The Unusual Is Our Usual Pass
Expiration: 365 days after purchase
Explore Louisiana’s quirky side! But we will caution you...the stops on this agenda are weird, kooky, and a little out-there. We are not responsible for the laughs, shocked emotions, and memories that will be experienced on the trail.
Gaze upon Napoleon's Death Mask in Jackson Square, or visit a “bassigator” among a whole building full of eclectic artifacts at the Abita Mystery House. Brave the Haunted Gothic Hanging Jail (if you dare!) or step back to 1934 at the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum. Maybe standing under a giant glowing dalmatian is more your style? No matter, we have all kinds of peculiar! And the best part? It’s FREE to sign up, and you can win a prize by checking into 8 stops on the pass.
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Abita Mystery House
From thousands of ‘found objects’ to an interactive miniature Southern town, there’s something for everyone at the Abita Mystery House. Located on the northshore of Lake Pontchartrain and about an hour from New Orleans, relive your childhood with still-working old arcade games, browse the fantastical folk art, and say ‘hi’ to Buford the “bassigator!”
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Art The Giant Glowing Dalmation
“Art the Dalmatian” sits and stays outside the Shreveport Regional Arts Council Central ARTSTATION. Designed by Oscar and Emmy award-winning artists William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, Art towers over 19 feet fall, and features 254 spots that change colors and provide a lightshow to those who come to visit.
Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum
As the name implies, this museum tells the story of the ultimate fate of the most well-known partners in crime. The building in which the museum is housed is Ma Canfield’s Cafe, the last place visited by Bonnie and Clyde. Here, you will find Remington shotguns from Clyde’s car, Bonnie’s red hat, and replicas of the death car. Despite what you might think, this is a quite popular attraction for families. For more adventure, drive 8 miles south of the museum to see the monument that marks the actual ambush site.
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Britney Spears Museum
Kentwood is Britney Spears' hometown, so naturally The Kentwood Museum has its own Britney Spears exhibit, featuring a stage replica of her HBO concert special - complete with 600 colored lights. Step into Britney's childhood bedroom where she was famously photographed by Rolling Stone, or take a selfie in front of the enormous angel wings she wore in her Femme Fatale tour.
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Buddha Statue
The centerpiece of the Chinese Garden at the Jungle Gardens of Avery Island, this 900+ year old statue sits in a serene shrine built by the Gardens’ founder E. A. McIlhenny (yes, of Tabasco® fame). Friends from New York surprised him with the statue in 1936. Make a day of it by touring the Tabasco ® museum, factory and restaurant with its build-your-own Bloody Mary bar.
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Castle Tree
During Prohibition, many moonshiners used hollowed-out cypress trees as hiding places for their stills. While we can’t verify that the Castle Tree served this purpose, you’ll see just how roomy it is inside! Rent a canoe or kayak at Chemin-A-Haut State Park (or bring your own), and paddle your way down Bayou Bartholomew for a look at this giant.
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Chapel Of The Madonna
Dubbed “The Smallest Church in the World,” the Chapel of the Madonna was built as a sign of gratitude by a local farmer, after he successfully prayed to the Virgin Mary for the recovery of his eldest son. Despite its diminutive size, the Chapel does function as any other, with religious icons inside, candles to light for your loved ones and a yearly mass held to celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Mother.
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Chauvin Sculpture Garden
One of the most evocative examples of folk art in the state, the collection of statues and sculptures created by artist Kenny Hill include religious figures, cowboys, animals, and a lighthouse made with more than 7,000 bricks. The artist describes his colorful artwork, “It’s about living and life and everything I’ve learned.”
Gator Chateau
Gator Chateau is home to baby alligators that you can hold and snap selfies with! In addition to all the cuteness, expert handlers can educate you on all things alligator, including how the babies grow up and are reintroduced into the natural habitat.
Haunted Gothic Hanging Jail
Built in 1914, experience the historic Gothic Jail, where paranormal activity runs rampant and the walls hold secrets of a brutal murder, suicide and a double hanging. It is not for the faint of heart! Celebrated in the song "The Hangman's Jail," it is connected to the courthouse by a tunnel used to transport prisoners out of public view.
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Music Box Village
Let your musical imagination run wild, with musical 'houses' that are just made to be strummed, tapped, or plucked for a funky composition! The Box has loads of special events open the public, along with weekend "free play" days.
Napoleon's Death Mask
Though Napoleon Bonaparte was laid to rest in Paris, one of his four known death masks lies housed in one of the Louisiana State Museums, the Cabildo in Jackson Square. The death mask was made from a mold crafted by Dr. Francesco Antommarchi, one of Bonaparte’s physicians, who later donated the mask to Louisiana.
Rising Sun Swamp Tours
Adventure awaits on your tour of the swamps with RJ Molinere from History Channel’s “Swamp People!” See the inhabitants of the swamps - yes, including gators - in their natural habitat, as the wind whips through your hair. And parlez vous? We have you covered, as French tours are available!
Rock Chapel
A true hidden gem in northwest Louisiana, this chapel is all that remains of Carmelite monastery originally built in 1891. Constructed with stones from the surrounding area and joined together with mud plaster, this little structure exhibits a handiwork rarely seen today. The inside is just as amazing, with walls painted with frescoes and the ceiling covered with murals by two French monks who were visiting during the construction.
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Sing The River Sculpture
Visually stunning, the metallic orb and its radiating canopies also appeal to the ear! Appropriately named "Sing The River," the sculpture is connected to sensors in the mighty Mississippi and plays music that corresponds with the rise and fall of the water. This striking sculpture on the Mississippi River levee is the latest must-see spot on your Baton Rouge bucket list.
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Wolf Rock Cave
Louisiana’s only cave - Wolf Rock Cave - is located in a very remote part of Kisatchie National Forest, but your effort in getting there will be rewarded. Incredible views, rippling waters and a cave that has been used by ancient Native Americans. Just make sure you’re dressed for a short hike in wooded terrain.