. “You’re going to get a lot more land than in the cities. It’s also a lot cheaper,” Spears says. The median price point in Reserve is $150,000. In LaPlace it jumps to $200,000 and in Gonzales it jumps up to $225,000.”
A two-bedroom bungalow may cost $120,000, while a 5-bedroom could fetch $350,000.
Yaba’s Café is a local favorite for dining
For dining out, locals head to Rotolo’s Pizzeria on West Airline Highway for Detroit-style pies with a Creole twist. Yaba’s Café on Highway 44 features creative offerings like shrimp stuffed burgers.
A grocery run can be easily handled at Gregg’s Neighborhood Market and there’s a Walmart Supercenter 5 miles east on West Airline Highway in LaPlace.
Walk or bike along the Mississippi River Trail
Regala Park on Regala Park Road is where residents can watch their kids blow off steam on the playground, cheer on area Little League baseball teams or cool off in the pool in the warmer months. Runners and bikers appreciate that a portion of the paved 60-mile Mississippi River Trail runs through Reserve. And a 10-mile trip on Main Street will lead to the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area in LaPlace. This massive 112,000-acre nature preserve is a critical stop along the Mississippi Flyway, a migration route for millions of birds. In addition to birdwatching, popular pastimes at the preserve include kayaking, fishing and hiking the half-mile nature trail.
St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools students are tech-savvy
Public school students may attend Fifth Ward Elementary, East St. John Preparatory Academy for fifth through eighth grade and East St. John High School. Part of the St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools, the elementary and middle schools score D-plus Niche grades, while the high school garners a C-minus rating. As part of an effort to promote computer literacy and academic success, students at all three schools are provided with their own laptops that they’re allowed to bring home.
The River Parishes Community College’s Reserve Campus on Regala Park Road provides career training in multiple fields ranging from AC and refrigeration to medical coding.
Support the arts at St. John Theatre
For cultural happenings, the St. John Theatre been a community mainstay for more than 40 years. The parish-owned facility on West Fourth Street is the go-to spot to see plays and musicals performed by local thespians. Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church on Highway 44 hosts regular Friday night fish fries.
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Williams
