Just like the surging tide routinely overtakes the bay, Grand Isle has the propensity to enkindle any and every soul that sets foot upon her sands. Time passes slowly on the island, and each century leaves its mark. Pirates, smugglers and privateers of the late 1700s possibly set the tone for Grand Isle as a place that’s independent of the woes and concerns of the mainland. In the 1800s, Europeans with Spanish land grants colonized the island and started establishing industries.
But just like the surging tide, all of the advances were destined for depths of the Gulf of Mexico. A six-foot wall of hurricane-charged water annihilated all signs of progress in 1860 and a subsequent 16-foot wave in 1893 wiped away rebuilding efforts. Other hurricanes have come and gone since then, on the average of every three years or so, but Grand Isle managed to rebrand itself during the interims as a place of leisure and a vacation spot. The 20th Century saw a boom in travelers, fishermen, campers, families, birdwatchers and folks just looking to enjoy all the natural offerings of Grand Isle.
Tourism has become the biggest business on the island, a far cry from its early, swashbuckling days, but its proximity to the Gulf has not changed. Alas, the story comes full circle—and as you probably know, Grand Isle has been greatly impacted by four different hurricanes during the past four years. The recent rebuilding effort, however, stands shoulders above previous undertakings, coupling private and public investments and unprecedented infrastructure improvements. In that vein, here are five reasons why Grand Isle has bounced back [yet again] and is better than ever:
1. The Fishing Is Fine
Even if you have a boat, the old fishing bridge that spans the bay is something you have to experience. A new and improved expanse was recently erected and it’s open 24 hours a day. The bridge has lights all along it, making it the perfect spot to grill burgers and take in a bit of night fishing. The Grand Isle State Park on the other end of the island is open as well and has 49 premium campsites. The park also has its own 400-foot public fishing pier with a nearby fish-cleaning station. In all, state officials say that over 280 species of fish are known to inhabit the area around the park.
The crown jewel of Grand Isle’s fishing activities, though, has to be the annual Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo, which attracted more than 20,000 to the island this past July. It’s the wildest party of the year and the entire island hosts what’s akin to a mini-Mardi Gras. If the quiet and calm breeze found on most weekends doesn’t appeal to you, then don’t miss this annual soiree, as it’s anything but serene.
2. Something Old, Something New
Old favorites on the island, the stuff you’re South Louisiana grandparents used to go on about, are back. Most notably, the state has opened public road access to Elmer’s Island after nearly a decade of being closed. In November of last year, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced that the state was opening up 250 acres of Elmer’s Island for public use after extensive title research found that a portion of the Grand Isle barrier island was actually the property of Louisiana. No nighttime activities are allowed on Elmer’s Island yet, but all you need is a hunting or fishing license to enjoy the South Louisiana jewel. There is, however, a touch of controversy. On behalf of the Elmer family, Charlie Elmer filed a petition in state court in August in hopes that a Baton Rouge judge will give back the land claimed by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration earlier this year.
The Butterfly Dome, located at the heart of the island, has also reopened and there likewise are new walking trails that focus on the area’s winged inhabitants. On the horizon, private and public investments will soon bring forth a number of other new structures, including two gated communities, a fire department, public library, school gymnasium and civic multiplex. A number of new restaurants have also sprouted up in recent months.
3. Under Restoration
Once again, public and private investments are helping the island rebuild, especially in the area of natural defenses. For instance, the Nature Conservancy, a national conservation association, has scored more than $4 million for a shoreline restoration project in Grand Isle. The goal is to build approximately four miles of oyster reef from the Biloxi Marsh to South Louisiana’s favorite inhabitable island. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is supporting the grant to bolster recreational and commercial fisheries and also to help reduce flooding. The NOAA also estimates that this stimulus-funded project will create dozens of jobs.
Grand Isle has also gotten $50 million from the state to rebuild and improve crucial hurricane protections. The targeted projects include restoring some of the beach areas and building a storm barrier on the south side of the island to reduce the impact of a storm surge. The feds, meanwhile, have put up an additional $18 million for new pumps and other levee improvements.
4. Business, Industry and Research
The recent “Grand Isle Alive” campaign launched by Jefferson Parish business interests channeled $55,000 into billboards, radio and TV, as well as branding efforts like t-shirts and bumper stickers. With everything else going on around the island, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Earlier this year, the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also officially opened its Fisheries Research Lab on the island. The 35,000-square-foot lab is located on seven acres that front Caminada Bay on the north shore of Grand Isle. It can actually house and rehabilitate manatees, dolphins and sea turtles, meaning new working relationships with groups like the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and Sea Turtle Rescue Program.
It’s expected to become an important hub and will serve as a driver in the statewide fisheries management process. The state’s Sport Fish Restoration Program and the Artificial Reef Program for will also be based at the new lab, which will likewise house resource sampling and research work for the department’s biologists.
In all, the lab represents a $23 million investment by the state, so it isn’t surprising that extreme measures were taken to ensure that the lab was built with hurricane and flood protection in place. It was built six feet above sea level with dredge material and its finished floors are 18 feet above sea level. It can resist 150 mile-per-hour winds and was constructed to “wash out” during a high flood event.
5. Getting Around
In addition to the elevated highway, toll bridge and other improvements to La. 1—the only way to and from the island—residents of Grand Isle are also smarting from one other important transportation change. Thanks to a bill signed into law this year by Jindal, golf carts can now cross La. 1 within the town of Grand Isle.
Of course, if you know the sand-covered stretch of highway targeted by the law, then you know why it isn’t a big deal. There’s very little traffic along La. 1 once you cross over the bay and what traffic does exist is confined to an excruciatingly slow speed limit. Moreover, four-wheelers and golf carts are already commonplace travelers along the road. Warning signs were scheduled to be erected in late August.
