What's New in Lafayette

Lafayette has many new happenings these days, which means plenty more ways to have fun! Check out what's new in Lafayette.

Skate Park at Thomas Park

Skateboarders rejoice, for Lafayette has now become a state-of-the-art skateboarding destination. The new 11,200-square-foot Thomas Park Skate Park at 300 Geraldine Drive features a street plaza with rails and platforms, a 4.5- to 7-foot bowl, and a mini ramp. Thomas Park is located in a neighborhood off Johnston Street, a short drive from downtown.

Parc Sans Souci Inclusive Playground

A new 6,000-square-foot inclusive and accessible playground has been installed in Parc San Souci in the heart of downtown Lafayette. The playground features side-by-side swings, a trampoline, a Merry-go-round that is wheelchair accessible, and a climbing structure with a slide. The playground covers a former parking lot next to the Children's Museum of Acadiana and the Lafayette Science Museum. It is near the Parc San Souci stage, where yearly musical events happen. Children may also enjoy the Parc's Splash Pad in warm weather or be the "Y" in the Parc's seven-foot Lafayette sign.

Moncus Park

Last May, 400 native irises were planted at Moncus Park, a city park that offers playgrounds, dog parks, hiking paths, an amphitheater, and much more. The iris planting, led by Gary Salathe of the Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative, will bloom in spring. The flowers play a vital role in protecting our swamps and marshes. In addition to spring colors, they will be an educational opportunity for visitors to learn about local fauna.

Also new to Moncus Park is the Best Friends Bark Park, a 34,500 square-foot space for dogs over 16 inches tall with an off-leash area, water fountains with dog bowls, waste disposal stations, and a double-gated safety system. Visitors must first obtain an annual permit to enter the off-leash dog park, which is mandatory to ensure the safety of all dogs and their owners. Permits may be purchased at www.moncuspark.org/dogpark. Leashed dogs are welcome elsewhere in the larger park.

Oliver Lane Creative Studio

Do you love to create art but are not sure where to begin? Oliver Lane Creative Studio opened at 425 Jefferson St. in downtown Lafayette, offering private and birthday parties and classes to paint your own ceramics, make 3D laser-cut sign art, and dabble in canvas painting, among much more.

Wanderlust Rentals

Louisiana's first multi-point, self-service kayak rental system has arrived in Lafayette! Sign up at the kiosk on Bayou Vermilion at Vermilionville, choose your route, a start and end voyage, and then hit the waters. It's that simple. Launch at any upstream kiosk and return the kayak to a downstream kiosk. Want more assistance? Wanderlust offers guided tours, excursions, and corporate events at many of Acadiana's waterways.

Downtown Food District Map

Lafayette is known for its world-renown cuisine, and now visitors can find their way around the heart of our culinary city with the Downtown Food District! We're talking 37 destinations along Jefferson Street and the surrounding neighborhood. Need a road map to these eateries that will take you from breakfast to dessert? We've got one.

Teche Woods Nature Trail

In November, the Acadiana Native Plant Project opened the Teche Gardens Expansion, built to propagate native plants of Southern Louisiana, and the public Teche Woods Nature Trail, both located at 1046 Main Highway in Arnaudville, about 45 minutes from Lafayette. The Nature Trail, which emphasizes Acadiana's natural beauty, is open daily from dawn to dusk. The Acadiana Native Plant Project was organized to promote the use of native plants in landscapes and will offer tours, plant and seed giveaways, and plant sales from the greenhouse. Check their Facebook page for these events.

Lafayette has many new happenings these days, which means plenty more ways to have fun! Check out what’s new in Lafayette.

Topgolf

Louisiana’s second Topgolf venue opened in December at 301 Meadow Farm Road off Ambassador Caffery Parkway. There are 60 outdoor climate-controlled hitting bays that can accommodate up to six people each and include lounge furnishings, a 22-foot video wall, more than 100 HDTVs, and a bar and restaurant featuring pizza, burgers, and vegetarian and gluten-free options. In addition to enjoying the giant outfield targets and high-tech balls that score themselves, Topgolf offers lessons.

Moncus Park Additions

In the heart of Lafayette lies our expansive city park that features hiking trails, playgrounds, an amphitheater, and a weekly farmer’s market, to name only a few of its attractions. It’s truly the place to be if you love the outdoors. Moncus Park opened the Miles for Miles Trail, dedicated to those fighting cancer, in August. The new trail wanders through the back 50 acres of the property, increases the park’s ADA-accessible pathways by over 2,000 linear feet, and completes a one-mile loop.

Shop Local

A new downtown event called Super Saturday Downtown Shopping, co-sponsored by the New Iberia Main Street Program, will occur from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every third Saturday of the month in New Iberia. The event along East and West Main Street encourages visitors to support downtown business owners. The 2024 scheduled dates are Feb. 17, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, and Dec. 21.

New Lafayette Restaurants

Boscoyo Baking Company

An artisan baguette always complements Cajun and Creole cuisine, and now Lafayette has a handcrafted, artisan sourdough bread company. Called Boscoyo Baking Company, boscoyo being a Cajun French term for the cypress tree knee, stop by for artisan breads or a takeout pizza made with organic Spelt flour on Wednesdays.

Njoy Curry Masala

Brand new to the downtown scene is Njoy Curry Masala, serving up the flavors of India and natural dishes such as tikki masala and curry. Located on the corner of Jefferson Street and Johnson, the restaurant owned by Joy Singh & Navvi Kaur named the restaurant after their young son Njoy Singh, a combination of the husband and wife’s names.

Gather Lafayette

Another newcomer to downtown, veteran Chef Paul Gibson, serves up brunch and lunch entrees, sandwiches, tacos, and dessert Tuesdays through Saturdays. Gibson has been around the globe, so different world flavors may show up. Just don’t miss the tasty Gather Burger.

Black Cat Coffee House

Specialty coffees are served here, naturally, but Black Cat Coffee House offers an oasis from the hurried life. And young entrepreneur Gethsemany Aguirre donates a portion of her profits to local animal shelters.

Soda Pop Shop

Do you love to drink soda? This new establishment takes it to a whole new level. Choose your favorites, such as Coke, Dr. Pepper, or Pepsi, and enhance it by adding syrups, purees, fruits, and creams. The menu also includes energy drinks, lemonade, tea, and infused waters. Add an oversized warm chocolate chip cookie, and you’ll be in heaven.

Best Stop Cajun Market

Best Stop has been serving up boudin, cracklins, and specialty in Scott for years. It has a location in Carencro, conveniently right off Interstate 49. Grab a bite at The Kitchen, which serves breakfast, burgers, poboys, and other local favorites such as red beans and rice.

Coming Up for Sports Fans

Plans are underway to expand the University of Louisiana at Lafayette football stadium we now call Cajun Field. Following a $65 million revitalization set to conclude in 2025, the future Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium will add new suites, log boxes, club seats, an indoor club, and more on the west side. The enhanced amenities enlarge the total capacity to more than 30,000 fans.

A new 12,000-square-foot indoor sports facility is in the works at the existing Comeaux Recreation Center at 411 W Bluebird St. behind Lourdes Medical Center. The sports complex will include eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, and space for indoor sports such as pickleball and wrestling. The new sports facility will allow Lafayette to host future major sporting events.

Let’s Eat

Whiskey & Vine’s a one-stop shop for those who love an evening of smooth live music, a classic cocktail, or a glass of boutique wine with their fine dining. The jazz and blues club and restaurant is located in a historic building on Pinhook Road, opened in November, and serves classic New Orleans and Southern dishes. Look for cocktails such as the Ramos gin fizz, Sazerac, and Pimm’s cup, or sample one of the more than 100 whiskeys and wines. Dine on classics such as turtle soup, muffuletta flatbread, and bananas Foster. There’s live music nightly except Sundays and a jazz brunch on weekends.

Ton’s Drive-in in nearby Broussard has been serving old-school hamburgers, breakfast items, and plate lunches since 1963. Now, the granddaughter of owners Alton “Ton” Girouard and his wife, Rosemary, will open a second Ton’s location in downtown Lafayette. Although a smaller version than the Broussard landmark, owner Hollie Girouard’s Ton’s Downtown in the Old Guaranty Bank building will feature breakfast and lunch items, grab-and-go items, frozen coffee drinks, and plate lunch specials.

Joining the eateries, boutique shops, and museums along downtown Lafayette’s Jefferson Street is The Flats, a fun place to indulge in old-school burgers, patty melts, and innovative sandwiches. Or sample their creative fries or chips served with “dippers,” a variety of sauces. They serve spirited drinks, too, such as frozen concoctions, beer, wine, and craft cocktails.

Our foodie town not only offers some of the country’s finest restaurants, but our food trucks also deliver. And now there’s a shaded place to enjoy what they cook up. Parc de Oaks at 3302 Moss St. allows up to eight-foot trucks to gather in a space that also offers a collection of seating areas beneath centuries-old live oak trees. Plans are in the works for onsite restrooms, a bar, and occasional live music and family fun games.

Ryan Pécot and his wife, Traci, adopted two dogs, so it seemed natural to name their newest venture Adopted Dog Brewing, especially since the establishment welcomes visitors of the four-legged variety. (The couple also owns Tchoup's MidCity Restaurant + Bar.) The craft brewery and restaurant at 329 Dulles Drive is open Wednesday through Sunday and serves up a variety of bar foods — think pretzels with beer cheese, sizzling burgers, and unique flatbreads such as the Brussels Bacon Balsamic. The 12 house brews on tap reflect Acadiana culture with titles such as 337 Blueberry Blonde, Fleur de Lis golden lager, and the Zydekolsch German-style beer. Others, such as Doberman Dark, offer a nod to the canine theme. Don’t miss the fried pretzel bites with Steen’s syrup and powdered sugar.

Let's Play

Those who play the fastest-growing sport in America will soon be able to play in a state-of-the-art 16,000-square-foot pickleball facility at 500 Verot School Road. Lafayette Pickleball Club will include six indoor courts open to members and non-members, which means visitors to our fair city may also enjoy the courts. The facility should open by December 2023.

Surrounding Areas

Camp Margaritaville RV Resort opened this spring in Henderson, just off Interstate 10 and about 30 miles east of Lafayette. The resort features more than 450 RV sites and 91 cabins that sleep 4-6, plus there’s the Jimmy Buffett Suite sleeps up to 12 and offers a barbecue and in-room Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker. Amenities include pools open April through October, fishing ponds, a dog park, and several food and beverage options, including a swim-up bar.

Loreauville, a town to the east of Lafayette, recently installed the Acadian Odyssey Monument, one of only 17 worldwide dedicated to Acadians deported from the Maritimes of Canada by the British beginning in 1755, many of which made their way to Louisiana to become Cajuns. The monument at 121 Bridge St. was created by the city’s mayor’s office and the Canada-based Acadian Odyssey Commission, whose goal is to commemorate the Acadian people's expulsion and odyssey and promote awareness of Acadian history and culture. The monument at 121 Bridge St. in Loreauville honors those Acadians who arrived along this stretch of Bayou Teche in 1765.