Several large trees were downed throughout the park grounds/NPS

Downed trees, roof damage, and utility damage were inflicted on Cane River Creole National Historical Park by Hurricane Laura. 

The park, located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, preserves and interprets a landscape where generations of the same families of owners and workers, enslaved and tenant, lived for more than 200 years. The park tells their stories and preserves the cultural landscape of Oakland and Magnolia plantations, two of the most intact Creole cotton plantations in the United States.

The park continues to perform damage assessments within the Oakland and Magnolia plantation units. Among the damage that has been ascertained so far:

Oakland Plantation:

• Roof damage occurred to the square crib, wagon shed, and Oakland Store.
• Lightning protection system on the Oakland Store was damaged.
• The chimney cap on the Overseer’s House blew off.
• A corner of the Bottle Garden fence was damaged.
• The fire suppression riser at the Oakland Store was leaking but has been turned off.
• The electrical box near Cooks Cabin was damaged.
• Several large limbs and branches are down throughout the area.
• Multiple uprooted trees are throughout the park grounds.

Magnolia Plantation:

• Several large, downed trees along the NPS property line were blocking the access road.
• Damage to fences from failing limbs has occurred.
• Fire suppression pipe located at the gin barn was leaking and the base of the wood cotton screw press was flooded. Water has been turned off to stop the leak.
• The north gin barn dormer and east roof ridge cap sustained damage.
• Several large limbs, branches and uprooted trees were down throughout the park grounds.

Headquarters/Curation:

• Damage at this facility was minimal.
• Phone, cable, and alarm lines were pulled out of the building.

The park currently is closed due to the damage; a reopening date has not been announced.