Since 1980, Luling and the surrounding areas have hosted the Alligator Festival. The annual event coincides with the start of the alligator hunting season at the end of September, and includes activities like music and entertainment, a running event called the Alligator Stomp Run, and culminates in October with the Alligator Festival Golf Tournament.
Nestled on the west bank of the mighty Mississippi River, about 25 miles from New Orleans, is the quiet little town of Luling, Louisiana
Since 1980, Luling and the surrounding areas have hosted the Alligator Festival. The annual event coincides with the start of the alligator hunting season at the end of September, and includes activities like music and entertainment, a running event called the Alligator Stomp Run, and culminates in October with the Alligator Festival Golf Tournament.
Nestled on the west bank of the mighty Mississippi River, about 25 miles from New Orleans, is the quiet little town of Luling, Louisiana. As part of St. Charles Parish, Luling is considered a suburb of New Orleans. Fans of the National Football League will no doubt be familiar with the New Orleans Saints football club, but they may not be aware that the local Hahnville High School has produced more NFL players than any other school. The schools in the area boast a ranking of "second-best school board in Louisiana," a predominant reason that many families are moving to the town.
Moving to the Town
Luling is booming right now, with plenty of industries attracting both white-collar and blue-collar workers. As a result, several areas are being developed and rental properties are becoming more common (the area has seen an increase in construction of such properties). That said, you will need to hunker down and invest energy in your search, especially if you have stringent requirements. Give yourself some time to study the area that you want to live in and be prepared to act quickly!
Luling landlords, like those elsewhere in the country, will require some standard materials of all renters. These include a valid ID, proof of income/SSN, and possibly references from a previous landlord. Bring these materials and your checkbook when you go to inspect a possible home-demand definitely outweighs supply here. Luling is not really a renter's town.
In terms of moving, there's not one preferred season for setting up shop here. Some folks prefer to move here during the spring or fall as a way of avoiding the deep summer heat. If the heat and humidity don't bother you, though, summer's just as fine a time as any to put down your roots in Luling.
Neighborhoods of Luling
Though the town isn't huge, Luling does have distinct neighborhoods. Here, read a bit about the more popular neighborhoods and the amenities in each.
Ashton: This area tends to be a bit costlier than others. Though some brave souls traverse the area on foot, most people agree that you'll need a car to comfortably get around. Most of the rentals here are houses, not apartments, so if you're searching for a studio you might be out of luck. The city is working to improve the quality of the streets and sidewalks here, so foot and bike travel may become more common in the future.
Willowdale: This area is also pricey and apartment rentals are decidedly more difficult to come by-fair warning! Home rentals, however, can be found in this area. As in Ashton, Willowdale is also receiving city funding for the improvement of bike lanes and sidewalks. Soon, the neighborhood might be a cyclist's paradise.
Other neighborhoods in Luling are Lone Star, Lagatuta Estates, Mimosa Park, Lakewood West, Davis Plantation, Old Luling, Willowridge, and Coronado Park.
Living In Town
The City of Luling is well known in the southern Louisiana region as a quiet place to live. Luling may live in the shadow of a big city, but it's far enough away to enjoy its own identity. Most of the residents have been born and raised here, and work in one of the many industries that support the local economy. Recent arrivals to the area include job seekers from other regions of the country who want to take advantage of the relatively low unemployment rate (compared to the rest of the United States), along with workers from New Orleans who have decided to give up an hour a day to commute to work.
Highways and interstates are easily accessed from anywhere in the town and provide quick routes to the surrounding communities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Although you can find a lot of amenities locally, you will have to find a way to get to them. Since there is no public transit system, you will need to invest in a bicycle, a car, or a good pair or walking shoes. A car is definitely required to take full advantage all that the area has to offer.
There are many beautiful parks in St. Charles Parish, some of them within the Luling city limits, and most have hiking and biking trails. Get out and explore the area to find your favorite park.
The avid outdoors person will be glad to know that Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas are just a short drive away; at these lakes, amateurs and professional fishermen alike attempt to catch different varieties of trout and redfish. Both lakes are huge, and both offer charter boat services.
Another popular outdoor pastime is taking boat tours of the surrounding swamps and bayous. While on tour, don't be surprised to see alligators, nutria, raccoons, and other forms of wildlife-just be careful not to fall in!
To kick off their fall campaign, the Luling Chapter of the United Way hosts an event called "the Battle of the Paddle," where local industries and businesses enter teams in a jambalaya and gumbo cook-off competition. The winning team gets bragging rights as well as an engraved paddle to hang in lobby of the sponsor's establishment. The event grows each year and is one of the area's tastier competitions.
If communing with nature is not your cup of tea, you will have to go a little farther away to partake in any indoor activities. There are no malls or movie theaters in Luling, but fortunately, New Orleans isn't too far away.
