"O Little Town of Destrehan / You're still just about three miles / From end to end where I-310 / Has large and small reptiles" -- From "O Little Town of Destrehand" by Benny Grunch and the Bunch
If you have always dreamed of living in a small southeast Louisiana town sandwiched between a swamp and a levee with its own musical parody, than welcome to Destrehan, Louisiana. Situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish, Destrehan offers enough distance from central New Orleans to make alligator and turtle sightings a daily occurrence when driving along Airline Highway. And yet, it is still close enough to the Big Easy that most residents make the 30-minute trek into the city, or to simply enjoy many of the area's famous attractions and live music. This is not rural living by any means; the swamp simply serves as picturesque backdrop when entering the town. However, the abundance of Cyprus trees throughout the community are dripping with enough moss to conjure up the dreamy stereotypes of South Louisiana towns. There are several other small towns surround Destrehan and if you venture even further West from Destrehan you will come across sugarcane fields and roadside stands selling strawberries, watermelon or shrimp depending upon the season.
For those who want to experience living in a small community where the local civic association is the most happening group in town, but still have access to performances at the Saengar Theatre and dining at Commander's Palace, Destrehan certainly delivers
"O Little Town of Destrehan / You're still just about three miles / From end to end where I-310 / Has large and small reptiles" -- From "O Little Town of Destrehand" by Benny Grunch and the Bunch
If you have always dreamed of living in a small southeast Louisiana town sandwiched between a swamp and a levee with its own musical parody, than welcome to Destrehan, Louisiana. Situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish, Destrehan offers enough distance from central New Orleans to make alligator and turtle sightings a daily occurrence when driving along Airline Highway. And yet, it is still close enough to the Big Easy that most residents make the 30-minute trek into the city, or to simply enjoy many of the area's famous attractions and live music. This is not rural living by any means; the swamp simply serves as picturesque backdrop when entering the town. However, the abundance of Cyprus trees throughout the community are dripping with enough moss to conjure up the dreamy stereotypes of South Louisiana towns. There are several other small towns surround Destrehan and if you venture even further West from Destrehan you will come across sugarcane fields and roadside stands selling strawberries, watermelon or shrimp depending upon the season.
Moving to Destrehan
For those who want to experience living in a small community where the local civic association is the most happening group in town, but still have access to performances at the Saengar Theatre and dining at Commander's Palace, Destrehan certainly delivers. Like much of this part of the state, water is a big presence that can become a problem when disastrous weather such as hurricanes and floods attack. You don't need to plan your outfits around rubber boats and most certainly will not be piling into the pirogue to get about town, but the real threat of hurricanes means you should have emergency supplies and an evacuation plan during hurricane season.
Also, with the absence of four distinct seasons due to the hot, humid climate, you just may start dividing your year into hurricane, football, Mardi Gras, and crawfish seasons. Renters should consider renter's insurance, and make sure it covers natural disasters such as flooding and hurricanes.
A car is also incredibly important when moving here because the city is only close and accessible when driving, walking won't serve you well in getting much further than the town limits and there is no public transportation system in the little town of Destrehan.
Those looking for places to rent in Destrehan have several options in this area such as super-sized rental houses, townhomes, condos, and apartment rentals. The cost of living here tends to be on the high end when compared to the state as a whole, but somewhat moderate when considered on a national scale. Rents won't be dirt cheap, but renters will get a lot of bang for their buck. Apartment complexes with pools, to townhomes with attached garages and open floor plans keep many interested in this tiny town, so vacancy rates stay low. Allow a month to find a rental property, and be ready with references, first month's rent, and a security deposit to secure your new home when you find it.
Neighborhoods of Destrehan
At just under eight square miles, Destrehan is hardly large enough to be divided into many distinct neighborhoods. Instead, the town is split into 2 main subdivisions, Ormond Estates and Red Church. Each subdivision is marked with a sign at the entrance and exit so no need to guess which part of town you are in.
Ormond Estates: This is the western portion of the area. Here is where most of the apartments, townhomes, and condos are located, so it is an ideal spot for renters to search for potential properties. Plus many of the businesses such as the gym, coffee shop and restaurants are found in this subdivision.
Red Church: You are most likely deep in the heart of Dixie when neighborhood boundaries are marked by a plantation and the neighborhood name invokes a church. At the Eastern edge of Ormond Plantation on River Road, this subdivision includes Popeye's Fried Chicken and the church with the iconic red tile roof that travelers on the Mississippi River once used as an important landmark. This is the smaller of the two neighborhoods, but a great spot for finding two to four bedroom housing for rent.
Living in Destrehan
Destrahan is small-town living with one main street, Ormond Boulevard, which sports the only two traffic lights in town. Locals refer to this thoroughfare simply as The Boulevard, and take advantage of the bike and pedestrian lane that extends for the street's entire length. Here residents find fast food options, recreational fields with a splash park, local favorites such as Destrehan Donuts and Grill and the hardware store.
Ormond Country Club sits just off this swamp town's main road and offers the expected golf, swimming, and swanky clubhouse lunches. Even if you have no interest in getting a hole in one or wearing plaid pants, living in the homes that back up to the golf course are a major status symbol in this small town. If you love covering yourself in designer logos and keeping up with the Joneses, look for homes for rent on the coveted golf course lots.
Living in Destrehan may primarily focus on The Boulevard, but it also draws on the legendary River Road with its twists and turns along the levee. Destrehan residents have the opportunity to climb up the levee for recreation or simply to take in the Muddy Mississippi. This is also the location of two of the town's biggest attractions, and in terms of tourism they are really the area's only attractions, Ormond Plantation and Destrehan Plantation.
Plantation touring is a favorite Southern pastime along with front porch sitting and telling jokes about Yankees, but these two sprawling antebellum structures serve important functions in the local community. On Saturday mornings organic eaters, farmers and cooks flock to Ormond Plantation for the weekly German Coast Farmers Market, which even features live musical entertainment. Destrehan Plantation is best known for its annual Craft Show held over a fall weekend and its learning workshops of plantation-era pastimes.
All in all this is a small town but it retains a unique culture plus proximity to some of Louisiana's most celebrated cities.
