Chicot State Park is located near
Ville Platte, Louisiana
Ville Platte is the largest city in, and the parish seat of, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,430 at the 2010 census, down from 8,145 in 2000. The city's name is of French origin, roughly translating to "flat t ...
. This
wildlife reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or o ...
of South Central
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
features
of rolling hills surrounding a man-made lake
stocked with bass, crappie (sac-au-lait), bluegill, and red-ear sunfish. Chicot Park offers fishing boat rentals, pavilions, barbecue pits, picnic areas, restrooms, primitive hike-to campsites, lodges, and furnished cabins. The park is home to a number of wild animal species, including
whitetail deer
The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...
,
raccoon
The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the common raccoon to distinguish it from other species, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of , and a body weight of ...
s,
coyotes, and
bobcats.
History
One of the older Louisiana parks, the park was added to the Louisiana State Park system in 1939. Under the direction of the
National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propert ...
, the
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part of ...
significantly developed the area.
Activities
Fishing is encouraged at the park with a boathouse, three boat launches, and boat rental facilities. The waters of Lake Chicot are habitat to largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and red-ear sunfish.
A hiking/backpacking trail encircles the lake and supports several primitive campsites. The trail is tailored for mountain bikes and cycling is encouraged throughout the park.
The park includes a hiking trail.
The southern landing includes cabins, group camp, lodge, picnic areas, playgrounds, and water playground. The northern landing features campsites, lodges, and a primitive group-camping area. The East landing includes a meeting room and barbecue pavilion.
See also
*
Louisiana State Arboretum
The Louisiana State Arboretum , is an arboretum located on Louisiana Highway 3042, approximately 13 km (eight miles) north of Ville Platte, Louisiana inside of Chicot State Park, United States, and bordering a branch of Lake Chicot. Establ ...
*
List of Louisiana state parks
The state of Louisiana has 21 state parks, which are governed by the Office of Lieutenant Governor, a division of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Louisiana's state park system began in 1934 when the state passed legis ...
References
External links
Chicot State Park
Protected areas of Evangeline Parish, Louisiana
State parks of Louisiana
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