Winnfield is quiet community among the Kisatchie National Forest
The small town of Winnfield was originally a prominent salt producer during the Civil War. Today, the community is known as “Home of Three Governors” for producing three of Louisiana’s political leaders and serves as the active seat of Winn Parish. Its location between dense, expansive patches of the Kisatchie National Forest removes the community from much noise. “We don’t have a lot of traffic like they do in the big towns,” says local Realtor Marlo McNaughton of Gold Key Realty. She was born and raised in Winnfield. “It just has that small-town feel. Everybody knows everybody.”
Historic Victorians and mid-century houses
Some of Winnfield’s earliest architecture includes intricate, sparsely dispersed Victorians that date back to the early 20th century. They come on the market much less than the community’s cottages, bungalows and ranch-style homes, which typically measure around or under 1,500 square feet. Homes near the community’s heart usually sit close to the street on modest, woodsy lots. The roads are relatively narrow and typically don’t have sidewalks. Homes offer more yard space outside the city limits, but these are harder to come by. “When people move out in the country here, they don’t leave,” McNaughton says. Many residents own a few acres of land. Homes can sell for around $28,000, often needing some repairs, to $320,000 for a move-in-ready home on a sizable tract of land.
Friday night lights at Winnfield Senior High School
The Winn Parish School System scores an overall C-plus on Niche and serves over 1,900 students. Winnfield Primary School and Winnfield Middle receive a B-minus, and Winnfield Senior High School has a C-plus. The high school offers several extracurricular activities and sports, ranging from choir and dance team to journalism and football. “Winnfield is all about Friday night football,” McNaughton says. “It’s a go-to for everybody. It’s kind of like a social event.”
Public parks and the expansive national forest
Several city-managed outdoor spaces gather residents for recreation. Grove Street Center has an indoor basketball court and outdoor facilities, such as baseball fields, tennis courts and a playground. There’s also a sizable space on Moss Street with more playscapes, plenty of green space and a couple of benches and picnic tables. The Pine Ridge Country Club, in the community’s southwest corner, operates a private nine-hole golf course that cuts through towering pines and around small ponds. Club membership allows access to a pool and tennis court.
Winnfield’s location near the Kisatchie National Forest encourages camping, hiking and fishing, and many residents enjoy recreation from the comfort of their own property. “A lot of people who live out in the rural areas have their own space for recreation,” McNaughton says. “People ride horses and four-wheelers.”
Shopping and dining options line Court and Lafayette Streets
Most of Winnfield’s commercial infrastructure lines West Court and East Lafayette Street. A small shopping center on West Court Street features Brookshire’s, where most locals grab groceries, and a Family Dollar and Nichols. A few businesses surround the shopping center, including fast-food spots like Sonic, a gas station and Dollar General. Mac’s Fresh Market offers an additional option for grocery shopping. A few locally owned restaurants bring folks together for dinner; Caddy Shack has seafood dinner platters with hushpuppies, fries and coleslaw. Embers Restaurant is a popular breakfast spot, but also serves lunch and dinner options until 8 p.m. daily. Winnfield also has a small downtown area with tightly-packed historic buildings kept alive by a couple of small businesses, like Vintage Belles Boutique.
Navigating Winn Parish
Residents mainly use cars to get around Winnfield. U.S. Routes 84 and 167 cut through the heart of the community, and commuters also have access to Louisiana Highways 34, 501 and 156. Winn Parish Medical Center serves as the community’s primary medical facility, which has grown steadily since its inception in 1948. Alexandria International Airport is around 55 miles away, and central Alexandria is a 50-mile trip.
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Written By
Brennen Martin
