Opelousas

1. St. Landry Catholic Church

The St. Landry Catholic Church is the Lafayette Catholic Diocese’s second oldest church parish. While the earliest documented church ritual was a baptism that took place on May 16th of 1756, the parish church wasn’t officially founded until 1770 by French Capuchin friars. The current building was completed in 1909, featuring a Gothic structure and Romanesque motifs. Visitors can view stained-glass windows made by German artisans in France. Guided tours of the church are also available by appointment and during specific weekends in October, costumed re-enactors can be seen portraying historic Opelousas figures during the Historic Reenactments and Cemetery Tours.

St. Landry Catholic Church, 1020 N Main St, Opelousas, LA 70570, Phone: 337-942-6552

2. Louisiana Orphan Train Museum

The Louisiana Orphan Train Museum is a unique attraction in the city of Opelousas, Louisiana and considered to be one of the “must” things to do in town for travelers. Located in the Le Vieux Village Heritage Park, the one-of-a-kind museum collects and preserves items related to the history of the “orphan train riders” and the “orphan train.”

The two terms refer to the Orphan Train Movement, the welfare program that took place from 1853 to 1930. During the time period, more than 200,000 orphans were transported to foster homes primarily in rural areas throughout the Midwest.

Louisiana Orphan Train Museum, 223 S Academy St, Opelousas, LA 70570, Phone: 337-948-9922

3. Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino

The Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino is situated in the middle of south central Louisiana’s Cajun country in Opelousas and is one of the most popular places to “play” in Acadiana with its full racing calendar and more than 1,300 slot machines.

Thoroughbred horse racing takes place at the Evangeline Downs Racetrack from April through September, followed by quarter horse racing from October through December. Along with a variety of gaming, the casino also offers nightlife and music at Mojo’s Sports Bar or Zydeco’s, and an array of delicious food at places like The Spotted Horse Tavern and The Cajun Buffet.

Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, 2235 Creswell Ln, Opelousas, LA 70570, Phone: 866-472-2466

4. St. Landry Parish Visitor Center

The St. Landry Parish Visitor Center, which opened in 2011 off of Interstate 49, is one of Louisiana’s first visitor centers to be designed as an attraction for tourists in itself.

The award-winning center is an example of sustainable practices being incorporated into both the function and design of a building. The history of St.Landry Parish is a rich one as one of the state’s oldest and largest parishes and has been preserved well for visitors. The St. Landry Parish Visitor Center aims to start the conversation about who the people of St. Landry are and where they came from.

St. Landry Parish Visitor Center, 978 Kennerson Rd, Opelousas, LA 70570, Phone: 337-948-8004

5. Soileau's Dinner Club

Soileau's Dinner Club in Opelousas, Louisiana is a family-owned and operated restaurant with a history dating back to 1937 when Clarence Soileau first opened the dining establishment. Consistency seems to have been the key to Soileau's Dinner Club’s success for its more than eighty years of operation, and generations have carried on the family commitment of using quality, fresh ingredients in the Cajun tradition.

Open seven days a week, the restaurant serves consistently quality full-service dining, specializing in signature dishes, select fresh Gulf seafood, char-broiled Angus beef, and Cajun and Creole specialties, such as Catfish Opelousas, red snapper, and seafood gumbo.

Soileau's Dinner Club, 1618 N Main St, Opelousas, LA 70570, Phone: 337-942-2985