Destination Louisiane: Outdoors experience in Abbeville, Palmetto Island State Park

ABBEVILLE, La. (KLFY) -- Palmetto Island State Park in Abbeville features scenic waterways and abundant wildlife for locals and tourists to check out. It's located on the Vermilion River.

Andrea Jones, Park Manager at Palmetto Island State Park, said it's the closest you can get to nature.

"We are literally in the swamps. It's beautiful," Jones said. "The wild animals... Deer, alligator, black bear. This is the closest you can be to it."

Palmetto Island State Park is close to 1,300 acres and is the newest state park in Louisiana, opening in the fall of 2010. Over 100,000 people have visited the park just this year, a record number.

"They love the area," added Jones. "They love the park and when they come for the first time, they always come back."

Visitors from all over the U.S. and Canada have come to Palmetto Island State Park to see all the wildlife including hundreds of birds. The Abbeville Red Iris is also a huge attraction.

"We have our Abbeville Red Iris display which is where we're standing now which bloom at the end of April, beginning of May. We are the only area where the Abbeville Red grows naturally," explained Jones. "We're doing a restoration project to help that Iris from becoming endangered. It's a pretty big deal for Vermilion Parish."

A story walk trail is another feature at the park. Children can read pages of a book while bird watching and walking through an interactive short trail. 96 full hook-up campsites, backpack sites and six cabins are all on site.

"We have our splash pad, canoeing and kayaking," Jones said. "We have a meeting room you can rent for parties and small weddings. We have our Nature Center which is open on Saturdays. Fishing... we have three ponds so there's something for everybody."

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