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<\/a><\/p>\nLeesville, the parish seat of Vernon Parish, has a population of slightly more than 6,000. It\u2019s probably best known as the site where Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center are located. One of the town\u2019s mottos is \u201cThe Best Little Army Town.\u201d Leesville, and surrounding areas, often become home for military families once their work at Fork Polk is done.<\/p>\n
Because it\u2019s located in such close proximity to a large military base, Leesville strives to offer all the amenities of a large community while at the same time continuing its traditions of community friendliness.<\/p>\n
Leesville prides itself on having some of the finest outdoor recreational opportunities in a state that\u2019s known for outdoor activities. As we\u2019ll see, the Leesville downtown offers options for shopping, dining and regional art as well as a number of local watering holes.<\/p>\n
Since its beginning, the Friends of Leesville Main Street have been a key force in efforts to revitalize Leesville\u2019s historic downtown. The group places a particular emphasis on the Leesville Main Street Cultural District, which is, as we will see, the center of much artistic activity in Vernon Parish. (See the Leesville Main Street Facebook page for extensive, up-to-date information.)<\/p>\n
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Cuisine And Art<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Leesville\u2019s strong suit in dining is southern cuisine. Crawfish, deer sausage, hush-puppies and fried catfish are local favorites. At specialty eateries, highly trained and experienced chefs create \u201cconcoctions\u201d that are designed to please the adventurous palette.<\/p>\n There are more than 50 dining establishments in Vernon Parish.<\/p>\n In addition to seafood and steak restaurants, there are venues that feature Mexican, Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisines.<\/p>\n It\u2019s clear that the movers and shakers of Leesville are serious about the downtown\u2019s Historic District. Boutiques and other locally owned stores are enthusiastically promoted.<\/p>\n The display of regional art (particularly from Vernon Parish) is obviously a priority. Each of the venues listed below displays regional art:<\/p>\n \u2014 Leesville Cafe at 114 East Third St. Works on display are for sale. For more information, visit the caf\u00e9\u2019s Facebook page.<\/p>\n \u2014 Gallery One Ellleven at 111 South Third St. also offers art classes. Read more in the Events section. The gallery also holds competitions for local artists. For more info, visit galleryoneellleven.org.<\/p>\n \u2014 Oak Pointe Aesthetics at 800 South Third St. Learn more at oakpointewellnesscenter.com.<\/p>\n \u2014 Sweet Thing Bakeshop at 203 East Lee St.<\/p>\n Art Events in the Cultural District include Spring and Fall Art Walks and the 2nd Saturdays series.<\/p>\n The Vernon Arts Council sponsors performances of opera, ballet, stage plays and national tours.<\/p>\n Community groups, such as the Vernon Parish Community Choir and the Vernon Parish Community Orchestra, perform several concerts throughout the year. And the Vernon Parish Library\u2019s Musical Odyssey Series features musical performances year-round.<\/p>\n he Showboat Theatre at Fort Polk has hosted such big names as Charlie Daniels. The Showboat, which is bolstered by a large and active volunteer theater community, schedules four productions each year. Dinner shows are one of the performance options.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Festivals And Parks<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Like most southern parishes, Vernon Parish has festivals and parades throughout the year. Probably the best known is Mayfest, a huge arts and crafts festival that\u2019s complemented by regional food and music.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also the West Louisiana Forestry Festival and Rodeo, Cajun Fest, Fall Fest, Heritage Day, Party in the Park, the Spring and Fall Artwalks, Slagle Trade Days, Bluegrass Festival, Camp \u2018N Jam Week, the annual Mardi Gras Parade and Ball, Roses-in-the-Pines, the Christmas Parade and the Rodeo Parade.<\/p>\n The area is unusually rich in parks. In addition to the well-known and much-frequented South Toledo Bend State Park, there are the Liberty Garden, Dogwood Park, Leesville City Park, Myrtle Park, Magnolia Park, Anacoco Spillway Park, Covered Wagon Park and other park areas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n OUTDOOR RECREATION<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Vernon Parish is one of several places in Southwest Louisiana that refers to itself as a \u201csportsman\u2019s paradise.\u201d Let\u2019s see just why it makes this claim.<\/p>\n For fishers, there is, of course, the 65-mile-long Toledo Bend Reservoir. Toledo Bend is the site of a number of fishing tournaments.<\/p>\n There are also the Anacoco and Vernon Lakes. Frequently caught fish include bass, white perch, bream and catfish.<\/p>\n A number of campgrounds provide for fishers who want to stick around a while.<\/p>\n For more in the way of outdoor recreation, Tack-a-Paw Expeditions offers canoeing along Toro Bayou and the Sabine River.<\/p>\n A very unusual aspect of Vernon Parish recreation is the impressive variety of outdoor trails designed for various recreational groups. The list includes:<\/p>\n \u2014 Big Branch Trail (for horse riders, hikers and bikers)<\/p>\n \u2014 Ouiska Chitto Trail (for horse riders, hikers, bikers)<\/p>\n \u2014 Enduro Trail (for motorcyclists, off-road vehicles, horse riders, hikers, bikers)<\/p>\n \u2014 Fullerton Mill Trail (for hikers and bikers; note the interpretive historic bulletin board that includes current information)<\/p>\n \u2014 Ol\u2019 Sarge Trail (for hikers; numerous interpretive signs describe the many species of native plants)<\/p>\n \u2014 Turkey Pen Trail (hikers, bikers, horse riders).<\/p>\n In addition to all these are the walking paths that can be found at several Vernon Parish parks.<\/p>\n Hunters can explore three wildlife management areas in Vernon Parish. They\u2019ll find white tail deer, squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, ducks and other wild game.<\/p>\n Golf enthusiasts can play on the nine-hole Leesville Municipal Course, the 18-hole Warrior Hills Golf Course at Fort Polk and the fairways of nearby Emerald Hills and Cypress Bend Golf Courses.<\/p>\n There are several tennis courts in the parish.<\/p>\n Finally, a new Frisbee-golf course has been added to Myrtle Park.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n For those who like to take the trip-planning or sight-seeing options, these attractions are frequently mentioned by visitors to the area.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. The Museum of West Louisiana, which is located in the former Kansas City Southern Railway Depot on 3rd Street in Leesville, displays archaeological artifacts, logging implements, railroad memorabilia and other historical items. The museum is a short stroll away from downtown Leesville along the railroad tracks.<\/p>\n The museum tour is self-guided; however an attendant is on hand to answer any questions. Admission to this historical site is free.<\/p>\n 2. The Fort Polk Military Museum features exhibits that cover major historical events ranging from the American Revolution to Desert Storm.<\/p>\n 3. Kisatchie National Forest is popular with bird watchers. Those truly devoted to the hobby can look forward to catching a glimpse of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. Nature lovers can hike the low-land bogs, where they can observe the wild orchids and pitcher plants.<\/p>\n 4. The Burr Ferry Breastworks is one of the best preserved Civil War ground works. (See the description in the History section.)<\/p>\n 5. The Fullerton Mill Site in the Kisatchie National Forest is on the National Register of Historic Places. It contains foundations and other ruins of what was once one of the largest sawmill operations in the South.<\/p>\n 6. The Talbert Cemetery at Cravens has 13 surviving wooden grave houses. The grave house tradition is still followed by families in the area.<\/p>\n 7. The Holly Grove Methodist Church is the oldest protestant church in continuous use west of the Mississippi river.<\/p>\n 8. Hodges Gardens State Park, located 20 miles from Leesville, includes 70 acres of formal gardens on three levels. There are three formal rose gardens. Fifty flower beds are altered according to the seasons. In addition to the walkways, there are waterfalls, a geyser, fountains, pools, a 7-mile scenic drive and other features.<\/p>\n 9. Spreading out over four acres, Empire Point Gardens is a gardener\u2019s dreamland. The garden contains more than 1,000 varieties of daylilies, 300 hydrangeas, 130 camellias, 200 hybrid varieties of native iris, and many types of Japanese maples, magnolias and other ornamental trees.<\/p>\n 10. The Leesville National Register Historic District is located on Third Street<\/p>\n <\/p>\n in the heart of the old business district. The crown jewel of the district is the historic 1910 Vernon Parish Courthouse \u2014 a classical revival style building topped with an elegant dome.<\/p>\n